Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lake Wildwood, California
A $495,000 home here costs
$3,842per 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 $164,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,699. The real number is $1,144 higher every month, 42% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Nevada County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lake Wildwood from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,967 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 Nevada 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 Wildwood against Nevada County and California
| Measure | Lake Wildwood | Nevada County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $495,100 | $602,800 |
| Median property tax | $5,242 | $4,468 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.059% | 0.741% |
| Median gross rent | $2,443 | $1,635 |
| Population | 4,967 | 102,452 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lake Wildwood sits in Nevada County, which averages a high of 77.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.1°F in its coldest, with 62.44" of precipitation a year and 50% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 552 cooling and 5,213 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Nevada County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Nevada County
Full Nevada County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lake Wildwood 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 Wildwood every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lake Wildwood I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lake Wildwood?
A $495,000 home in Lake Wildwood, California costs approximately $3,842 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,699 principal and interest, $437 property tax, $77 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $413 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lake Wildwood?
Lake Wildwood has an effective property tax rate of 1.059%, based on a median home value of $495,100 and median real estate taxes of $5,242. That is higher than the Nevada County average of 0.741%.
What is the average home price in Lake Wildwood?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lake Wildwood, California is $495,100, against $602,800 across Nevada County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Wildwood?
Median gross rent in Lake Wildwood is $2,443 a month, against $3,842 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 Wildwood?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake Wildwood, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $164,500 a year. That covers the full $3,842 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake Wildwood, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
- 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.