Real Estate Investing in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin (54235)

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

Door County • Population: 17,845 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54235 (Sturgeon Bay, 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: 28.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.2 — 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 Sturgeon Bay, WI (54235)?

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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 $381,211
Avg Monthly Rent $1,017
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,986
% Renters 20.4%

Market Analysis: 54235 Sturgeon Bay

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 54235 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $381K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $381K asset, 54235 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Sturgeon Bay have seen price recovery that 54235 has not matched. Door County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A significant renter share of 20% in 54235 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Sturgeon Bay:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,017/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 54235

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+11.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$121,793/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $352,616 $1,130 2.3% +11.3% $176,308
3BR $416,453 $1,370 2.4% +10.7% $138,818
4BR $487,173 $1,500 2.2% +11.5% $121,793

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$404K$354K$304K$254K$204K$154KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54235 Compare?

Metric 54235 Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin
Home Value $381,211 $381,211 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 7.3% 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,017 $1,017 -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 54235? 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 54235 (Sturgeon Bay, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $381,211
Monthly Rent $1,017
Price-to-Rent 31.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
28.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54235

Population: 17,845

💰 Median Household Income
$65,986
This area
$65,986
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.8%
This area
29.8%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.8 years
This area
51.8 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.4%
This area
28.4%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.9%
Other/Mixed 6.1%
Hispanic/Latino 3.6%
Black/African American 0.6%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.6%
This area
27.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
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 54235

A+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$30,632 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Sawyer Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
251 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$28,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sunrise Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
208 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$28,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Walker Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$28,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sturgeon Bay High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$28,320 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sevastopol High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
187 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$32,944 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Sevastopol Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$32,944 Per Student
A Very Good

Sevastopol Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
148 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$32,944 Per Student
A Very Good

Sevastopol Pre-School

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
38 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$32,944 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

What investment strategy works best in Sturgeon Bay, WI?

In Sturgeon Bay, WI the resilient play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $381K prices and $1,017/mo rents suits that approach.

What are rental rates like in Sturgeon Bay, WI?

Rental rates in Sturgeon Bay, WI average $1,017/mo. Tenant demand and $381K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is vacancy a concern in Sturgeon Bay, WI?

Expect elevated vacancy in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Rents at $1,017/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Sturgeon Bay, WI a friendly market for rental owners?

For rental operators, Sturgeon Bay, WI rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How strong is the working-renter base in Sturgeon Bay, WI?

Tenant demand in Sturgeon Bay, WI is solid. The local workforce $1,017/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 54235 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54235 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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