Real Estate Investing in Madison, Wisconsin (53703)

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

Dane County • Population: 37,467 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53703 (Madison, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (35/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.3% CAGR).

What’s happening in Madison, WI (53703)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $447,481
Avg Monthly Rent $1,775
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,623
% Renters 87.0%

Market Analysis: 53703 Madison

This part of Dane County is not an easy win. The 53703 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 53703 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $447K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader WI picture, 53703 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The 53703 ZIP's population of 37,467 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 53703 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Madison:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,775/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
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 53703

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$156,820/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $356,724 $1,770 3.6% +6.0% $356,724
2BR $521,077 $2,020 2.8% +6.0% $260,539
3BR $570,789 $2,670 3.4% +7.3% $190,263
4BR $633,490 $2,990 3.4% +7.6% $158,372
5BR $784,102 +6.9% $156,820

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$480K$417K$354K$290K$227K$164KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,881$1,718$1,555$1,391$1,228$1,064Oct 2016Sep 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53703 Compare?

Metric 53703 Madison Madison, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $447,481 $306,543 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 1.3% 5.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,775 $1,679 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53703? Click to expand

87% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53703 (Madison, 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
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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
Fair
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.3%
Slow

📉 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 $447,481
Monthly Rent $1,775
Price-to-Rent 21.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 4.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
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
5.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53703

Population: 37,467

💰 Median Household Income
$45,623
This area
$45,623
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
87.0%
This area
87.0%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
70.0%
This area
70.0%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
24.6 years
This area
24.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.0%
Asian 9.5%
Other/Mixed 5.2%
Black/African American 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
👶 Under 18
2.5%
This area
2.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
6.1%
This area
6.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
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 53703

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
10.9:1 Avg Class Size
$20,303 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Lapham Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

4K PK Off Site

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
594 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

O'Keeffe Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Marquette Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
159 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A Very Good

Innovative High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
139 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Metro School

📚 04 – 12 High School
👥
23 Students
👨‍🏫
6.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
C+ Average

Innovative and Alternative Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle Limited Data
💰
$20,303 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Randall Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
📍 1802 Regent St, Madison
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Franklin Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
📍 305 W Lakeside St, Madison
👥
292 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 30 Ash St, Madison
👥
2,137 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 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 · 1.2 mi
B+
University of Wisconsin-Madison
49,605 students · 1.4 mi
D
University of Wisconsin-System Administration
0 students · 1.5 mi
C
Edgewood College
2,001 students · 2.8 mi
C+
Madison Area Technical College
13,281 students · 3.8 mi
C
Academy of Beauty Professionals
65 students · 6.0 mi
C
East-West Healing Arts Institute
44 students · 6.0 mi
D
Herzing University-Madison
4,238 students · 6.2 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Madison, WI?

Madison, WI median home values land near $447K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,775/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the typical renter like in Madison, WI?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Madison, WI. The rental market absorbs $1,775/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is WI a landlord-friendly state?

Madison, WI falls under WI landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What is the typical rental rate in Madison, WI?

Madison, WI rentals go for roughly $1,775/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $447K acquisition costs.

Does Madison, WI make sense for an investment property?

Investors tracking Madison, WI will find a 2.0/5 rating supported by $447K median home values and $1,775/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting measured returns.

You know 53703 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53703 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 53703 ranks in Madison, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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