The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 53205 sells for about $122,100, or $131 per square foot.
Prices are down 18.7% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 59 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $869 a month.
ZIP 53205 — Milwaukee
The 53205 housing market is currently experiencing a correction, with median prices declining year-over-year as inventory remains tight. High renter cost burdens and significant poverty rates continue to drive market dynamics, favoring investors over traditional family buyers. The area remains a niche, low-cost entry point within the Milwaukee market.
This ZIP is primarily suited for investors and budget-conscious renters or buyers looking for proximity to downtown Milwaukee, as the area offers some of the most accessible entry-level price points in the city.
Median prices moved down 18.7% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 59 days on market with 2.8 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
2% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 94.4% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 14.5% · poverty 45.0% — elevated distress and economic pressure.
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 4.9%/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 2.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net outflow — more people moved out than in
ZCTA 53205, Milwaukee County WI
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 experiences higher rates of violent and property crime compared to the broader Milwaukee regional average, reflecting ongoing urban safety challenges.
Public schools serving this ZIP are generally characterized by lower performance metrics and accountability ratings compared to suburban districts in the Milwaukee metro area.
The area is primarily an urban environment with standard municipal flood and wind risk profiles; insurance premiums are influenced by the broader Milwaukee urban market conditions.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to downtown Milwaukee's employment core, though the ZIP itself faces significant challenges regarding infrastructure investment and commercial development.
Property taxes are levied by the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County, with additional assessments from Milwaukee Public Schools and Milwaukee Area Technical College districts.
Residents benefit from excellent proximity to downtown Milwaukee, with short drive times and access to local transit corridors serving the city's primary employment hubs.
The area features several local parks and community centers, with proximity to the larger cultural and recreational amenities of downtown Milwaukee and the lakefront.
The rental market is characterized by high demand for affordable housing units, with significant investor presence and ongoing pressure on vacancy rates.
The local economy is heavily influenced by the broader Milwaukee industrial and service sectors, with many residents commuting to downtown or nearby manufacturing hubs.
The area is served by Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) bus routes, providing connectivity to the wider Milwaukee metropolitan area.
Development is focused on small-scale infill housing and community-led revitalization efforts rather than large-scale commercial projects.
The Milwaukee County assessment regime utilizes annual market-based valuations for property tax purposes.
Parcels are subject to Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District assessments.
Property insurance availability is standard for urban Milwaukee, though premiums are sensitive to regional claims history and property age.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 53205 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.
- Jellystone Park™ Caledonia4.315.2 mi
- Slick City Action Park4.45.9 mi
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park4.412.1 mi
- Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa3.95.6 mi
- Round1 Bowling & Arcade - Greendale3.88 mi
- American Family Field4.72.5 mi
- Fiserv Forum4.71.2 mi
- Milwaukee Public Market4.72 mi
- Wisconsin State Fair Park4.54.5 mi
- Baird Center4.51.4 mi
- Milwaukee County Zoo4.65.4 mi
- Harley-Davidson Museum®4.71.9 mi
- Milwaukee Art Museum4.82.3 mi
- Mitchell Park Domes Horticulture Conservatory4.72 mi
- Lakefront Brewery4.61.7 mi
- Harley-Davidson Museum®4.71.9 mi
- Milwaukee Art Museum4.82.3 mi
- Milwaukee Public Museum4.81.3 mi
- Discovery World4.62.5 mi
- Miller High Life Theatre®4.51.4 mi
- Mitchell Park Domes Horticulture Conservatory4.72 mi
- Boerner Botanical Gardens4.79.4 mi
- Seven Bridges4.810.2 mi
- Friends of Firefly Grove Park4.96 mi
- Bradford Beach4.63.2 mi
- South Shore Yacht Club4.64.8 mi
- McKinley Marina Central Docks4.62.6 mi
- Milwaukee Yacht Club4.52.7 mi
- South Milwaukee Yacht Club4.511.3 mi
- CenterPointe Marine Milwaukee4.42.7 mi
- Brown Deer Park Golf Course4.57 mi
- Dretzka Park Golf Course4.49.9 mi
- Wanaki Golf Course4.412.3 mi
- New Berlin Hills Golf Course4.37.8 mi
- Whitnall Park Golf Course4.210.2 mi
- Mayfair4.25.4 mi
- Milwaukee Public Market4.72 mi
- Southridge Mall4.18 mi
- 3rd St. Market Hall4.51.6 mi
- Bayshore4.24.8 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A historic and culturally significant neighborhood with community-led development initiatives.
A major thoroughfare providing local retail and service access.
Key-figure check: median price diverges 18.1% from the nearest retained anchor (published ten-year series (2025)) — beyond the 12.5% tolerance; an automated validation case is open and the value publishes pending its verdict. Research outlier held out — this pass returned a median of $100,000 (18.1% off the retained reading), contradicting every independent anchor; the prior reading stands pending corroboration. Validation: the flagged $100,000 (-18.1% vs the published ten-year series (2025)) could not be independently corroborated and was reverted to the prior cycle value pending review; the case is under review in the Command Center.