Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Clear Lake, Wisconsin
A $172,000 home here costs
$1,517per 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 $65,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $938. The real number is $579 higher every month, 62% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Polk County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Clear Lake from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,050 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 Polk 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.
Clear Lake against Polk County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Clear Lake | Polk County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,100 | $241,200 |
| Median property tax | $2,378 | $2,947 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.382% | 1.222% |
| Median gross rent | $910 | $958 |
| Population | 1,050 | 45,327 |
The weather behind that power bill
Clear Lake sits in Polk County, which averages a high of 80.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 4.6°F in its coldest, with 32.89" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 500 cooling and 8,078 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Polk County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Polk County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Clear Lake I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Clear Lake?
A $172,000 home in Clear Lake, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,517 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $938 principal and interest, $198 property tax, $44 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $143 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Clear Lake?
Clear Lake has an effective property tax rate of 1.382%, based on a median home value of $172,100 and median real estate taxes of $2,378. That is higher than the Polk County average of 1.222%.
What is the average home price in Clear Lake?
The median owner-occupied home value in Clear Lake, Wisconsin is $172,100, against $241,200 across Polk County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clear Lake?
Median gross rent in Clear Lake is $910 a month, against $1,517 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 Clear Lake?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Clear Lake, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $65,000 a year. That covers the full $1,517 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Clear Lake, 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.