Real Estate Investing in Laona, Wisconsin (54541)

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

Forest County • Population: 1,516 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54541 (Laona, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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: 38.0% 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 Laona, WI (54541)?

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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 $195,895
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,539
% Renters 18.4%

Market Analysis: 54541 Laona

ZIP 54541 in Laona, WI carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $196K and rents of $900/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 54541 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $196K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 54541's metrics run below Forest County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 54541 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. significant returns are possible in 54541, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Laona:

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 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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)

$204K$181K$157K$133K$110K$86KMay 2013Dec 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54541 Compare?

Metric 54541 Laona Wisconsin
Home Value $195,895 $195,589 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 6.9% 7.3%
Avg Rent $900 $900 -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 54541? 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 54541 (Laona, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $195,895
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 18.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
38.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54541

Population: 1,516

💰 Median Household Income
$54,539
This area
$54,539
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.4%
This area
18.4%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.4 years
This area
43.4 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
38.0%
This area
38.0%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.6%
Other/Mixed 16.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Asian 1.8%
Black/African American 0.3%
👶 Under 18
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 54541

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.4:1 Avg Class Size
$17,791 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Laona High

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
148 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,791 Per Student
A Very Good

Robinson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
139 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,791 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

Is Laona, WI a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Laona, WI at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $196K and rents around $900/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Laona, WI?

Occupancy in Laona, WI runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $900/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Where do rents currently stand in Laona, WI?

The typical rental in Laona, WI commands about $900/mo monthly. That rent profile stable cash flow against the $196K purchase basis.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Laona, WI?

Typical homes in Laona, WI go for around $196K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% steady price movement.

Is Laona, WI suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Laona, WI is a challenging. The $900/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $196K property.

You know 54541 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54541 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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