Why does down payment vary across Wisconsin?

Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.

Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.

Can I find lower-down options?

Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.

Buyer authority WI

Estimated owner-finance down payment by city in Wisconsin.

Down payments scale with home prices but flex by financing type. This ranks Wisconsin cities by an estimated typical down payment on an owner-financed or low-down deal (12% of estimated median home value). This is a modeled directional comparison, not a survey of actual closings.

Last updated November 2026

Wisconsin ranking

50 cities ranked. Click any row for the matching local page.

#	City	Est. typical down payment	Score
1	Whitewater	$24,600	82	View →
2	Marinette	$24,000	82	View →
3	Antigo	$23,900	82	View →
4	Ashland	$24,000	82	View →
5	Black River Falls	$24,500	82	View →
6	Clintonville	$24,600	82	View →
7	Cudahy	$25,200	81	View →
8	Two Rivers	$25,200	81	View →
9	Platteville	$24,700	81	View →
10	Hayward	$25,100	81	View →
11	Saint Francis	$24,800	81	View →
12	Nekoosa	$25,200	81	View →
13	Prairie Du Chien	$25,200	81	View →
14	Beloit	$26,200	80	View →
15	Shawano	$25,900	80	View →
16	Rice Lake	$25,700	80	View →
17	Waupun	$26,400	80	View →
18	Reedsburg	$26,300	80	View →
19	Medford	$26,000	80	View →
20	Richland Center	$25,700	80	View →
21	Tomahawk	$26,200	80	View →
22	Wisconsin Rapids	$26,900	79	View →
23	Merrill	$27,100	79	View →
24	Sparta	$27,200	79	View →
25	Tomah	$27,200	79	View →
26	Delavan	$26,900	79	View →
27	Viroqua	$27,000	79	View →
28	Mauston	$26,600	79	View →
29	Mondovi	$26,900	79	View →
30	La Crosse	$28,100	78	View →
31	Superior	$28,100	78	View →
32	Beaver Dam	$27,800	78	View →
33	South Milwaukee	$27,700	78	View →
34	Rhinelander	$27,600	78	View →
35	Baraboo	$27,400	78	View →
36	Sturgeon Bay	$28,000	78	View →
37	Monroe	$28,100	78	View →
38	Portage	$27,800	78	View →
39	Ripon	$27,500	78	View →
40	Jefferson	$27,500	78	View →
41	Berlin	$27,500	78	View →
42	Manitowoc	$29,000	77	View →
43	Menomonie	$28,300	77	View →
44	Amery	$28,700	77	View →
45	Waupaca	$29,800	76	View →
46	New London	$29,800	76	View →
47	Wisconsin Dells	$29,900	76	View →
48	Chilton	$30,000	76	View →
49	Janesville	$30,400	75	View →
50	Edgerton	$30,200	75	View →

Methodology

Estimated down = 12% of estimated median home value (representative of owner-financed and low-down deals). Conventional loans typically require 20%; FHA can be 3.5%. Use as a directional comparison.

FAQ

Why does down payment vary across Wisconsin?: Home prices vary widely; a 12% down payment scales with the local median. Owner financing often accepts less.
Is 12% realistic?: Yes, owner-finance deals commonly land in the 10-20% range. Conventional underwriting usually wants 20% to avoid PMI.
Can I find lower-down options?: Browse low-down-payment homes by city, many owner-finance and lease-option deals sit under 10%.