Real Estate Investing in Butternut, Wisconsin (54514)

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

Ashland County • Population: 1,810 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54514 (Butternut, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 44.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Butternut, WI (54514)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $218,214
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,328
% Renters 16.9%

Market Analysis: 54514 Butternut

Investors eyeing 54514 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $218K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 54514 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $218K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 54514's metrics run below Ashland County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 54514 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 54514 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 Butternut:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$229K$205K$181K$158K$134K$110KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54514 Compare?

Metric 54514 Butternut Wisconsin
Home Value $218,214 $218,214 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 4.7% 4.7% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 54514? 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 54514 (Butternut, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $218,214
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 20.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
44.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54514

Population: 1,810

💰 Median Household Income
$71,328
This area
$71,328
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.9%
This area
16.9%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.2%
This area
20.2%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
55.6 years
This area
55.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
44.5%
This area
44.5%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.6%
Other/Mixed 1.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.1%
This area
29.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
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

🎓 Schools in 54514

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
5.9:1 Avg Class Size
$22,011 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Butternut Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
92 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,011 Per Student
A Very Good

Butternut High

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
95 Students
👨‍🏫
7.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,011 Per Student
A Very Good

Promethean Charter School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
1 Students
👨‍🏫
1.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,011 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

Should investors worry about vacancy in Butternut, WI?

Butternut, WI sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader WI rental market.

Is Butternut, WI good for landlords?

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

How deep is the rental pool in Butternut, WI?

The tenant pool in Butternut, WI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $873/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Butternut, WI?

Butternut, WI is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $218K price point reasonable to enter.

What strategy should investors use in Butternut, WI?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Butternut, WI. With home values at $218K and rents near $873/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

You know 54514 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54514 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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