Real Estate Investing in Bruce, Wisconsin (54819)

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

Rusk County • Population: 2,584 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54819 (Bruce, 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: 28.0% 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 Bruce, WI (54819)?

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

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $221,824
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,414
% Renters 19.7%

Market Analysis: 54819 Bruce

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Bruce's 54819 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $222K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 54819 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $222K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Bruce have seen price recovery that 54819 has not matched. Rusk County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A healthy renter share of 20% in 54819 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 54819 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 Bruce:

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 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.9%)
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)

$235K$202K$170K$137K$105K$73KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54819 Compare?

Metric 54819 Bruce Wisconsin
Home Value $221,824 $221,824 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 8.2% 8.2% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 54819? 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 54819 (Bruce, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 54819 (Bruce, WI)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $221,824
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 21.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
28.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54819

Population: 2,584

💰 Median Household Income
$54,414
This area
$54,414
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.2 years
This area
51.2 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
28.0%
This area
28.0%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.4%
Other/Mixed 5.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.9%
Asian 0.3%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.7%
This area
26.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
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 54819

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
9.5:1 Avg Class Size
$19,809 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Bruce Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,809 Per Student
A Very Good

Bruce High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
120 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,809 Per Student
A Very Good

Bruce Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
82 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,809 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 monthly rent should investors expect in Bruce, WI?

Average rent in Bruce, WI is approximately $873/mo per month. Against $222K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is Bruce, WI better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

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

Is real estate in Bruce, WI a good investment right now?

Bruce, WI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $222K and rents near $873/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Bruce, WI?

Bruce, WI is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $222K price point reasonable to enter.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Bruce, WI?

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

You know 54819 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54819 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 54819 (Bruce)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 54819 (Bruce, WI).

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