Real Estate Investing in Cable, Wisconsin (54821)

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

Bayfield County • Population: 1,512 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54821 (Cable, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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: 59.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 37.2 — 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 Cable, WI (54821)?

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

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $389,506
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,932
% Renters 12.3%

Market Analysis: 54821 Cable

Investors eyeing 54821 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $390K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $390K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 54821 is substantial and deserves full respect.

On the rental side, 54821 offers a low basis, the region around Cable has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 54821 ZIP's population of 1,512 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that comes in at the need for careful underwriting.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Cable:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
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: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 54821

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$138,813/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $326,975 $970 2.1% +8.9% $163,487
3BR $416,439 $1,280 2.2% +7.9% $138,813

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$411K$362K$313K$263K$214K$165KOct 2008Sep 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54821 Compare?

Metric 54821 Cable Wisconsin
Home Value $389,506 $389,506 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 54821? 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 54821 (Cable, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 54821 (Cable, WI)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $389,506
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 37.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
59.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54821

Population: 1,512

💰 Median Household Income
$54,932
This area
$54,932
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.3%
This area
12.3%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.9%
This area
35.9%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
59.5 years
This area
59.5 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
59.4%
This area
59.4%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.8%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Hispanic/Latino 2.0%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
15.9%
This area
15.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
35.3%
This area
35.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Cable, WI?

Expect elevated vacancy in Cable, WI. Rents at $873/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Cable, WI a friendly market for rental owners?

WI ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Cable generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Does Cable, WI make sense for an investment property?

Cable, WI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $390K and rents near $873/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is the tenant base reliable in Cable, WI?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Cable, WI. The rental market absorbs $873/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What do landlords charge for rent in Cable, WI?

Cable, WI rentals go for roughly $873/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $390K acquisition costs.

You know 54821 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54821 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 54821 (Cable)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 54821 (Cable, WI).

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