The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 53221 sells for about $284,900, or $168 per square foot.
Prices are up +4.2% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 32 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,119 a month.
ZIP 53221 — Milwaukee
The 53221 housing market remains stable with moderate price appreciation driven by limited inventory and consistent demand from local buyers. While the area trades at a discount compared to outer-ring suburbs, it continues to attract value-conscious families and investors. Market conditions are currently balanced, with steady sales activity and manageable days-on-market figures.
This ZIP is well-suited for first-time family buyers and long-term investors seeking value-oriented housing, as it offers a more affordable entry point into the Milwaukee market compared to neighboring suburban municipalities.
Median prices moved up 4.2% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 32 days on market with 2.4 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
18% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.7% · poverty 14.6% — 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 7.8%/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 7.2%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
in-migration and out-migration balanced
ZCTA 53221, 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.
Crime rates in the 53221 area are generally consistent with broader Milwaukee urban trends, with property crime being the primary concern for residents compared to regional suburban benchmarks.
Schools serving the area are part of the Milwaukee Public Schools system, which faces ongoing challenges regarding performance metrics and resource allocation compared to neighboring suburban districts.
The area is primarily an urban environment with standard regional risks; flood exposure is localized to specific low-lying areas near drainage basins, and wind/storm insurance is a standard consideration for Wisconsin homeowners.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to Milwaukee's industrial and service sectors, with steady but modest infill development rather than large-scale new construction projects.
Property taxes are levied by the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County, with rates determined by annual millage adjustments; the area does not feature significant special district (MUD/PID) overlays common in newer suburban developments.
Residents benefit from direct access to I-43 and I-94, providing a standard 15-20 minute commute to downtown Milwaukee's employment core.
The area features access to local parks such as Wilson Park and proximity to the Kinnickinnic River Parkway, with retail and dining concentrated along the S. 27th Street corridor.
The rental market is characterized by steady demand from long-term tenants, with moderate vacancy pressure and a significant presence of individual investor-owned single-family rentals.
The local economy is anchored by Milwaukee's diverse industrial base, healthcare systems, and proximity to regional logistics hubs.
The area is served by MCTS bus routes connecting to downtown Milwaukee, with primary transit reliance on the highway network.
Development is primarily focused on small-scale residential renovations and commercial infill along major thoroughfares.
The Milwaukee County assessment regime utilizes annual market-value appraisals to determine property tax liability.
Parcels are primarily served by the Milwaukee Public Schools district and Milwaukee Area Technical College district.
Property insurance premiums are stable but reflect regional exposure to severe weather events common in the Great Lakes region.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
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™ Caledonia4.38.7 mi
- Slick City Action Park4.48.3 mi
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park4.412.7 mi
- Dave & Buster's Wauwatosa3.98.6 mi
- Round1 Bowling & Arcade - Greendale3.82.9 mi
- American Family Field4.75 mi
- Fiserv Forum4.76.3 mi
- Milwaukee Public Market4.75.7 mi
- Wisconsin State Fair Park4.55.5 mi
- Baird Center4.55.9 mi
- Milwaukee County Zoo4.66.9 mi
- Harley-Davidson Museum®4.75.4 mi
- Milwaukee Art Museum4.86.3 mi
- Mitchell Park Domes Horticulture Conservatory4.74.8 mi
- Lakefront Brewery4.67.1 mi
- Harley-Davidson Museum®4.75.4 mi
- Milwaukee Art Museum4.86.3 mi
- Milwaukee Public Museum4.85.9 mi
- Discovery World4.66.1 mi
- Miller High Life Theatre®4.56 mi
- Mitchell Park Domes Horticulture Conservatory4.74.8 mi
- Boerner Botanical Gardens4.74.5 mi
- Seven Bridges4.85.6 mi
- Friends of Firefly Grove Park4.98.7 mi
- Bradford Beach4.68.1 mi
- South Shore Yacht Club4.64.3 mi
- McKinley Marina Central Docks4.67 mi
- Reefpoint Marina4.618 mi
- Milwaukee Yacht Club4.57.2 mi
- South Milwaukee Yacht Club4.56.4 mi
- Muskego Lakes Country Club4.39.5 mi
- Oakwood Park Golf Course4.46.5 mi
- New Berlin Hills Golf Course4.37.3 mi
- Whitnall Park Golf Course4.24.8 mi
- Greenfield Park Golf Course4.17 mi
- Mayfair4.28.8 mi
- Milwaukee Public Market4.75.7 mi
- Southridge Mall4.12.9 mi
- 3rd St. Market Hall4.55.9 mi
- 7 Mile Fair4.28.7 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Large community park featuring sports fields, a swimming pool, and ice rink.
Major commercial artery providing extensive retail, grocery, and restaurant options.
Linear park system offering walking and biking trails.
Deterministic aggregate of 2 researched properties in this ZIP (latest reading each) — each property weighs one; per point, properties lacking the value are excluded. Property-level records (taxes, scores, permits) never roll individually.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.