Real Estate Investing in Crandon, Wisconsin (54520)

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

Forest County • Population: 3,866 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54520 (Crandon, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 47.0% 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 Crandon, WI (54520)?

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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 $255,802
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,720
% Renters 26.8%

Market Analysis: 54520 Crandon

The 54520 ZIP covers a section of Crandon that demands careful diligence. Prices near $256K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The 54520 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Crandon have seen price recovery that 54520 has not matched. Forest County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A notable renter share of 27% in 54520 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 54520 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 Crandon:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.6%)
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)

$267K$234K$201K$168K$135K$102KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54520 Compare?

Metric 54520 Crandon Wisconsin
Home Value $255,802 $255,802 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 54520? 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 54520 (Crandon, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $255,802
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 24.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
47.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54520

Population: 3,866

💰 Median Household Income
$54,720
This area
$54,720
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.2%
This area
13.2%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.0 years
This area
43.0 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
47.0%
This area
47.0%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.8%
Other/Mixed 26.8%
Black/African American 0.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
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 54520

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$16,667 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Crandon Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
401 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,667 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Crandon High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
237 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,667 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Crandon Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
170 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,667 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 does Crandon, WI rate as a rental market?

Crandon, WI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $256K and rents near $873/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Crandon, WI?

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

What real estate strategy is ideal for Crandon, WI?

For Crandon, WI, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Does Crandon, WI favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Crandon, WI deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What price range are homes in Crandon, WI?

The median home value in Crandon, WI is roughly $256K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WI statewide average.

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