Real Estate Investing in Birchwood, Wisconsin (54817)

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

Washburn County • Population: 2,105 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54817 (Birchwood, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 59.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 34.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Birchwood, WI (54817)?

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 $362,508
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,455
% Renters 12.7%

Market Analysis: 54817 Birchwood

Turning to rents, ZIP 54817 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $363K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 54817 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader WI picture, 54817 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Employment concentration in 54817 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 54817 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Birchwood:

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 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.8%)
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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 54817

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$149,573/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $316,595 $970 2.2% +9.5% $158,297
3BR $448,720 $1,190 1.9% +9.3% $149,573

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$380K$334K$288K$241K$195K$149KAug 2008Aug 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54817 Compare?

Metric 54817 Birchwood Wisconsin
Home Value $362,508 $362,508 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 54817? 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 54817 (Birchwood, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 54817 (Birchwood, WI)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $362,508
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 34.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.9%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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
59.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54817

Population: 2,105

💰 Median Household Income
$80,455
This area
$80,455
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.7%
This area
12.7%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.0%
This area
27.0%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
55.0 years
This area
55.0 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
59.6%
This area
59.6%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.8%
Other/Mixed 3.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
Asian 0.4%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
16.7%
This area
16.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.0%
This area
30.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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 54817

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
9.3:1 Avg Class Size
$18,153 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Birchwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
87 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,153 Per Student
A Very Good

Birchwood High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
66 Students
👨‍🏫
7.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,153 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Birchwood Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
38 Students
👨‍🏫
6.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,153 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Birchwood Public Montessori

📚 Pre-K – 06 School Charter
👥
24 Students
👨‍🏫
6.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,153 Per Student
B Good

Bobcat Virtual Academy

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
11 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,153 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

What strategy should investors use in Birchwood, WI?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Birchwood, WI. With home values at $363K and rents near $873/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

Is the tenant base reliable in Birchwood, WI?

The renter base in Birchwood, WI is reasonable for the $873/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

How much is rent in Birchwood, WI?

Birchwood, WI rentals go for roughly $873/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $363K acquisition costs.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Birchwood, WI?

Rental vacancy in Birchwood, WI is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is Birchwood, WI landlord-friendly?

WI law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Birchwood inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 54817 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54817 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 54817 (Birchwood)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 54817 (Birchwood, WI).

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