Rusk, WI housing market
Home prices around Rusk have risen about 90% over the past 5 years. Builders were permitted 8 new homes in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Rusk compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 90% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP codes around Rusk rose 90% over the past 5 years, faster than across Wisconsin (57%). Last year prices rose 11%.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Wisconsin since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +11% | +202% | +143% |
| 2024 | +21% | +173% | +131% |
| 2023 | +1.7% | +125% | +116% |
| 2022 | +17% | +121% | +95% |
| 2021 | +19% | +89% | +70% |
| 2020 | +4.6% | +59% | +54% |
| 2019 | +1.9% | +52% | +50% |
| 2018 | +8% | +49% | +43% |
| 2017 | −1% | +38% | +36% |
| 2016 | +5.1% | +39% | +29% |
| 2015 | +3.1% | +33% | +24% |
| 2014 | +2.2% | +29% | +21% |
| 2013 | −0.7% | +26% | +19% |
| 2012 | +0.8% | +27% | +19% |
| 2011 | −4.6% | +26% | +21% |
| 2010 | −2.6% | +32% | +25% |
| 2009 | −5.6% | +35% | +31% |
| 2008 | +3.7% | +43% | +36% |
| 2007 | −0.7% | +38% | +38% |
| 2006 | +5.8% | +39% | +36% |
| 2005 | +3.3% | +32% | +32% |
| 2004 | +13% | +27% | +21% |
| 2003 | +1.6% | +13% | +13% |
| 2002 | +5.7% | +11% | +9.3% |
| 2001 | +5.5% | +5.5% | +5.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP codes 54728, 54895, covering 65% of Rusk’s land, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost.
8 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 8 new homes in Rusk in 2025, all single-family houses, worth about $2.7 million to build. Over the past 10 years, Rusk has permitted 66 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Rusk gained 26 residents while 49 new homes were permitted: about 0.5 new residents per new home. Building outpaced population growth, which usually means smaller households or homes used part of the year. 52% of Rusk's homes are seasonal or vacation homes, which adds housing without adding residents. Across Wisconsin: 1.3 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2025 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $2.7 million |
| 2024 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2023 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $2.1 million |
| 2022 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $2.1 million |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 | 0 | $2.4 million |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.4 million |
| 2019 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.9 million |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2017 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $961,000 |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $801,000 |
| 2015 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $801,000 |
| 2014 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $641,000 |
| 2013 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $641,000 |
| 2012 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $641,000 |
| 2011 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $641,000 |
| 2010 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $641,000 |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $967,000 |
| 2008 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2006 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1 million |
| 2005 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2004 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1 million |
| 2003 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $700,000 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $700,000 |
| 2001 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $600,000 |
| 2000 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $550,000 |
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Rusk and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusk | — | +10.6%† | $1,040 | 8 | $76,402 |
| Big Bend | — | — | $1,010 | 2 | $67,813 |
| Chetek | $294K | +4.9% | $1,030 | 11 | $95,357 |
| Strickland | — | — | $1,050 | 0 | $84,500 |
| Sampson | — | +10.1%† | $1,000 | — | $78,295 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 · figures for a place this size carry wide margins of error.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,040
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Rusk is $1,040 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Rusk pay a median of $950.
Studio $760 · 4 bedrooms $1,570
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (54728, 54895; Barron County, WI), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.