Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lake Santee, Indiana
A $227,000 home here costs
$1,855per 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 $79,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,238. The real number is $618 higher every month, 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Decatur County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lake Santee from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,051 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 Decatur 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.
Lake Santee against Decatur County and Indiana
| Measure | Lake Santee | Decatur County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,500 | $189,900 |
| Median property tax | $1,323 | $1,176 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.584% | 0.619% |
| Median gross rent | — | $828 |
| Population | 1,051 | 26,411 |
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 $153 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lake Santee 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 Santee every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lake Santee I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lake Santee?
A $227,000 home in Lake Santee, Indiana costs approximately $1,855 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,238 principal and interest, $110 property tax, $97 homeowners insurance, $221 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.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Lake Santee?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake Santee, Indiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $79,500 a year. That covers the full $1,855 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.