Cost to Own
United States › Wisconsin › Barron County › Rice Lake Population 9,030 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 $651 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Barron County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin

A $178,000 home here costs

$1,622

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 $69,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 16%Insurance 3%Utilities 12%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $970. The real number is $651 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Barron County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Rice Lake median: $178,100
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
WI 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, $142,400 borrowed $970
Property tax1.778% effective rate for Rice Lake itself $264
Homeowners insuranceWisconsin averages $780/yr (NAIC), or 0.309% of home value $46
Electricity19.41ยข/kWh, Wisconsin residential average, EIA $125
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $148
Total monthly $1,622

Rice Lake against Barron County and Wisconsin

MeasureRice LakeBarron County
Median home value$178,100$198,300
Median property tax$3,167$2,823
Effective tax rate1.778%1.424%
Median gross rent$834$859
Population9,03046,741

The weather behind that power bill

Rice Lake sits in Barron County, which averages a high of 81.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 1.7°F in its coldest, with 31.43" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 473 cooling and 8,464 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Barron County

Full Barron County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $178,000 home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin costs approximately $1,622 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $970 principal and interest, $264 property tax, $46 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $148 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Rice Lake?

Rice Lake has an effective property tax rate of 1.778%, based on a median home value of $178,100 and median real estate taxes of $3,167. That is higher than the Barron County average of 1.424%.

What is the average home price in Rice Lake?

The median owner-occupied home value in Rice Lake, Wisconsin is $178,100, against $198,300 across Barron County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rice Lake?

Median gross rent in Rice Lake is $834 a month, against $1,622 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 Rice Lake?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $69,500 a year. That covers the full $1,622 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rice Lake, 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.

Full methodology