Cost to Own
United StatesIndianaDecatur CountyLake Santee Population 1,051 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Lake Santee, Indiana

A $227,000 home here costs

$1,795

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,167. The real number is $628 higher every month — 54% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Lake Santee median: $226,500
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $181,600 borrowed $1,167
Property tax0.584% effective rate for Lake Santee itself $110
Homeowners insuranceIndiana averages $1,058/yr (NAIC), or 0.512% of home value $97
Electricity18.15¢/kWh — Indiana residential average, EIA $163
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $189
Total monthly $1,795

Lake Santee against Decatur County and Indiana

MeasureLake SanteeDecatur County
Median home value$226,500$189,900
Median property tax$1,323$1,176
Effective tax rate0.584%0.619%
Median gross rent$828
Population1,05126,411

Lake Santee extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Decatur County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Lake Santee sits in Decatur County, which averages a high of 84.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 21.6°F in its coldest, with 47.01" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,121 cooling and 5,253 heating degree days, which is what sets the $163 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Decatur County

Full Decatur County cost breakdown · Every county in Indiana

Common questions

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

A $227,000 home in Lake Santee, Indiana costs approximately $1,795 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,167 principal and interest, $110 property tax, $97 homeowners insurance, $231 utilities and $189 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Lake Santee?

Lake Santee has an effective property tax rate of 0.584%, based on a median home value of $226,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,323. That is lower than the Decatur County average of 0.619%.

What is the average home price in Lake Santee?

The median owner-occupied home value in Lake Santee, Indiana is $226,500, against $189,900 across Decatur County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Santee?

Rent data is not published for Lake Santee at this level of detail.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake Santee — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Indiana.
  • 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