Real Estate Investing in Gordon, Wisconsin (54838)

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

Douglas County • Population: 1,302 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54838 (Gordon, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 70.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.7 — 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 Gordon, WI (54838)?

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 $299,486
Avg Monthly Rent $936
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,750
% Renters 7.3%

Market Analysis: 54838 Gordon

The 54838 ZIP in Gordon, WI is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $299K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 54838 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $299K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 54838's metrics run below Douglas County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 54838 ZIP's population of 1,302 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

The 54838 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 Gordon:

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 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $936/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Duluth, MN-WI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
49 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Duluth, MN-WI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$315K$273K$230K$188K$145K$103KJul 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54838 Compare?

Metric 54838 Gordon Duluth, MN-WI Wisconsin
Home Value $299,486 $299,486 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $936 $936 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54838? 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 54838 (Gordon, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 54838 (Gordon, WI)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $299,486
Monthly Rent $936
Price-to-Rent 26.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
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: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
70.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54838

Population: 1,302

💰 Median Household Income
$73,750
This area
$73,750
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.3%
This area
7.3%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.7%
This area
30.7%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
60.6 years
This area
60.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
70.3%
This area
70.3%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.8%
Other/Mixed 7.4%
Black/African American 1.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
10.1%
This area
10.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
39.7%
This area
39.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
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 54838

D Avg School Grade
1 Schools
$8,695 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

D Needs Improvement

Gordon Correctional Center

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$8,695 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 is the median home value in Gordon, WI?

Typical homes in Gordon, WI go for around $299K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

How strict are landlord regulations in Gordon, WI?

Rental owners in Gordon, WI deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Are renters plentiful in Gordon, WI?

Gordon, WI draws a reliable base of working renters. Demand at the $936/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What investment strategy works best in Gordon, WI?

In Gordon, WI the notable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $299K prices and $936/mo rents suits that approach.

Is house hacking profitable in Gordon, WI?

House hacking works a challenging in Gordon, WI. Rents of $936/mo against $299K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 54838 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54838 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

How 54838 ranks in Duluth, MN-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 54838 (Gordon)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 54838 (Gordon, WI).

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