Real Estate Investing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (53224)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Milwaukee County • Population: 21,445 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53224 (Milwaukee, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Elevated poverty: 21.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Milwaukee, WI (53224)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $248,061
Avg Monthly Rent $1,448
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,763
% Renters 50.4%

Market Analysis: 53224 Milwaukee

This part of Milwaukee County is not an easy win. The 53224 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $248K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 53224 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 53224 among WI's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 53224 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Milwaukee averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Milwaukee's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 53224. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Milwaukee:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,448/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
36 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 53224

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$65,167/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $130,334 $1,400 7.7% +7.2% $65,167
3BR $231,172 $1,720 5.4% +9.2% $77,057
4BR $322,914 $1,870 4.2% +8.2% $80,729

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$262K$222K$183K$143K$104K$64KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,463$1,419$1,375$1,331$1,287$1,243Feb 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53224 Compare?

Metric 53224 Milwaukee Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $248,061 $220,617 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.5% 6.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,448 $1,381 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53224? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

50% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53224 (Milwaukee, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Milwaukee County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Bodner Properties offers great apartments for rent in the Greater Milwaukee area. summary from their website

Small multifamily
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Home Path Property Management offers home rentals, build-to-rent options, and vacation rentals in the Milwaukee Area. summary from their website

Short-term rentals
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MPC Property Management offers a wide range of property management services for residential, commercial, and association properties in Wisconsin. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercialHOA
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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $248,061
Monthly Rent $1,448
Price-to-Rent 14.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 12.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
8.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53224

Population: 21,445

💰 Median Household Income
$63,763
This area
$63,763
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.4%
This area
50.4%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.8%
This area
25.8%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.1 years
This area
29.1 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 58.8%
White 21.1%
Asian 12.2%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
👶 Under 18
36.6%
This area
36.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.2%
This area
9.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 53224

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
18.6:1 Avg Class Size
$19,598 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent
👥
708 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
A Very Good

Goodrich Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
288 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stuart Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
295 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bruce Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Maple Tree Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
264 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
C Below Average

Vincent Accelerated Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
49 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
C Below Average

Darrell Lynn Hines Academy

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
172 Students
👨‍🏫
22.1:1 Class Size

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Brown Deer Middle/High

📚 06 – 12 High School
📍 8060 N 60th St, Brown Deer
👥
925 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,703 Per Student
A Very Good

Brown Deer Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 5757 W Dean Rd, Brown Deer
👥
722 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,703 Per Student
A Very Good

Milwaukee Sign Language Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 7900 W Acacia St, Milwaukee
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Barton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 5700 W Green Tree Rd, Milwaukee
👥
259 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Thoreau Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 7878 N 60th St, Milwaukee
👥
357 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby
C
Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology
76 students · 4.1 mi
D
Milwaukee Career College
73 students · 6.2 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee
111 students · 6.2 mi
C
Mount Mary University
1,224 students · 6.3 mi
C
Medical College of Wisconsin
1,661 students · 8.3 mi
D
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
952 students · 8.3 mi
C+
Concordia University-Wisconsin
5,063 students · 8.8 mi
C+
Wisconsin Lutheran College
1,094 students · 8.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Milwaukee, WI for investors?

Milwaukee, WI scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $248K and rents near $1,448/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the typical home price in Milwaukee, WI?

The median home value in Milwaukee, WI is roughly $248K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WI statewide average.

What are rental rates like in Milwaukee, WI?

Milwaukee, WI rentals go for roughly $1,448/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $248K acquisition costs.

Are there empty rentals in Milwaukee, WI?

Milwaukee, WI carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $1,448/mo.

What is the renter demographic in Milwaukee, WI?

The renter base in Milwaukee, WI is reasonable for the $1,448/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

You know 53224 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 53224 ranks in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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