Real Estate Investing in Jefferson, Wisconsin (53549)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 9,901 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53549 (Jefferson, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 30.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Jefferson, WI (53549)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $350,316
Avg Monthly Rent $965
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,438
% Renters 27.3%

Market Analysis: 53549 Jefferson

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Jefferson's 53549 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $350K pricing implies.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $350K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 53549 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Turning to rents, 53549 offers a low basis, the region around Jefferson has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A solid renter share of 27% in 53549 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Jefferson:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $965/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.3%
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 Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 53549

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$89,921/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $263,237 $1,160 3.2% +8.5% $131,619
3BR $331,965 $1,540 3.3% +8.1% $110,655
4BR $359,685 $1,540 3.1% +7.9% $89,921

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$367K$320K$272K$225K$177K$130KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 53549 Compare?

Metric 53549 Jefferson Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $350,316 $350,316 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $965 $965 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53549? Click to expand

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

📊 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 53549 (Jefferson, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $350,316
Monthly Rent $965
Price-to-Rent 30.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
5.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53549

Population: 9,901

💰 Median Household Income
$70,438
This area
$70,438
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.1%
This area
21.1%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.0 years
This area
47.0 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.8%
Other/Mixed 11.0%
Hispanic/Latino 8.6%
Black/African American 1.8%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.3%
This area
20.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
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 53549

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$17,424 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Jefferson Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

West Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
257 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jefferson High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
613 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,424 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

2 Nearby 506 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
11,519 students · 10.9 mi
C+
Maranatha Baptist University
977 students · 14.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 506 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Jefferson, WI?

The median home value in Jefferson, WI is roughly $350K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WI statewide average.

How does Jefferson, WI rate as a rental market?

Our data puts Jefferson, WI at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $350K and rents around $965/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Are renters plentiful in Jefferson, WI?

The tenant pool in Jefferson, WI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $965/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Jefferson, WI?

House hacking works a challenging in Jefferson, WI. Rents of $965/mo against $350K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Where do rents currently stand in Jefferson, WI?

Rent in Jefferson, WI is around $965/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $350K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 53549 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53549 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.

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How 53549 ranks in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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