Real Estate Investing in Kaukauna, Wisconsin (54130)

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

Outagamie County • Population: 28,030 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54130 (Kaukauna, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (77/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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 price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Kaukauna, WI (54130)?

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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 $348,499
Avg Monthly Rent $1,093
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,917
% Renters 23.7%

Market Analysis: 54130 Kaukauna

ZIP 54130 in Kaukauna, WI carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $348K and rents of $1,093/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $348K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 54130 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader WI picture, 54130 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Resident income in 54130 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 54130 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 Kaukauna:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,093/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
Appleton, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
4.3%
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 Appleton, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 54130

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$92,189/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $225,663 $1,230 3.9% +9.6% $112,832
3BR $325,672 $1,690 3.7% +9.5% $108,557
4BR $368,758 $1,760 3.4% +9.0% $92,189

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$365K$317K$269K$222K$174K$126KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,295$1,249$1,203$1,157$1,111$1,065Jun 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54130 Compare?

Metric 54130 Kaukauna Appleton, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $348,499 $348,499 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 7.8% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,093 $1,093 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54130? 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 54130 (Kaukauna, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.8%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Appleton, WI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
26%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $348,499
Monthly Rent $1,093
Price-to-Rent 26.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -14.5% ▼
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
3.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54130

Population: 28,030

💰 Median Household Income
$81,917
This area
$81,917
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 3.1%
Asian 1.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Black/African American 0.3%
👶 Under 18
23.2%
This area
23.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.6%
This area
13.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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 54130

B+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$15,361 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Haen Elementary

📚 01 – 04 Elementary
👥
291 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,647 Per Student
A Very Good

Freedom High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
481 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,361 Per Student
A Very Good

Freedom Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,361 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dr H B Tanner Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
515 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,647 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Quinney Elementary

📚 02 – 04 Elementary
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,647 Per Student
B+ Above Average

River View School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
1,106 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,647 Per Student
B Good

Kaukauna High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,260 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,647 Per Student
B Good

New Directions Learning Community

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary Charter
👥
260 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,647 Per Student
B Good

Park Community Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary Charter
👥
252 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,647 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

6 Nearby 6,487 Off-Campus Students
C+
Lawrence University
1,410 students · 8.4 mi
C+
Fox Valley Technical College
10,995 students · 10.9 mi
C+
The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton
85 students · 11.2 mi
C
Academy of Beauty Professionals
77 students · 11.3 mi
C+
Saint Norbert College
2,165 students · 12.6 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Green Bay
85 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,487 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What investment strategy works best in Kaukauna, WI?

Most investors in Kaukauna, WI run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How much is rent in Kaukauna, WI?

Rents in Kaukauna, WI run near $1,093/mo. Compared with median home prices of $348K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Kaukauna, WI?

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

What is the typical home price in Kaukauna, WI?

In Kaukauna, WI the median home value sits at $348K. Against the broader WI market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What kind of tenants rent in Kaukauna, WI?

Kaukauna, WI offers a consistent renter base at the $1,093/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 54130 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 54130 ranks in Appleton, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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