Real Estate Investing in Fence, Wisconsin (54120)

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

Florence County • Population: 179 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54120 (Fence, 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: 78.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Fence, WI (54120)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $212,606
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,375
% Renters 7.5%

Market Analysis: 54120 Fence

This part of Florence County is not an easy win. The 54120 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 54120 is durable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $213K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

In practical terms, 54120 offers a low basis, the region around Fence has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 54120 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 54120 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 Fence:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/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
Iron Mountain, MI-WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.6%
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 Iron Mountain, MI-WI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$222K$196K$171K$146K$120K$95KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54120 Compare?

Metric 54120 Fence Iron Mountain, MI-WI Wisconsin
Home Value $212,606 $212,606 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 7.8% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54120? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 54120 (Fence, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 54120 (Fence, WI)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $212,606
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 18.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 11.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
78.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54120

Population: 179

💰 Median Household Income
$49,375
This area
$49,375
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
64.7 years
This area
64.7 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
78.0%
This area
78.0%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.8%
Other/Mixed 2.2%
👶 Under 18
4.9%
This area
4.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
46.7%
This area
46.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Fence, WI?

Fence, WI median home values land near $213K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $972/mo-per-month rentals.

What kind of market is Fence, WI for investors?

Investors tracking Fence, WI will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $213K median home values and $972/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting even-keeled returns.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Fence, WI?

The renter base in Fence, WI is reasonable for the $972/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

Does house hacking work in Fence, WI?

House hacking works a challenging in Fence, WI. Rents of $972/mo against $213K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How much rent can I charge in Fence, WI?

Rents in Fence, WI run near $972/mo. Compared with median home prices of $213K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 54120 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54120 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.

Compare Plans

How 54120 ranks in Iron Mountain, MI-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 54120 (Fence)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 54120 (Fence, WI).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.