Real Estate Investing in Tomahawk, Wisconsin (54487)

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

Lincoln County • Population: 9,740 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54487 (Tomahawk, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 41.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.3 — 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 Tomahawk, WI (54487)?

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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 $295,975
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,886
% Renters 15.1%

Market Analysis: 54487 Tomahawk

ZIP 54487 inside Lincoln County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $296K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 54487 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader WI picture, 54487 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The 54487 ZIP's population of 9,740 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 54487 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Tomahawk:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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 54487

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$109,221/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $240,965 $970 2.9% +9.2% $120,483
3BR $327,662 $1,320 2.9% +9.0% $109,221

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$308K$273K$237K$201K$165K$129KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54487 Compare?

Metric 54487 Tomahawk Wausau-Weston, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $295,975 $295,975 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54487? 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 54487 (Tomahawk, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $295,975
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 28.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
41.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54487

Population: 9,740

💰 Median Household Income
$71,886
This area
$71,886
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.6 years
This area
52.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
41.8%
This area
41.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.4%
Other/Mixed 4.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
Black/African American 0.3%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.1%
This area
25.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
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 54487

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$15,412 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Tomahawk Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
526 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,412 Per Student
A Very Good

Tomahawk High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,412 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Tomahawk Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
263 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,412 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

How much is rent in Tomahawk, WI?

Tomahawk, WI rentals go for roughly $873/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $296K acquisition costs.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Tomahawk, WI?

Expect elevated vacancy in Tomahawk, WI. Rents at $873/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How do home values compare in Tomahawk, WI?

In Tomahawk, WI the median home value sits at $296K. Against the broader WI market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How strict are landlord regulations in Tomahawk, WI?

Tomahawk, WI operates under WI law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is the tenant base reliable in Tomahawk, WI?

The renter base in Tomahawk, WI is reasonable for the $873/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

You know 54487 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54487 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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How 54487 ranks in Wausau-Weston, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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