Real Estate Investing in Wausau, Wisconsin (54403)

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

Marathon County • Population: 24,976 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54403 (Wausau, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Wausau, WI (54403)?

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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 $243,382
Avg Monthly Rent $1,139
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,515
% Renters 32.8%

Market Analysis: 54403 Wausau

The 54403 ZIP in Wausau, WI is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $243K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 54403 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $243K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 54403 sits on the difficult end of the WI spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 54403 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Wausau averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategy in 54403 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $243K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Wausau:

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 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,139/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
Wausau-Weston, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
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 Wausau-Weston, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 54403

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$63,903/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $166,975 $1,140 4.9% +7.7% $83,487
3BR $212,243 $1,500 5.1% +7.7% $70,748
4BR $255,611 $1,510 4.3% +7.8% $63,903
5BR $344,296 +7.1% $68,859

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$254K$223K$192K$160K$129K$98KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,163$1,092$1,021$950$879$807Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54403 Compare?

Metric 54403 Wausau Wausau-Weston, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $243,382 $127,029 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 8.2% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,139 $1,050 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54403? 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 54403 (Wausau, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $243,382
Monthly Rent $1,139
Price-to-Rent 17.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 11.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +24.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
7.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54403

Population: 24,976

💰 Median Household Income
$65,515
This area
$65,515
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.8%
This area
32.8%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.8%
This area
32.8%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.6 years
This area
41.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.3%
This area
7.3%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.3%
Asian 6.6%
Other/Mixed 5.7%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
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 54403

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$16,097 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

John Marshall Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
223 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
A Very Good

Horace Mann Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
662 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
A Very Good

Franklin Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
191 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
A Very Good

Hawthorn Hills Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
198 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B+ Above Average

East High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
897 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hewitt-Texas Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
87 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Riverview Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
495 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B Good

Wausau Area Montessori Charter School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
101 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
B Good

Enrich Excel Achieve Learning Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
33 Students
👨‍🏫
5.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 Per Student
C+ Average

Wausau Area Virtual Education

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
175 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,097 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

2 Nearby 3,841 Off-Campus Students
C+
Northcentral Technical College
5,838 students · 7.2 mi
C
State College of Beauty Culture Inc
44 students · 8.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,841 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Wausau, WI?

Wausau, WI median home values land near $243K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,139/mo-per-month rentals.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Wausau, WI?

For house hackers, Wausau, WI is a challenging. The $1,139/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $243K property.

What kind of tenants rent in Wausau, WI?

The tenant pool in Wausau, WI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,139/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Are landlord laws favorable in Wausau, WI?

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

How much is rent in Wausau, WI?

Investors in Wausau, WI typically see rents near $1,139/mo per month against $243K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 54403 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 54403 ranks in Wausau-Weston, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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