Real Estate Investing in Stevens Point, Wisconsin (54481)

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

Portage County • Population: 27,878 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54481 (Stevens Point, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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 Stevens Point, WI (54481)?

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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 $264,213
Avg Monthly Rent $1,242
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,922
% Renters 42.6%

Market Analysis: 54481 Stevens Point

ZIP 54481 in Stevens Point, WI carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $264K and rents of $1,242/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 54481 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Stepping back, 54481 offers a low basis, the region around Stevens Point has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

On the rental side, 27,878 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.

Strategically, 54481 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Stevens Point:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,242/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
Stevens Point, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.9%
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 Stevens Point, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 54481

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$54,588/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $188,987 $1,030 3.9% +7.8% $94,493
3BR $249,151 $1,230 3.6% +7.4% $83,050
4BR $263,683 $1,360 3.7% +7.0% $65,921
5BR $272,940 +6.7% $54,588

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$280K$242K$205K$168K$131K$93KApr 2010Jun 2018Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,313$1,242$1,170$1,099$1,028$957Feb 2023Nov 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54481 Compare?

Metric 54481 Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $264,213 $320,014 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.0% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,242 $1,125 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54481? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 43% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 54481 (Stevens Point, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Stevens Point, 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 $264,213
Monthly Rent $1,242
Price-to-Rent 17.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
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
5.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54481

Population: 27,878

💰 Median Household Income
$55,922
This area
$55,922
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.6%
This area
42.6%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
37.0%
This area
37.0%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
30.7 years
This area
30.7 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.2%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Asian 3.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Black/African American 1.8%
👶 Under 18
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.5%
This area
14.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
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 54481

A Avg School Grade
14 Schools
20.1:1 Avg Class Size
$18,561 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Madison Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
339 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jefferson Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
265 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bannach Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McDill Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McKinley Center

📚 K – 06 School
👥
361 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
A+ Excellent

P J Jacobs Junior High

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
700 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Washington Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
A Very Good

Benjamin Franklin Junior High

📚 07 – 09 High School
👥
812 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Point of Discovery School

📚 07 – 12 High School Charter
👥
127 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stevens Point Area Senior High

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
1,458 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Preschool Options

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
37 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
B Good

Juvenile Detention

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
8 Students
👨‍🏫
4.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
B Good

Charles F Fernandez Center Alt Learning

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
69 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 Per Student
C+ Average

Point 4 the Future

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
121.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,561 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 1,869 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
8,109 students · 3.3 mi
C+
Mid-State Technical College
2,918 students · 11.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,869 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Stevens Point, WI a good investment right now?

Investors tracking Stevens Point, WI will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $264K median home values and $1,242/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting consistent returns.

What are vacancy rates like in Stevens Point, WI?

Vacancy risk in Stevens Point, WI is elevated. That supports stable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are rents high in Stevens Point, WI?

Rental rates in Stevens Point, WI average $1,242/mo. Tenant demand and $264K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Stevens Point, WI suited for a house hack?

House hacking works a challenging in Stevens Point, WI. Rents of $1,242/mo against $264K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How strict are landlord regulations in Stevens Point, WI?

Stevens Point, WI falls under WI landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 54481 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 54481 ranks in Stevens Point, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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