Real Estate Investing in Washington Island, Wisconsin (54246)

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

Door • Population: 784 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54246 (Washington Island, 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: 55.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 36.4 — 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 Washington Island, WI (54246)?

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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 $404,712
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,875
% Renters 11.5%

Market Analysis: 54246 Washington Island

ZIP 54246 in Washington Island, WI carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $405K and rents of $927/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 54246 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $405K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within WI, ZIP 54246 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Door submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 54246 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 54246 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 Washington Island:

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 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/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)

$433K$386K$340K$294K$247K$201KDec 2015Apr 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54246 Compare?

Metric 54246 Washington Island Wisconsin
Home Value $404,712 $404,712 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% 7.3%
Avg Rent $927 $927 -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 54246? 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 54246 (Washington Island, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $404,712
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 36.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
55.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54246

Population: 784

💰 Median Household Income
$61,875
This area
$61,875
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.5%
This area
11.5%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
45.7%
This area
45.7%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
62.7 years
This area
62.7 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
55.4%
This area
55.4%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.3%
Other/Mixed 3.0%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Asian 0.6%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
10.3%
This area
10.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
45.9%
This area
45.9%
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 54246

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
6.3:1 Avg Class Size
$29,698 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Washington Island Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
37 Students
👨‍🏫
4.9:1 Class Size
💰
$29,698 Per Student
A Very Good

Washington Island High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
19 Students
👨‍🏫
7.8:1 Class Size
💰
$29,698 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 monthly rent should investors expect in Washington Island, WI?

Washington Island, WI rentals go for roughly $927/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $405K acquisition costs.

What does house hacking look like in Washington Island, WI?

House hacking works a challenging in Washington Island, WI. Rents of $927/mo against $405K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the typical home price in Washington Island, WI?

The median home value in Washington Island, WI is roughly $405K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WI statewide average.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Washington Island, WI?

The landlord environment in Washington Island, WI is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What is the tenant pool like in Washington Island, WI?

Washington Island, WI draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $927/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 54246 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54246 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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