Real Estate Investing in Rio, Wisconsin (53960)

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

Columbia • Population: 3,235 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53960 (Rio, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Rio, WI (53960)?

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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 $356,616
Avg Monthly Rent $1,197
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,031
% Renters 19.5%

Market Analysis: 53960 Rio

The 53960 ZIP in Rio, WI is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $357K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 53960 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $357K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 53960 sits on the difficult end of the WI spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 53960 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 53960 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 Rio:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,197/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$375K$325K$275K$225K$175K$124KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53960 Compare?

Metric 53960 Rio Wisconsin
Home Value $356,616 $356,616 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,197 $1,197 -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 53960? 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 53960 (Rio, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $356,616
Monthly Rent $1,197
Price-to-Rent 24.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53960

Population: 3,235

💰 Median Household Income
$77,031
This area
$77,031
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.5%
This area
19.5%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.0%
This area
23.0%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.7 years
This area
42.7 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.2%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
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 53960

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
10.7:1 Avg Class Size
$19,621 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Rio Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
170 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,621 Per Student
A Very Good

Rio Middle/High

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
187 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,621 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

Is Rio in WI worth investing in?

Rio, WI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $357K and rents near $1,197/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is Rio, WI better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Rio, WI. The numbers - $357K homes against $1,197/mo rents - support that play.

What are home prices like in Rio, WI?

In Rio, WI the median home value sits at $357K. Against the broader WI market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How strong is tenant demand in Rio, WI?

The tenant pool in Rio, WI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,197/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is vacancy a concern in Rio, WI?

Rio, WI vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 53960 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53960 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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