Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lake Forest, Illinois
A $910,000 home here costs
$7,111per 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 $305,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,961. The real number is $2,150 higher every month, 43% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Lake County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lake Forest against Lake County and Illinois
| Measure | Lake Forest | Lake County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $909,800 | $326,600 |
| Median property tax | $10,001 | $8,743 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.099% | 2.677% |
| Median gross rent | $2,120 | $1,434 |
| Population | 19,190 | 711,885 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lake Forest sits in Lake County, which averages a high of 83.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.3°F in its coldest, with 39.51" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 806 cooling and 6,366 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Lake County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Lake County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lake Forest 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 Lake Forest every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lake Forest I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lake Forest?
A $910,000 home in Lake Forest, Illinois costs approximately $7,111 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $4,961 principal and interest, $833 property tax, $356 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $758 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest has an effective property tax rate of 1.099%, based on a median home value of $909,800 and median real estate taxes of $10,001. That is lower than the Lake County average of 2.677%.
What is the average home price in Lake Forest?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lake Forest, Illinois is $909,800, against $326,600 across Lake County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Forest?
Median gross rent in Lake Forest is $2,120 a month, against $7,111 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 Lake Forest?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake Forest, Illinois at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $305,000 a year. That covers the full $7,111 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake Forest, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Illinois.
- 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.