Real Estate Investing in Ripon, Wisconsin (54971)

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

Fond du Lac County • Population: 10,783 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 54971 (Ripon, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Ripon, WI (54971)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $266,931
Avg Monthly Rent $1,495
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,861
% Renters 29.8%

Market Analysis: 54971 Ripon

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Ripon's 54971 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $267K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 54971 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 54971 and stronger Ripon ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 54971 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 54971 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 Ripon:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,495/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
Fond du Lac, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
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 Fond du Lac, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 54971

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$59,198/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $186,209 $970 3.8% +10.7% $93,105
3BR $228,485 $1,270 4.0% +9.8% $76,162
4BR $264,208 $1,430 3.9% +9.2% $66,052
5BR $295,992 +8.2% $59,198

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$279K$244K$209K$174K$138K$103KNov 2008Sep 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 54971 Compare?

Metric 54971 Ripon Fond du Lac, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $266,931 $266,931 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 8.3% 8.3% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,495 $1,495 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54971? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 54971 (Ripon, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.3%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fond du Lac, WI metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $266,931
Monthly Rent $1,495
Price-to-Rent 14.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 12.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
8.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54971

Population: 10,783

💰 Median Household Income
$64,861
This area
$64,861
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.8%
This area
29.8%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.2%
This area
26.2%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.9 years
This area
43.9 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.3%
Other/Mixed 5.9%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
Black/African American 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.3%
This area
7.3%
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 54971

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,286 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Ripon Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
295 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,286 Per Student
A Very Good

Ripon High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
448 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,286 Per Student
A Very Good

Murray Park Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,286 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Journey

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
222 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,286 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Barlow Park Charter School

📚 K – 02 Elementary Charter
👥
157 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,286 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Quest Charter School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
156 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,286 Per Student
B Good

Odyssey Academy of Virtual Learning

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
224 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,286 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
Ripon College
734 students · 1.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Ripon, WI?

Ripon, WI scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $267K and rents near $1,495/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Where do rents currently stand in Ripon, WI?

Ripon, WI rentals go for roughly $1,495/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $267K acquisition costs.

What kind of tenants rent in Ripon, WI?

The tenant pool in Ripon, WI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,495/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What are vacancy rates like in Ripon, WI?

Expect elevated vacancy in Ripon, WI. Rents at $1,495/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Ripon, WI?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Ripon, WI reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 54971 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54971 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 54971 ranks in Fond du Lac, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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