Real Estate Investing in Fountain City, Wisconsin (54629)

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

Buffalo County • Population: 2,546 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54629 (Fountain City, 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: 14.1% 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 Fountain City, WI (54629)?

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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 $289,776
Avg Monthly Rent $1,035
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,569
% Renters 16.9%

Market Analysis: 54629 Fountain City

The 54629 ZIP in Fountain City, WI is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $290K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $290K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 54629 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within WI, ZIP 54629 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Buffalo County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and durable enough to shape underwriting.

On the rental side, 2,546 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The 54629 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Fountain City:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,035/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)

$303K$266K$228K$190K$153K$115KJul 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54629 Compare?

Metric 54629 Fountain City Wisconsin
Home Value $289,776 $289,776 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,035 $1,035 -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 54629? 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 54629 (Fountain City, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $289,776
Monthly Rent $1,035
Price-to-Rent 23.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
14.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54629

Population: 2,546

💰 Median Household Income
$72,569
This area
$72,569
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.9%
This area
16.9%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.2 years
This area
49.2 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.2%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
👶 Under 18
16.9%
This area
16.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.1%
This area
26.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
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 54629

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,973 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cochrane-Fountain City Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,973 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cochrane-Fountain City High

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
252 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,973 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 1,419 Off-Campus Students
B
Winona State University
6,058 students · 7.9 mi
C
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
3,831 students · 8.0 mi
C
Minnesota State College Southeast
2,020 students · 9.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,419 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Fountain City, WI for real estate investors?

Fountain City, WI scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $290K and rents near $1,035/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What are vacancy rates like in Fountain City, WI?

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

Which investment style suits Fountain City, WI?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Fountain City, WI best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $290K price point.

What does house hacking look like in Fountain City, WI?

For house hackers, Fountain City, WI is a challenging. The $1,035/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $290K property.

Where do rents currently stand in Fountain City, WI?

Investors in Fountain City, WI typically see rents near $1,035/mo per month against $290K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 54629 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54629 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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