Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Chain O' Lakes, Wisconsin
A $663,000 home here costs
$5,243per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $224,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $3,615. The real number is $1,628 higher every month, 45% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Waupaca County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Chain O' Lakes from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,006 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Waupaca County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Chain O' Lakes against Waupaca County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Chain O' Lakes | Waupaca County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $662,700 | $192,800 |
| Median property tax | $8,533 | $2,876 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.288% | 1.492% |
| Median gross rent | $730 | $834 |
| Population | 1,006 | 51,714 |
The weather behind that power bill
Chain O' Lakes sits in Waupaca County, which averages a high of 82.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 7.6°F in its coldest, with 33.81" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 495 cooling and 7,831 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Waupaca County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Waupaca County
Full Waupaca County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Chain O' Lakes averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Chain O' Lakes every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Chain O' Lakes I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Chain O' Lakes?
A $663,000 home in Chain O' Lakes, Wisconsin costs approximately $5,243 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $3,615 principal and interest, $712 property tax, $171 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $553 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Chain O' Lakes?
Chain O' Lakes has an effective property tax rate of 1.288%, based on a median home value of $662,700 and median real estate taxes of $8,533. That is lower than the Waupaca County average of 1.492%.
What is the average home price in Chain O' Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home value in Chain O' Lakes, Wisconsin is $662,700, against $192,800 across Waupaca County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Chain O' Lakes?
Median gross rent in Chain O' Lakes is $730 a month, against $5,243 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Chain O' Lakes?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Chain O' Lakes, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $224,500 a year. That covers the full $5,243 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Chain O' Lakes, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Wisconsin.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.