Real Estate Investing in Fish Creek, Wisconsin (54212)

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

Door County • Population: 903 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54212 (Fish Creek, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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: 70.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 41.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• 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 Fish Creek, WI (54212)?

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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 $552,591
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,563
% Renters 8.8%

Market Analysis: 54212 Fish Creek

This part of Door County is not an easy win. The 54212 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $553K asset, 54212 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Fish Creek have seen price recovery that 54212 has not matched. Door County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 54212 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 54212 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 Fish Creek:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$592K$514K$435K$356K$277K$198KMay 2014Jun 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54212 Compare?

Metric 54212 Fish Creek Wisconsin
Home Value $552,591 $552,591 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,116 -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 54212? 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 54212 (Fish Creek, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $552,591
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 41.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.4%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). 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
70.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54212

Population: 903

💰 Median Household Income
$81,563
This area
$81,563
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.8%
This area
8.8%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
56.1%
This area
56.1%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
62.1 years
This area
62.1 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
70.7%
This area
70.7%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.8%
Other/Mixed 4.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
👶 Under 18
13.7%
This area
13.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
43.1%
This area
43.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
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 54212

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
9.1:1 Avg Class Size
$25,134 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Gibraltar Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
256 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,134 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Gibraltar High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
165 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,134 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Gibraltar Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
112 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,134 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 Fish Creek, WI a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Fish Creek, WI at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $553K and rents around $1,116/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Fish Creek, WI?

Occupancy in Fish Creek, WI runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,116/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Where do rents currently stand in Fish Creek, WI?

Investors in Fish Creek, WI typically see rents near $1,116/mo per month against $553K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What price range are homes in Fish Creek, WI?

The median home value in Fish Creek, WI is roughly $553K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WI statewide average.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Fish Creek, WI?

Fish Creek, WI offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,116/mo rent level.

You know 54212 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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