Real Estate Investing in Madison, Wisconsin (53715)

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

Dane County • Population: 15,499 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53715 (Madison, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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

📈 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
2 flags
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
  • Lower household income: $37,392 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Madison, WI (53715)?

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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 $520,460
Avg Monthly Rent $1,693
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $37,392
% Renters 79.9%

Market Analysis: 53715 Madison

Meanwhile, ZIP 53715 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $520K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 53715 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 53715 among WI's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A substantial renter share of 80% in 53715 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 53715 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 Madison:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 13.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,693/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 53715

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$120,467/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $405,103 $2,100 3.7% +6.3% $202,552
3BR $481,358 $2,770 4.1% +6.5% $160,453
4BR $555,730 $3,110 4.0% +6.9% $138,932
5BR $602,336 +6.4% $120,467

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$545K$475K$405K$334K$264K$194KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,272$2,909$2,547$2,184$1,821$1,458Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53715 Compare?

Metric 53715 Madison Madison, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $520,460 $306,543 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,693 $1,679 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53715? Click to expand

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

80% 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53715 (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
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
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 $520,460
Monthly Rent $1,693
Price-to-Rent 25.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
7.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53715

Population: 15,499

💰 Median Household Income
$37,392
This area
$37,392
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
79.9%
This area
79.9%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
63.1%
This area
63.1%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
21.2 years
This area
21.2 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.6%
Asian 10.9%
Other/Mixed 4.3%
Black/African American 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
👶 Under 18
4.9%
This area
4.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
5.9%
This area
5.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.4%
This area
18.4%
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 53715

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$20,303 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Franklin Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
292 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Leopold Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2602 Post Rd, Madison
👥
623 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lincoln Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 909 Sequoia Trl, Madison
👥
385 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

James Wright Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd, Madison
👥
259 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lapham Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
📍 1045 E Dayton St, Madison
👥
211 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,303 Per Student
A+ Excellent

4K PK Off Site

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 545 W Dayton St, Madison
👥
594 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 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 · 0.8 mi
B+
University of Wisconsin-Madison
49,605 students · 1.1 mi
D
University of Wisconsin-System Administration
0 students · 1.1 mi
C
Edgewood College
2,001 students · 1.2 mi
C
Academy of Beauty Professionals
65 students · 4.7 mi
C
East-West Healing Arts Institute
44 students · 4.7 mi
D
Paul Mitchell the School-Madison
52 students · 5.3 mi
C+
Madison Area Technical College
13,281 students · 5.5 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rental occupancy rate in Madison, WI?

Vacancy risk in Madison, WI is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

How expensive is real estate in Madison, WI?

Expect median prices around $520K in Madison, WI. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

Is real estate in Madison, WI a good investment right now?

Yes - Madison, WI a 3.0/5 investability score. With $520K home prices against $1,693/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Madison, WI?

House hacking in Madison, WI is reasonable to execute. Prices around $520K and rents of $1,693/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How should investors approach Madison, WI?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Madison, WI. The numbers - $520K homes against $1,693/mo rents - support that play.

You know 53715 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53715 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 53715 ranks in Madison, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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