Real Estate Investing in Montello, Wisconsin (53949)

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

Marquette County • Population: 6,291 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53949 (Montello, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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 vacancy: 30.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.9 — 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 Montello, WI (53949)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $270,917
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,438
% Renters 17.9%

Market Analysis: 53949 Montello

ZIP 53949 inside Marquette County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $271K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $271K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 53949 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 53949 sits on the difficult end of the WI spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 53949 ZIP's population of 6,291 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 53949 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 Montello:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 53949

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$96,753/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $216,665 $970 3.2% +11.2% $108,332
3BR $290,260 $1,250 3.1% +10.6% $96,753

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$285K$247K$210K$172K$134K$96KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53949 Compare?

Metric 53949 Montello Wisconsin
Home Value $270,917 $270,917 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 8.3% 8.3% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 53949? 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 →
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 53949 (Montello, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $270,917
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 25.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  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
30.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53949

Population: 6,291

💰 Median Household Income
$58,438
This area
$58,438
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.9%
This area
17.9%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.2 years
This area
53.2 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
30.7%
This area
30.7%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.9%
Other/Mixed 3.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
Black/African American 0.3%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.9%
This area
28.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 53949

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
30.9:1 Avg Class Size
$19,956 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Forest Lane Community School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,956 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Montello Junior/Senior High

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
252 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,956 Per Student
B Good

High Marq Environmental Charter School

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
32 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,956 Per Student
C Below Average

Montello Virtual Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
22 Students
👨‍🏫
88.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,956 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 Montello, WI for real estate investors?

Montello, WI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $271K and rents near $873/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How tight is the rental market in Montello, WI?

Montello, WI carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect reliable absorption at market rents of $873/mo.

What is the average monthly rent in Montello, WI?

Rent in Montello, WI is around $873/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $271K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How should investors approach Montello, WI?

In Montello, WI the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $271K prices and $873/mo rents suits that approach.

Is Montello, WI good for landlords?

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

You know 53949 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53949 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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