Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lake Wisconsin, Wisconsin
A $422,000 home here costs
$3,440per 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 $147,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,301. The real number is $1,140 higher every month, 50% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Sauk 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 Wisconsin against Sauk County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Lake Wisconsin | Sauk County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $421,500 | $242,400 |
| Median property tax | $5,827 | $3,646 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.382% | 1.504% |
| Median gross rent | $1,399 | $970 |
| Population | 5,051 | 65,759 |
Lake Wisconsin extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Sauk County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Lake Wisconsin sits in Sauk County, which averages a high of 80.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 7.6°F in its coldest, with 34.46" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 489 cooling and 7,639 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Sauk County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Sauk County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lake Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lake Wisconsin I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lake Wisconsin?
A $422,000 home in Lake Wisconsin, Wisconsin costs approximately $3,440 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,301 principal and interest, $486 property tax, $109 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $352 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lake Wisconsin?
Lake Wisconsin has an effective property tax rate of 1.382%, based on a median home value of $421,500 and median real estate taxes of $5,827. That is lower than the Sauk County average of 1.504%.
What is the average home price in Lake Wisconsin?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lake Wisconsin, Wisconsin is $421,500, against $242,400 across Sauk County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Wisconsin?
Median gross rent in Lake Wisconsin is $1,399 a month, against $3,440 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 Wisconsin?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake Wisconsin, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $147,500 a year. That covers the full $3,440 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake Wisconsin, 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.