Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
A $323,000 home here costs
$2,690per 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 $115,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,761. The real number is $929 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Walworth 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 Geneva against Walworth County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Lake Geneva | Walworth County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $323,000 | $275,900 |
| Median property tax | $4,596 | $3,964 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.423% | 1.437% |
| Median gross rent | $1,250 | $1,090 |
| Population | 8,443 | 105,447 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lake Geneva sits in Walworth County, which averages a high of 82.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.4°F in its coldest, with 36.74" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 631 cooling and 6,933 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Walworth County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Walworth County
Full Walworth County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lake Geneva 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 Geneva every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lake Geneva I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lake Geneva?
A $323,000 home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,690 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,761 principal and interest, $383 property tax, $83 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $269 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lake Geneva?
Lake Geneva has an effective property tax rate of 1.423%, based on a median home value of $323,000 and median real estate taxes of $4,596. That is lower than the Walworth County average of 1.437%.
What is the average home price in Lake Geneva?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is $323,000, against $275,900 across Walworth County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Geneva?
Median gross rent in Lake Geneva is $1,250 a month, against $2,690 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 Geneva?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $115,500 a year. That covers the full $2,690 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake Geneva, 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.