Real Estate Investing in Unity, Wisconsin (54488)

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

Clark County • Population: 1,144 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54488 (Unity, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Unity, WI (54488)?

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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 $227,963
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,563
% Renters 22.2%

Market Analysis: 54488 Unity

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Unity's 54488 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $228K pricing implies.

The 54488 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 54488 and stronger Unity ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

From a cash-flow lens, 1,144 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.

Strategy in 54488 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $228K 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 Unity:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.4%)
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$241K$215K$190K$164K$139K$113KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54488 Compare?

Metric 54488 Unity Wausau-Weston, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $227,963 $227,963 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54488? 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 54488 (Unity, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $227,963
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 21.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54488

Population: 1,144

💰 Median Household Income
$61,563
This area
$61,563
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.9 years
This area
40.9 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 91.1%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Black/African American 0.5%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
25.9%
This area
25.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.2%
This area
13.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Unity, WI for real estate investors?

Unity, WI scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $228K and rents near $873/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What are vacancy rates like in Unity, WI?

Vacancy in Unity, WI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $873/mo.

How much do tenants pay in Unity, WI?

Rent in Unity, WI is around $873/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $228K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is the tenant base reliable in Unity, WI?

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

What is the median home value in Unity, WI?

Typical homes in Unity, WI go for around $228K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

You know 54488 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 54488 ranks in Wausau-Weston, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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