Real Estate Investing in Washburn, Wisconsin (54891)

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

Bayfield County • Population: 3,327 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54891 (Washburn, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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: 13.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.0 — 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 Washburn, WI (54891)?

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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 $282,688
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,443
% Renters 23.6%

Market Analysis: 54891 Washburn

Looking more closely, ZIP 54891 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $283K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $283K asset, 54891 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Meanwhile, 54891 offers a low basis, the region around Washburn has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

From an investor standpoint, 3,327 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

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 Washburn:

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 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
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)

$299K$259K$220K$181K$142K$102KOct 2008Sep 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54891 Compare?

Metric 54891 Washburn Wisconsin
Home Value $282,688 $282,688 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 7.9% 7.9% 7.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 54891? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 54891 (Washburn, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $282,688
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 27.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 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
13.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54891

Population: 3,327

💰 Median Household Income
$62,443
This area
$62,443
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.6%
This area
23.6%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.0%
This area
41.0%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.1 years
This area
49.1 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.0%
Other/Mixed 10.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Black/African American 2.1%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.7%
This area
25.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
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 54891

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$18,010 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Washburn Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,010 Per Student
A Very Good

Washburn Middle

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
84 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,010 Per Student
A Very Good

Washburn High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
189 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,010 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
C
Northland College
485 students · 9.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Washburn, WI?

Washburn, WI rentals go for roughly $873/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $283K acquisition costs.

What are vacancy rates like in Washburn, WI?

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

Which real estate strategy fits Washburn, WI?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Washburn, WI. The numbers - $283K homes against $873/mo rents - support that play.

How expensive is real estate in Washburn, WI?

Median home price in Washburn, WI is near $283K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Washburn, WI?

House hacking in Washburn, WI is a challenging. With home values around $283K and rents at $873/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

You know 54891 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54891 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.

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