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Buying a home in Medicine Lake, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Medicine Lake is worth about $106,800, 72% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 68% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,079 a year in property taxes, about 1.01% of their home's value, higher than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $48,125 a year, so the median home costs 2.2 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 18% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Medicine Lake at a glance

Medicine Lake Montana U.S.
Median home value $106,800 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,079 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.01% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $48,125 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 77% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 18% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,125 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 15.0% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $493 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.3% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1970 1981 1980
Vacant homes 26.3% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 213 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Medicine Lake

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Medicine Lake home of $106,800 with 20% down costs about $709 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $887, 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 $30,392 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 18% of the median Medicine Lake household income of $48,125; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $169,000.

The median rent here is $493 a month, so owning the median home costs about $216 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$21,360
Loan amount$85,440
Principal and interest$575
Property taxes (1.01% a year)$90
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$44
PMI$0
Total per month$709

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$3,738
Loan amount$104,866
Principal and interest$705
Property taxes (1.01% a year)$90
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$44
FHA mortgage insurance$47
Total per month$887

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Questions about home buying in Medicine Lake

What is the median home value in Medicine Lake?

About $106,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Medicine Lake?

Homeowners pay a median $1,079 a year, which is about 1.01% 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 Medicine Lake?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $709 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $30,392 a year.

More about Medicine Lake

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