Real Estate Investing in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (54979)

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

Fond du Lac County • Population: 1,879 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 54979 (Fond du Lac, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (77/100)

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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.4 — 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 Fond du Lac, WI (54979)?

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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 $368,169
Avg Monthly Rent $1,044
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $88,068
% Renters 10.7%

Market Analysis: 54979 Fond du Lac

Investors eyeing 54979 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $368K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $368K asset, 54979 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 54979 among WI's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 54979 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Fond du Lac's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 54979. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Fond du Lac:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,044/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$385K$336K$287K$237K$188K$139KNov 2008Sep 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 54979 Compare?

Metric 54979 Fond du Lac Fond du Lac, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $368,169 $241,132 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 8.0% 7.8% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,044 $1,220 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 54979? 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 54979 (Fond du Lac, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.0%
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 $368,169
Monthly Rent $1,044
Price-to-Rent 29.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
4.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 54979

Population: 1,879

💰 Median Household Income
$88,068
This area
$88,068
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.3%
This area
14.3%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.1 years
This area
38.1 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.5%
Other/Mixed 1.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
30.0%
This area
30.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 2,240 Off-Campus Students
C+
Moraine Park Technical College
3,532 students · 8.4 mi
C
Marian University
1,319 students · 8.6 mi
C+
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
13,761 students · 10.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,240 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Fond du Lac, WI?

Fond du Lac, WI clocks in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $368K and average rents around $1,044/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Fond du Lac, WI?

Occupancy in Fond du Lac, WI runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,044/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is the tenant base reliable in Fond du Lac, WI?

Tenant demand in Fond du Lac, WI is solid. The local workforce $1,044/mo rents across most rental classes.

Which real estate strategy fits Fond du Lac, WI?

The best-fit strategy in Fond du Lac, WI is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

How much is rent in Fond du Lac, WI?

Fond du Lac, WI rentals go for roughly $1,044/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $368K acquisition costs.

You know 54979 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 54979 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 54979 ranks in Fond du Lac, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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