The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 54817 sells for about $341,000, or $215 per square foot.
Prices are up +11% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 88 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $824 a month.
ZIP 54817 — Birchwood
The Birchwood housing market remains stable, driven by strong demand for recreational and lakefront properties. While inventory is limited, the market is seeing steady price appreciation consistent with broader regional trends in Northern Wisconsin.
This ZIP is ideal for retirees, vacation-home buyers, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a quiet, lake-centric lifestyle, rather than commuters or urban professionals.
Median prices moved up 11.0% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 88 days on market with 6.2 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 97.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.0% · poverty 13.6% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 7.7%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 54817
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is served by the Birchwood School District, which maintains a small-town educational environment with limited regional comparative data.
The region is characterized by significant forest cover, presenting a moderate wildfire risk, while lakefront properties face localized flood considerations.
Economic momentum is driven primarily by tourism, outdoor recreation, and small-scale local services, with limited large-scale industrial development.
Property taxes are assessed at the municipal and county levels based on fair market value, with rates influenced by local school district levies.
Commutes are primarily rural, involving significant drive times to regional employment hubs like Rice Lake or Hayward.
The area is a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts, featuring extensive access to the Red Cedar Lake chain, numerous hiking trails, and seasonal fishing and boating.
The rental market is heavily influenced by seasonal demand and short-term vacation rentals, leading to limited long-term housing availability.
The local economy is anchored by tourism, hospitality, and small-scale retail, with many residents commuting to larger nearby towns for professional services.
Transportation is entirely dependent on private vehicles, with no public transit infrastructure available.
Development is largely focused on residential infill and recreational property improvements rather than large-scale commercial projects.
Parcels are subject to local school district taxes and county-level levies for emergency services and infrastructure.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to regional wildfire risk and the high cost of replacing lakefront structures.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A major recreational anchor for boating, fishing, and water sports.
Central community space for local events and outdoor gatherings.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.