Real Estate Investing in Clam Lake, Wisconsin (54517)

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

Sawyer County • Population: 187 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54517 (Clam Lake, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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: 67.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Clam Lake, WI (54517)?

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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 $290,447
Avg Monthly Rent $909
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,971
% Renters 0.0%

Market Analysis: 54517 Clam Lake

This part of Sawyer County is not an easy win. The 54517 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $290K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 54517 is substantial and deserves full respect.

On the rental side, 54517 offers a low basis, the region around Clam Lake has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 54517 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Clam Lake's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 54517. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Clam Lake:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $909/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)

$302K$268K$234K$199K$165K$131KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54517 Compare?

Metric 54517 Clam Lake Wisconsin
Home Value $290,447 $290,447 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.1% 7.1% 7.3%
Avg Rent $909 $909 -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 54517? 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 54517 (Clam Lake, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $290,447
Monthly Rent $909
Price-to-Rent 26.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
67.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54517

Population: 187

💰 Median Household Income
$68,971
This area
$68,971
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.5%
This area
22.5%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
66.4 years
This area
66.4 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
67.8%
This area
67.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.0%
Asian 3.8%
Other/Mixed 2.2%
👶 Under 18
6.0%
This area
6.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
57.9%
This area
57.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
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

Is Clam Lake, WI a good place for real estate investing?

Clam Lake, WI shows an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $290K and average rents around $909/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

Where do home prices stand in Clam Lake, WI?

Clam Lake, WI median home values land near $290K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $909/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Clam Lake, WI?

Clam Lake, WI vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Which real estate strategy fits Clam Lake, WI?

The best-fit strategy in Clam Lake, WI is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

How strong are rents in Clam Lake, WI?

Investors in Clam Lake, WI typically see rents near $909/mo per month against $290K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

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