Real Estate Investing in McFarland, Wisconsin (53558)

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

Dane County • Population: 13,133 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53558 (McFarland, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in McFarland, WI (53558)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $493,710
Avg Monthly Rent $1,983
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $98,160
% Renters 20.6%

Market Analysis: 53558 McFarland

ZIP 53558 inside Dane County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $494K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 53558 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Turning to rents, 53558 offers a low basis, the region around McFarland has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A substantial renter share of 21% in 53558 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 53558 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 McFarland:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,983/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
Madison, WI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
36 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.5%
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 Madison, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 53558

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$122,346/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $368,335 $1,860 3.6% +7.4% $184,167
3BR $446,383 $2,460 4.0% +7.0% $148,794
4BR $548,601 $2,750 3.6% +7.2% $137,150
5BR $611,729 +6.9% $122,346

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$520K$460K$400K$340K$281K$221KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,102$2,076$2,051$2,025$1,999$1,974Apr 2026Jun 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53558 Compare?

Metric 53558 McFarland Madison, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $493,710 $493,710 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,983 $1,983 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53558? 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 53558 (McFarland, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Dane County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Evans Property Management Services, LLC (PRIMA™) offers pet-friendly apartments and rentals in and around Madison, WI. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Kader Property Management offers residential and multi-family property management services in Madison. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
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Madison Property offers apartments and housing for rent in Madison, WI. summary from their website

Small multifamily
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
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Madison, WI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
32%
Days Pending
0/2
36 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $493,710
Monthly Rent $1,983
Price-to-Rent 20.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
2.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53558

Population: 13,133

💰 Median Household Income
$98,160
This area
$98,160
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.6%
This area
20.6%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
52.1%
This area
52.1%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.1%
Other/Mixed 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
Asian 1.8%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
25.5%
This area
25.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
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 53558

C+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
21.9:1 Avg Class Size
$13,288 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Indian Mound Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
545 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Conrad Elvehjem Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
473 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
B+ Above Average

McFarland High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
740 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Waubesa Intermediate

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
B Good

Insight School of Wisconsin High

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
150 Students
👨‍🏫
7.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
C+ Average

Wisconsin Virtual Academy K-8 (WIVA)

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
1,336 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
C Below Average

Wisconsin Virtual Academy High (WIVA)

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
1,423 Students
👨‍🏫
22.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
C Below Average

4K McFarland

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
120 Students
👨‍🏫
30.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 Per Student
C Below Average

Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin High

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
340 Students
👨‍🏫
68.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,288 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 7,911 Off-Campus Students
C+
Aveda Institute-Madison
85 students · 7.5 mi
B+
University of Wisconsin-Madison
49,605 students · 7.9 mi
C
Edgewood College
2,001 students · 7.9 mi
D
University of Wisconsin-System Administration
0 students · 8.0 mi
C+
Madison Area Technical College
13,281 students · 8.5 mi
D
Herzing University-Madison
4,238 students · 9.8 mi
C
Academy of Beauty Professionals
65 students · 11.1 mi
C
East-West Healing Arts Institute
44 students · 11.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,911 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can owner-occupants cash flow in McFarland, WI?

McFarland, WI is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $494K price point reasonable to enter.

How strong is the working-renter base in McFarland, WI?

The renter base in McFarland, WI is reasonable for the $1,983/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

What is it like being a landlord in McFarland, WI?

WI law landlord-friendly for landlords, and McFarland inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What monthly rent should investors expect in McFarland, WI?

Rental rates in McFarland, WI average $1,983/mo. Tenant demand and $494K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Does McFarland, WI make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in McFarland, WI reflects its $494K prices and $1,983/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within WI.

You know 53558 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53558 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 53558 ranks in Madison, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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