Real Estate Investing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (53233)

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

Milwaukee County • Population: 14,412 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 53233 (Milwaukee, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 19.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 59.9% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $17,746 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Milwaukee, WI (53233)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $187,689
Avg Monthly Rent $1,101
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $17,746
% Renters 96.8%

Market Analysis: 53233 Milwaukee

ZIP 53233 in Milwaukee, WI carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $188K and rents of $1,101/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $188K asset, 53233 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

On the rental side, 53233 offers a low basis, the region around Milwaukee has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 53233 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 53233 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,101/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$215K$177K$140K$102K$65K$27KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,338$1,219$1,101$982$864$745Jun 2023Jan 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53233 Compare?

Metric 53233 Milwaukee Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $187,689 $220,617 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 6.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,101 $1,381 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53233? Click to expand

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

97% 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53233 (Milwaukee, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 53233 (Milwaukee, WI)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

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
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
+7.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $187,689
Monthly Rent $1,101
Price-to-Rent 14.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 12.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +10.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +16.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.7% ▲
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
19.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53233

Population: 14,412

💰 Median Household Income
$17,746
This area
$17,746
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
96.8%
This area
96.8%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.8%
This area
18.8%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
22.0 years
This area
22.0 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.5%
This area
19.5%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 50.7%
Black/African American 32.1%
Other/Mixed 11.1%
Hispanic/Latino 6.9%
Asian 6.1%
👶 Under 18
6.8%
This area
6.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
3.3%
This area
3.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
59.9%
This area
59.9%
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 53233

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$19,598 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Language

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
491 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Highland Community School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Milwaukee High School of the Arts

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
985 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Project STAY-Supporting Teachers and Youth

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
78 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B Good

Milwaukee County Youth Education Center

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
22 Students
👨‍🏫
5.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
C+ Average
👥
431 Students
👨‍🏫
26.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
C Below Average

Milwaukee Academy of Science

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,404 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Forest Home Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1516 W Forest Home Ave, Milwaukee
👥
537 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Brown Street Academy

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2029 N 20th St, Milwaukee
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jackson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2121 W Hadley St, Milwaukee
👥
216 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Allen-Field Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 730 W Lapham Blvd, Milwaukee
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Audubon Technology and Communication Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 3300 S 39th St, Milwaukee
👥
368 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 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 6,529 Off-Campus Students
B
Marquette University
11,373 students · 0.3 mi
C+
Milwaukee Area Technical College
13,190 students · 0.8 mi
C
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
885 students · 1.4 mi
C+
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness
207 students · 1.4 mi
C+
Milwaukee School of Engineering
2,834 students · 1.4 mi
C+
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
22,481 students · 3.8 mi
D
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex
580 students · 3.8 mi
C
Alverno College
1,719 students · 4.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,529 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tenants stable in Milwaukee, WI?

Milwaukee, WI draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $1,101/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How should investors approach Milwaukee, WI?

Most investors in Milwaukee, WI run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Milwaukee, WI?

Expect median prices around $188K in Milwaukee, WI. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been reliable.

Are there empty rentals in Milwaukee, WI?

Milwaukee, WI sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader WI rental market.

Does house hacking work in Milwaukee, WI?

House hacking in Milwaukee, WI is reasonable to execute. Prices around $188K and rents of $1,101/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 53233 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53233 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 53233 ranks in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 53233 (Milwaukee)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 53233 (Milwaukee, WI).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.