Real Estate Investing in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (53821)

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

Crawford County • Population: 7,711 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53821 (Prairie du Chien, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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 vacancy: 20.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Prairie du Chien, WI (53821)?

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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 $216,913
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,271
% Renters 32.8%

Market Analysis: 53821 Prairie du Chien

ZIP 53821 in Prairie du Chien, WI carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $217K and rents of $900/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 53821 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $217K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 53821 sits on the difficult end of the WI spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 53821 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 53821 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Chien:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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
Platteville, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.3%
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 Platteville, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 53821

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$71,312/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $157,650 $1,000 4.6% +10.3% $78,825
3BR $213,935 $1,200 4.0% +9.1% $71,312

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$231K$202K$173K$144K$116K$87KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53821 Compare?

Metric 53821 Prairie du Chien Platteville, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $216,913 $216,913 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.1% 7.1% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $900 $900 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53821? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53821 (Prairie du Chien, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Platteville, WI metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
54%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $216,913
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 20.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
20.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53821

Population: 7,711

💰 Median Household Income
$57,271
This area
$57,271
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.8%
This area
32.8%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.5 years
This area
47.5 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.8%
This area
20.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.8%
Other/Mixed 5.4%
Black/African American 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
👶 Under 18
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
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 53821

B Avg School Grade
6 Schools
13.9:1 Avg Class Size
$14,943 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Prairie du Chien High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
296 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,192 Per Student
A Very Good

Bluff View Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
184 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,192 Per Student
B+ Above Average

BA Kennedy School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
243 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,192 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bluff View Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
206 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,192 Per Student
C+ Average

Prairie du Chien Correctional Inst

📚 Grade 12 High School
👥
3 Students
👨‍🏫
1.5:1 Class Size
💰
$8,695 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Mighty River Academy of Virtual Education

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
42 Students
👨‍🏫
34.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,192 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

How strong is the working-renter base in Prairie du Chien, WI?

Tenant demand in Prairie du Chien, WI is solid. The local workforce $900/mo rents across most rental classes.

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

Our data puts Prairie du Chien, WI at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $217K and rents around $900/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Are landlord laws favorable in Prairie du Chien, WI?

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

Does house hacking make sense in Prairie du Chien, WI?

House hacking in Prairie du Chien, WI is reasonable to execute. Prices around $217K and rents of $900/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Prairie du Chien, WI?

Expect median prices around $217K in Prairie du Chien, WI. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been stable.

You know 53821 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53821 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 53821 ranks in Platteville, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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