Fond du Lac, WI — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Wisconsin·Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac County · Fond du Lac · population 44,469

First-time buyersInvestors
Fond du Lac, WI
Image: Wikipedia · Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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75
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Fond du Lac stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 4.6% in the last year. averaging 8.5% annual growth over 5 years. rents up 11.4% in the last year.

Median home $260,006
1-year +4.6%
5-yr CAGR +8.5%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population -0.1%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$260k$117k$168k$219k$270k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
82/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,115/mo$802$997$1,191202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent126131100120202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 19.4
Lean buy

At a 19.4 price-to-rent ratio, Fond du Lac is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
73 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
81 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
43 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
78 · w10%
Long thesis

Fond du Lac has averaged 8.5% annual appreciation over five years and the trend is still live (+4.6% in the last 12 months). When a momentum trade keeps working, the simplest explanation is usually correct: more people want in.

Short thesis

Fond du Lac's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, with an estimated population of 44,469. The median home value in Fond du Lac is $260,006 as of 2026-04, up 4.6% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +8.5% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Fond du Lac average $1,115 per month, up 11.4% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 75 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Multi-year compounder: home values up an average 8.5% per year over the last 5 years — sustained, not a one-year pop.
●Quiet strength: +4.6% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
●Hot rental market: rents up 11.4% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

▼ Bear case

●Rental squeeze: rents up 11.4% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Fond du Lac (Wikipedia)

Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is at the southern end of Lake Winnebago and had a population of 44,678 at the 2020 census. The city forms the core of the Fond du Lac metropolitan statistical area, which includes all of Fond du Lac County and had 104,154 residents in 2020.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Fond du Lac County right now.

NWS active alerts (WI)Wisconsin Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Fond du Lac County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Fond du Lac

1 tracked · ranked by median home value
1North Fond du Lac$234,439+5.9%

Cities like Fond du Lac

Sheboygan, WI76 · RisingRacine, WI76 · RisingSuperior, WI70 · RisingNeenah, WI72 · Rising

Run the numbers for Fond du Lac

ToolCan I afford Fond du Lac?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Fond du Lac rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Fond du Lac to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolFond du Lac cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
27° / 11°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
81° / 60°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
188
~52% of year
Annual precip
33″ rain
47″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Moderate
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Fond du Lac listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Fond du Lac area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
73%
Humid climate
Median household income
$72,500
Wisconsin state median
Top industries (state-level)
ManufacturingHealthcareDairy/Food

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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