Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Salem, Wisconsin
A $269,000 home here costs
$2,268per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $97,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,478. The real number is $790 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare La Crosse 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.
West Salem against La Crosse County and Wisconsin
| Measure | West Salem | La Crosse County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,300 | $243,200 |
| Median property tax | $3,641 | $3,963 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.352% | 1.630% |
| Median gross rent | $1,142 | $1,023 |
| Population | 5,268 | 120,262 |
The weather behind that power bill
West Salem sits in La Crosse County, which averages a high of 85.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 10.5°F in its coldest, with 35.23" of precipitation a year and 39% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 942 cooling and 6,788 heating degree days, which is what sets the $125 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for La Crosse County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in La Crosse County
Full La Crosse County cost breakdown · Every county in Wisconsin
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Salem 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 West Salem every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Salem I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Salem?
A $269,000 home in West Salem, Wisconsin costs approximately $2,268 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,478 principal and interest, $303 property tax, $69 homeowners insurance, $193 utilities and $224 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West Salem?
West Salem has an effective property tax rate of 1.352%, based on a median home value of $269,300 and median real estate taxes of $3,641. That is lower than the La Crosse County average of 1.630%.
What is the average home price in West Salem?
The median owner-occupied home value in West Salem, Wisconsin is $269,300, against $243,200 across La Crosse County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Salem?
Median gross rent in West Salem is $1,142 a month, against $2,268 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 West Salem?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Salem, Wisconsin at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $97,000 a year. That covers the full $2,268 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West Salem, 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.