Real Estate Investing in Barron, Wisconsin (54812)

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

Barron County • Population: 6,078 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54812 (Barron, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Barron, WI (54812)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $230,679
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,801
% Renters 31.9%

Market Analysis: 54812 Barron

ZIP 54812 in Barron, WI carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $231K and rents of $873/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 54812 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $231K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within WI, ZIP 54812 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Barron County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 54812 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategically, 54812 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 Barron:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
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)

$245K$210K$176K$142K$108K$73KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54812 Compare?

Metric 54812 Barron Wisconsin
Home Value $230,679 $230,679 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 7.7% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 54812? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 54812 (Barron, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 54812 (Barron, WI)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $230,679
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 22.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 10.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
6.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54812

Population: 6,078

💰 Median Household Income
$58,801
This area
$58,801
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.9%
This area
31.9%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.5%
This area
16.5%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.8 years
This area
36.8 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.0%
Black/African American 11.1%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.8%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
26.8%
This area
26.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
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 54812

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
10.1:1 Avg Class Size
$26,099 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Barron High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,099 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Woodland Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,099 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Riverview Middle

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
298 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,099 Per Student
A Very Good

Advanced Learning Academy of Wisconsin

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
30 Students
👨‍🏫
6.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,099 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

1 Nearby 1,374 Off-Campus Students
C+
Northwood Technical College
2,668 students · 8.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,374 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Barron, WI?

Vacancy in Barron, WI is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $873/mo.

What kind of tenants rent in Barron, WI?

Tenant quality in Barron, WI ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $873/mo.

How strict are landlord regulations in Barron, WI?

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

Does house hacking work in Barron, WI?

House hacking in Barron, WI is reasonable to execute. Prices around $231K and rents of $873/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What is the best play in Barron, WI?

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

You know 54812 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54812 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 54812 (Barron)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 54812 (Barron, WI).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.