Real Estate Investing in Long Lake, Wisconsin (54542)

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

Forest County • Population: 615 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54542 (Long Lake, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 76.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Long Lake, WI (54542)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $165,380
Avg Monthly Rent $945
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,469
% Renters 10.0%

Market Analysis: 54542 Long Lake

The 54542 ZIP covers a section of Long Lake that demands careful diligence. Prices near $165K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 54542 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $165K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 54542 sits on the difficult end of the WI spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 54542 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 54542 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 Long Lake:

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 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+16.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $945/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
Iron Mountain, MI-WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.6%
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 Iron Mountain, MI-WI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$172K$153K$134K$114K$95K$76KJan 2014May 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54542 Compare?

Metric 54542 Long Lake Iron Mountain, MI-WI Wisconsin
Home Value $165,380 $165,380 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.1% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $945 $945 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54542? 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 54542 (Long Lake, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $165,380
Monthly Rent $945
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 10.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +16.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
76.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54542

Population: 615

💰 Median Household Income
$45,469
This area
$45,469
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.7 years
This area
50.7 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
76.8%
This area
76.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.6%
Other/Mixed 22.4%
Hispanic/Latino 8.0%
👶 Under 18
17.4%
This area
17.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
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

Are renters plentiful in Long Lake, WI?

Working renters make up the core of the Long Lake, WI tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is house hacking profitable in Long Lake, WI?

House hacking works a challenging in Long Lake, WI. Rents of $945/mo against $165K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Are homes affordable in Long Lake, WI?

Long Lake, WI median home values land near $165K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $945/mo-per-month rentals.

Does Long Lake, WI favor landlords or tenants?

Long Lake, WI operates under WI law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

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

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

You know 54542 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 54542 ranks in Iron Mountain, MI-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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