The typical owner-occupied home in Lake County is worth about $345,700, 31% above the Illinois median of $263,300 and 4% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,923 a year in property taxes, about 2.58% of their home's value, higher than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $110,416 a year, so the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 64% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Lake County at a glance
| Lake County | Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $345,700 | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $8,923 | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 2.58% | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $110,416 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 64% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,503 | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.5% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,477 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.7% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.5% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 714,223 | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Lake County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lake County home of $345,700 with 20% down costs about $2,748 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,324, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $117,760 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 30% of the median Lake County household income of $110,416; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $324,000.
The median rent here is $1,477 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,271 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $69,140 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $276,560 |
| Principal and interest | $1,860 |
| Property taxes (2.58% a year) | $743 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $144 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,748 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $12,100 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $339,439 |
| Principal and interest | $2,283 |
| Property taxes (2.58% a year) | $743 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $144 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $153 |
| Total per month | $3,324 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Lake County
What is the median home value in Lake County?
About $345,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Lake County?
Homeowners pay a median $8,923 a year, which is about 2.58% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Lake County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,748 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $117,760 a year.
More about Lake County
- Mortgage Refinance in Lake County
- Debt Relief in Lake County
- Home Equity Loans in Lake County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data