Income needed to buy a home
Lake County, MT
$193,787
a year in household income to buy the typical Lake County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$602,510
Down payment (10%)$60,251
Loan$542,259
Principal and interest (7.40%)$3,754/mo
Property tax (0.48% a year)$240/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$301/mo
Mortgage insurance$226/mo
Total monthly cost$4,522/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Out of reach
The typical household here earns $63,360 a year, 33% of what it takes.
In Montana
Lake County ranks #52 of 56 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in Montana
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie County | $133,878 | $43,122 |
| Roosevelt County | $151,704 | $49,849 |
| Glacier County | $166,389 | $53,581 |
| Carter County | $173,474 | $54,097 |
| Daniels County | $170,973 | $58,434 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.