Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in French Island, Wisconsin
A $198,000 home here costs
$1,756per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $75,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,088. The real number is $668 higher every month, 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare La Crosse County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for French Island from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,235 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 La Crosse 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.
French Island against La Crosse County and Wisconsin
| Measure | French Island | La Crosse County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,200 | $243,200 |
| Median property tax | $3,111 | $3,963 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.570% | 1.630% |
| Median gross rent | $983 | $1,023 |
| Population | 4,235 | 120,262 |
The weather behind that power bill
French Island sits in La Crosse County, which averages a high of 85.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.5°F in its coldest, with 35.23" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 942 cooling and 6,788 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for La Crosse County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in La Crosse County
Full La Crosse County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are French Island 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 French Island every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in French Island I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in French Island?
A $198,000 home in French Island, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,756 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,088 principal and interest, $259 property tax, $51 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $165 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in French Island?
French Island has an effective property tax rate of 1.570%, based on a median home value of $198,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,111. That is lower than the La Crosse County average of 1.630%.
What is the average home price in French Island?
The median owner-occupied home value in French Island, Wisconsin is $198,200, against $243,200 across La Crosse County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in French Island?
Median gross rent in French Island is $983 a month, against $1,756 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 French Island?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in French Island, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $75,500 a year. That covers the full $1,756 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for French Island, 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.