Real Estate Investing in Manitowoc, Wisconsin (54220)

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

Manitowoc County • Population: 40,739 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54220 (Manitowoc, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Manitowoc, WI (54220)?

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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 $246,579
Avg Monthly Rent $1,076
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,813
% Renters 31.2%

Market Analysis: 54220 Manitowoc

This part of Manitowoc County is not an easy win. The 54220 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $247K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 54220 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 54220 sits on the difficult end of the WI spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

On balance, 40,739 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The right play in 54220 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 Manitowoc:

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 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,076/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
Manitowoc, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.1%
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 Manitowoc, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 54220

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+13.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$52,886/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $133,526 $740 4.0% +13.5% $133,526
2BR $180,581 $970 3.9% +12.2% $90,290
3BR $225,715 $1,170 3.7% +11.1% $75,238
4BR $246,779 $1,290 3.8% +11.1% $61,695
5BR $264,430 +11.1% $52,886

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$258K$224K$190K$156K$122K$87KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,108$1,072$1,037$1,001$966$930Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54220 Compare?

Metric 54220 Manitowoc Manitowoc, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $246,579 $246,579 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 9.6% 9.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,076 $1,076 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54220? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 54220 (Manitowoc, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Manitowoc, WI metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $246,579
Monthly Rent $1,076
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 13.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
8.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54220

Population: 40,739

💰 Median Household Income
$62,813
This area
$62,813
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.2%
This area
31.2%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.4%
This area
25.4%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.2 years
This area
44.2 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.4%
This area
8.4%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.7%
Other/Mixed 5.4%
Asian 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Black/African American 1.6%
👶 Under 18
21.2%
This area
21.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.9%
This area
9.9%
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 54220

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$16,160 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Jefferson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
A Very Good

Washington Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
A Very Good

Madison Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
207 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
A Very Good

Monroe Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
A Very Good

Riverview Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
296 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
A Very Good

Franklin Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
A Very Good

Jackson Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
A Very Good

Wilson Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
471 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
B Good

Lincoln High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,455 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
B Good

McKinley Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
93 Students
👨‍🏫
5.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 Per Student
C+ Average

Riverview Early Learning Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
246 Students
👨‍🏫
26.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,160 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

1 Nearby 1,201 Off-Campus Students
C
Lakeshore Technical College
2,981 students · 11.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,201 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does house hacking work in Manitowoc, WI?

House hacking in Manitowoc, WI is a challenging. With home values around $247K and rents at $1,076/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

How strict are landlord regulations in Manitowoc, WI?

WI ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Manitowoc generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the renter demographic in Manitowoc, WI?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Manitowoc, WI. The rental market absorbs $1,076/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How much do tenants pay in Manitowoc, WI?

Average rent in Manitowoc, WI is approximately $1,076/mo per month. Against $247K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the median home value in Manitowoc, WI?

Median home price in Manitowoc, WI is near $247K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 54220 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 54220 ranks in Manitowoc, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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