Cost of Living in Lake Geneva, WI

Population 8,443 · Wisconsin · Data vintage 2023

102
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

Lake Geneva is a smaller Wisconsin community of around 8000 residents, where median household incomes of $73,199 and housing costs ($323,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape.

Lake Geneva is about 40 miles north of Elgin, the nearest large metro — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Median home values run roughly 28% higher than Elgin's $252,000.

Cost Overview

Housing 106
Rent 95

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in Lake Geneva

The median home value in Lake Geneva is $323,000 — 6% above the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,250/month, 5% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $73,199/year is 2% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 5.1%, above the national average of 4.8%. Wisconsin's top state income tax rate is 7.7% and the combined sales tax is 5.4%. Overall, Lake Geneva has a cost of living index of 102 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 2% more expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$323,000
6% above avg
Zillow Home Value
$444,928
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,250/mo
5% below avg
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.5x
Favors renting
Property Tax Rate
1.7%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$712
1 BR
$781
2 BR
$997
3 BR
$1,290
4 BR
$1,448
Owner-occupied 50.5%
Renter-occupied 49.5%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,250
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,864/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
21.6 min
20% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
10.8%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
71.7%
Carpooled
10.5%
Walked
4.3%
Bicycle
2.4%
Work from home
10.8%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 7.7%
Total Sales Tax 5.4%
State rate 5.0%
Avg local rate 0.4%
Property Tax 1.7%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$73,199
2% below avg
Per Capita Income
$46,359
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
7% above avg
Poverty Rate
12.7%
Labor Force Participation
62.0%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 27.0%
Graduate degree 16.2%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 47.2
Male median age 41.5
Female median age 50.7

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 44 — Good
68%
Good air days/yr
143
Max AQI recorded
0
PM2.5 days
203
Ozone days

🏫 Schools

NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data

93%
4-Year Graduation Rate
13.7:1
Student-teacher ratio
10
Public schools
3,743
Total enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Lake Geneva, WI?

Lake Geneva has a cost index of 102 (100 = national average). It is 2% above the national average.

What is average rent in Lake Geneva, WI?

The median gross rent in Lake Geneva is $1,250 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in Lake Geneva?

The median home value in Lake Geneva is $323,000 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in Lake Geneva?

The median household income in Lake Geneva is $73,199 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in Lake Geneva, WI?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Lake Geneva is 5.4%. The Wisconsin state income tax top rate is 7.7%.

Is Lake Geneva, WI affordable?

Lake Geneva is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 102 (100 = US average).

Lake Geneva at a Glance

Population
8,443
Median Income
$73,199
Home Value
$323,000
Median Rent
$1,250/mo
Unemployment
5.1%
Sales Tax
5.4%
View all cities in Wisconsin →
🗺️ County data for Wisconsin

Explore county-level cost of living data

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