Real Estate Investing in Appleton, Wisconsin (54914)

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

Outagamie County • Population: 31,448 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54914 (Appleton, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Appleton, WI (54914)?

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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 $314,212
Avg Monthly Rent $1,229
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,546
% Renters 37.7%

Market Analysis: 54914 Appleton

Investors eyeing 54914 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $314K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $314K asset, 54914 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 54914 and stronger Appleton ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A healthy renter share of 38% in 54914 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 54914 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $314K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Appleton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,229/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Appleton, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
4.3%
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 Appleton, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 54914

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$71,880/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $213,862 $1,170 3.9% +10.9% $106,931
3BR $282,170 $1,610 4.1% +10.2% $94,057
4BR $328,691 $1,680 3.7% +10.0% $82,173
5BR $359,399 +9.7% $71,880

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$330K$285K$241K$196K$151K$107KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,431$1,354$1,277$1,200$1,124$1,047Jan 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54914 Compare?

Metric 54914 Appleton Appleton, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $314,212 $288,194 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 9.1% 8.2% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,229 $1,333 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54914? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 38% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 54914 (Appleton, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Appleton, WI metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
26%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $314,212
Monthly Rent $1,229
Price-to-Rent 21.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 12.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -12.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.9% ▼
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
3.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54914

Population: 31,448

💰 Median Household Income
$73,546
This area
$73,546
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.7%
This area
37.7%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.6%
This area
30.6%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.6 years
This area
37.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.9%
Other/Mixed 10.1%
Hispanic/Latino 6.1%
Asian 5.8%
Black/African American 2.2%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
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 54914

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,757 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Badger Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
A Very Good

Highlands Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
A Very Good

Ronald C Dunlap Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
375 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
A Very Good

Jefferson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
264 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
A Very Good

Houdini Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
560 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
A Very Good

Wilson Middle

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
381 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,118 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
B Good

Odyssey-Magellan

📚 02 – 08 School
👥
214 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
C+ Average

Fox River Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
129 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
C Below Average

Appleton Technical Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
76 Students
👨‍🏫
22.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 Per Student
C Below Average

Renaissance School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
156 Students
👨‍🏫
37.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,757 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

4 Nearby 6,487 Off-Campus Students
C
Academy of Beauty Professionals
77 students · 1.0 mi
C+
The Salon Professional Academy-Appleton
85 students · 1.2 mi
C+
Fox Valley Technical College
10,995 students · 1.8 mi
C+
Lawrence University
1,410 students · 4.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,487 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Appleton, WI?

Appleton, WI reports an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $314K and average rents around $1,229/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

How strong are rents in Appleton, WI?

The typical rental in Appleton, WI commands about $1,229/mo monthly. That rent profile stable cash flow against the $314K purchase basis.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Appleton, WI?

Occupancy in Appleton, WI runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,229/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How strong is the working-renter base in Appleton, WI?

Tenant demand in Appleton, WI is solid. The local workforce $1,229/mo rents across most rental classes.

What strategy should investors use in Appleton, WI?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Appleton, WI best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $314K price point.

You know 54914 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54914 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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How 54914 ranks in Appleton, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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