Cost to Own
United States › Illinois › McHenry County › Lake in the Hills Population 28,853 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $1,183 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full McHenry County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Lake in the Hills, Illinois

A $296,000 home here costs

$2,797

per 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 $120,000 a year.

P&I 58%Tax 22%Insurance 4%Utilities 7%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,614. The real number is $1,183 higher every month, 73% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare McHenry County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Lake in the Hills median: $296,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
IL average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $236,800 borrowed $1,614
Property tax2.508% effective rate for Lake in the Hills itself $619
Homeowners insuranceIllinois averages $1,223/yr (NAIC), or 0.47% of home value $116
Electricity19.32ยข/kWh, Illinois residential average, EIA $134
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $247
Total monthly $2,797

Lake in the Hills against McHenry County and Illinois

MeasureLake in the HillsMcHenry County
Median home value$296,400$286,900
Median property tax$7,434$7,153
Effective tax rate2.508%2.493%
Median gross rent$1,634$1,358
Population28,853311,366

The weather behind that power bill

Lake in the Hills sits in McHenry County, which averages a high of 84.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 14.2°F in its coldest, with 39.35" of precipitation a year and 36% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 771 cooling and 6,520 heating degree days, which is what sets the $134 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for McHenry County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in McHenry County

Full McHenry County cost breakdown · Every county in Illinois

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Lake in the Hills 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 in the Hills every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Lake in the Hills I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Lake in the Hills?

A $296,000 home in Lake in the Hills, Illinois costs approximately $2,797 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,614 principal and interest, $619 property tax, $116 homeowners insurance, $202 utilities and $247 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Lake in the Hills?

Lake in the Hills has an effective property tax rate of 2.508%, based on a median home value of $296,400 and median real estate taxes of $7,434. That is higher than the McHenry County average of 2.493%.

What is the average home price in Lake in the Hills?

The median owner-occupied home value in Lake in the Hills, Illinois is $296,400, against $286,900 across McHenry County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake in the Hills?

Median gross rent in Lake in the Hills is $1,634 a month, against $2,797 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 in the Hills?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake in the Hills, Illinois at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $120,000 a year. That covers the full $2,797 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake in the Hills, 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.

Full methodology