Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin
A $282,000 home here costs
$2,446per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $105,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,562. The real number is $884 higher every month, 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Kenosha 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.
Salem Lakes against Kenosha County and Wisconsin
| Measure | Salem Lakes | Kenosha County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,500 | $247,800 |
| Median property tax | $4,619 | $4,180 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.641% | 1.687% |
| Median gross rent | $1,132 | $1,175 |
| Population | 14,521 | 168,413 |
The weather behind that power bill
Salem Lakes sits in Kenosha County, which averages a high of 83.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 16.4°F in its coldest, with 31.88" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 721 cooling and 6,447 heating degree days, which is what sets the $123 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Kenosha County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Kenosha County
Full Kenosha County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Salem Lakes 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 Salem Lakes every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Salem Lakes I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Salem Lakes?
A $282,000 home in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,446 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,562 principal and interest, $386 property tax, $73 homeowners insurance, $191 utilities and $235 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Salem Lakes?
Salem Lakes has an effective property tax rate of 1.641%, based on a median home value of $281,500 and median real estate taxes of $4,619. That is lower than the Kenosha County average of 1.687%.
What is the average home price in Salem Lakes?
The median owner-occupied home value in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin is $281,500, against $247,800 across Kenosha County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Salem Lakes?
Median gross rent in Salem Lakes is $1,132 a month, against $2,446 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 Salem Lakes?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Salem Lakes, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $105,000 a year. That covers the full $2,446 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Salem Lakes, 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.