The typical owner-occupied home in Vilas County is worth about $300,000, 13% above the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 10% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,197 a year in property taxes, about 0.73% of their home's value, lower than the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $68,431 a year, so the median home costs 4.4 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 84% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 51% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Vilas County at a glance
| Vilas County | Wisconsin | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $300,000 | $266,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,197 | $3,792 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.73% | 1.42% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $68,431 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 84% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 51% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,477 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.7% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $847 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 22.4% | 27.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1981 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 55.2% | 10.8% | 10.1% |
| Population | 23,647 | 5,914,872 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Vilas County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Vilas County home of $300,000 with 20% down costs about $1,922 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,422, 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 $82,371 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 34% of the median Vilas County household income of $68,431; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $249,000.
The median rent here is $847 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,075 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $60,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $240,000 |
| Principal and interest | $1,614 |
| Property taxes (0.73% a year) | $182 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,922 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $10,500 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $294,566 |
| Principal and interest | $1,982 |
| Property taxes (0.73% a year) | $182 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $125 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $133 |
| Total per month | $2,422 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Vilas County
What is the median home value in Vilas County?
About $300,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Vilas County?
Homeowners pay a median $2,197 a year, which is about 0.73% 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 Vilas County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,922 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $82,371 a year.
More about Vilas County
- Mortgage Refinance in Vilas County
- Debt Relief in Vilas County
- Home Equity Loans in Vilas 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