Real Estate Investing in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin (53578)

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

Sauk County • Population: 6,444 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53578 (Prairie du Sac, 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 29.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Prairie du Sac, WI (53578)?

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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 $428,611
Avg Monthly Rent $1,224
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $95,000
% Renters 27.5%

Market Analysis: 53578 Prairie du Sac

Meanwhile, ZIP 53578 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $429K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

For an experienced owner, 53578 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $429K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 53578 and stronger Prairie du Sac ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 53578 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 53578 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 Prairie du Sac:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,224/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
Baraboo, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.2%
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 Baraboo, WI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$447K$394K$342K$289K$237K$185KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53578 Compare?

Metric 53578 Prairie du Sac Baraboo, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $428,611 $428,611 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.2% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,224 $1,224 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53578? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53578 (Prairie du Sac, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Baraboo, WI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
35%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $428,611
Monthly Rent $1,224
Price-to-Rent 29.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 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
6.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53578

Population: 6,444

💰 Median Household Income
$95,000
This area
$95,000
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.0%
This area
40.0%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.2 years
This area
42.2 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.8%
Other/Mixed 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 6.4%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
23.4%
This area
23.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
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 53578

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$23,161 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Tower Rock Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bridges Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
478 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Grand Avenue Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sauk Prairie High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
873 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,161 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Prairie du Sac, WI for investors?

Investors tracking Prairie du Sac, WI will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $429K median home values and $1,224/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting steady returns.

Are landlord laws favorable in Prairie du Sac, WI?

Prairie du Sac, WI operates under WI law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the typical rental rate in Prairie du Sac, WI?

Investors in Prairie du Sac, WI typically see rents near $1,224/mo per month against $429K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What approach is best for Prairie du Sac, WI real estate?

The best-fit strategy in Prairie du Sac, WI is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What does house hacking look like in Prairie du Sac, WI?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Prairie du Sac, WI reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 53578 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53578 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 53578 ranks in Baraboo, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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