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Buying a home in Lake Elmo, Minnesota

The typical owner-occupied home in Lake Elmo is worth about $597,000, 81% above the Minnesota median of $329,300 and 79% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,841 a year in property taxes, about 0.81% of their home's value, lower than the Minnesota rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $153,669 a year, so the median home costs 3.9 times the median income (3.7 times for Minnesota). 94% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 63% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Lake Elmo at a glance

Lake Elmo Minnesota U.S.
Median home value $597,000 $329,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $4,841 $3,357 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.81% 1.02% 0.94%
Median household income $153,669 $89,062 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 94% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 63% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,839 $1,947 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.4% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $2,407 $1,280 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 49.0% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 2004 1979 1980
Vacant homes 3.7% 9.3% 10.1%
Population 13,140 5,739,445 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Lake Elmo

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lake Elmo home of $597,000 with 20% down costs about $3,865 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $4,859, 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 $165,625 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 30% of the median Lake Elmo household income of $153,669; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $554,000.

The median rent here is $2,407 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,458 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$119,400
Loan amount$477,600
Principal and interest$3,213
Property taxes (0.81% a year)$403
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$249
PMI$0
Total per month$3,865

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$20,895
Loan amount$586,187
Principal and interest$3,943
Property taxes (0.81% a year)$403
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$249
FHA mortgage insurance$264
Total per month$4,859

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Questions about home buying in Lake Elmo

What is the median home value in Lake Elmo?

About $597,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Lake Elmo?

Homeowners pay a median $4,841 a year, which is about 0.81% 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 Elmo?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $3,865 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $165,625 a year.

More about Lake Elmo

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