Is Milwaukee County, WI good for real estate investing?

Milwaukee County has an investment score of 63/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #398 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Milwaukee?

The rent-to-price ratio in Milwaukee County is 6.12% annually, which ranks in the 57th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Milwaukee?

The median home price in Milwaukee County is $273,685. This ranks #674 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Milwaukee?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Milwaukee County would generate negative cash flow of $528/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Milwaukee County

WisconsinPopulation: 933,063Milwaukee, WI Metro

/100

Buy

#398 of 1,000 counties

#36 in Wisconsin (72 counties)

Market Snapshot

$273,685

Median Home Price

20% above national median

$1,396/mo

Median Rent

2% above national median

6.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 43% nationally

-$528

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$273,685

Down Payment (20%)$54,737

Loan Amount$218,948

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,396

Monthly P&I-$1,435

Est. Expenses (35%)-$489

Net Cash Flow-$528/mo

4.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-10.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.0% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

63/100

Cash Flow(30%)

61/100

Based on 6.12% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

81/100

Based on 3.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

61/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.6x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$528/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

933,063

Median Income

$59,319

vs $51,665 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

4.6x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
WoodWI	65	$215,899	$903	5.02%	Buy	View
IowaWI	64	$328,046	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
WashburnWI	64	$293,704	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
CurrentMilwaukeeWI	63	$273,685	$1,396	6.12%	Buy
BurnettWI	63	$284,209	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
ManitowocWI	63	$247,163	$1,019	4.95%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyMilwaukee offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Milwaukee County in Wisconsin scores 63/100, ranking #398 of 1,000 US counties (top 40%). The 6.12% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-528/mo

Cap Rate

4.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-10.1%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Milwaukee?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$273,685

Down Payment (20%)$54,737

Loan Amount$218,948

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,396

Monthly P&I-$1,435

Est. Expenses (35%)-$489

Net Cash Flow-$528/mo

4.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-10.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.0% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

63/100

Cash Flow(30%)

61/100

Based on 6.12% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

81/100

Based on 3.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

61/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.6x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

WoodWI

$215,899

$903

5.02%

Buy

View

IowaWI

$328,046

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

WashburnWI

$293,704

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

CurrentMilwaukeeWI

$273,685

$1,396

6.12%

Buy

BurnettWI

$284,209

Est. pending

—

Buy

View

ManitowocWI

$247,163

$1,019

4.95%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyMilwaukee offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-528/mo

Cap Rate

4.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-10.1%