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City · 8,521 residents · Walworth County, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva , Wisconsin

In Lake Geneva, a typical home is worth $343,800 and typical rent is $1,389 a month. Compared with all of Walworth County, typical rent is 21% higher, the typical home value is 14% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $343,800

    14% above the county

    29% above Wisconsin

    • Lake Geneva
    • Walworth
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $1,389a month

    21% above the county

    28% above Wisconsin

    • Lake Geneva
    • Walworth
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $75,629a year

    6% below the county

    2% below Wisconsin

    • Lake Geneva
    • Walworth
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    16 points below the county

    13 points below Wisconsin

    • Lake Geneva
    • Walworth
    • Wisconsin

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$417,809
4.5% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Lake Geneva is in Walworth County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Walworth County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Lake Geneva apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Twin Lakes, the typical rent is $870: 37% less than in Lake Geneva ($1,389).

  2. Nearby, in Delavan, the typical home value is $218,800: 36% less than in Lake Geneva ($343,800).

  3. 55% of households in Lake Geneva own their home, against 71% in Walworth County.

  4. The typical rent in Lake Geneva is $1,389 a month, 21% more than in Walworth County as a whole ($1,150).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Lake Geneva

What homes there are in Lake Geneva, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Lake Geneva, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Walworth County, 7.

Year built

The typical year built in Lake Geneva is 1978, about the same as in Walworth County (1977).

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,690 a month

Walworth County: $1,746 a month

Without a mortgage

$669 a month

Walworth County: $723 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Walworth County: 63%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Lake Geneva is $1,690 a month, near the figure in Walworth County ($1,746).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Lake Geneva rose 74%; in Walworth County, it rose 49%.

The typical rent in Lake Geneva rose 39% over the same time; in Walworth County, it rose 31%.

While home values in Lake Geneva changed +74% and rent +39%, the typical household income rose 46%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureLake GenevaWalworth CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.2%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.8%0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.9%1.7%3.4%
People per household 1.982.382.332.53
Drive alone 78%77%74%69%
Carpool 5%8%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 13%11%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Lake Geneva has 1.98 people, fewer than in Walworth County (2.38).

To get to work, 78% of workers in Lake Geneva drive alone; in Walworth County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Lake Geneva?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Lake Geneva, worth $343,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 47% of the typical household income in Lake Geneva, which is $75,629 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $126,012 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Walworth County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Lake Geneva. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,033 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,940

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$337,573
Total interest
$485,688
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,806 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,765 a month

  • Tight

    $1,765 to $2,269 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,269 a month

    Your payment · 47%

Compared with the typical household income in Lake Geneva ($75,629 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,940
Principal & interest$2,287
Property tax$358
Home insurance$143
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$152

You need at least $12,033 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Lake Geneva and Walworth County

Lake Geneva is in Walworth County, Wisconsin. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Lake Geneva's own numbers

Typical home value
$343,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,389
Typical yearly household income
$75,629
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
1.25%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Walworth County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,300
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+59%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Walworth County.

Everything about Walworth County

Buying

Buying a home in Lake Geneva

A typical home in Lake Geneva is worth $343,800: 14% above the county and 29% above Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Lake Geneva ($75,629 a year), a typical home costs 4.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Lake Geneva 4.5 years
  • Walworth 3.8 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Walworth County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Walworth County rose 103% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Walworth County.

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.8% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +59% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +103% +96% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Lake Geneva next to Walworth County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Lake Geneva $343,800
  • Walworth $302,700
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Lake Geneva $1,389
  • Walworth $1,150
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Lake Geneva $75,629
  • Walworth $80,520
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Lake Geneva next to Walworth County and Wisconsin
Measure Lake Geneva Walworth County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $343,800 $302,700 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,389 $1,150 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $75,629 $80,520 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 71% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,313 $4,036 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.25% 1.33% 1.42% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 42% 44% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Walworth County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lake Geneva

For a typical $343,800 home in Lake Geneva, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lake Geneva's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,940a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,033
    Cash to close
    $22,347
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $152

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,877a month

    Down payment
    $17,190
    Cash to close
    $27,504
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $163

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,365a month

    Down payment
    $68,760
    Cash to close
    $79,074
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,682a month

    Down payment
    $51,570
    Cash to close
    $61,884
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Lake Geneva and for Walworth County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Lake Geneva

1.25%of the home’s value each year

$4,313 a year for the typical owner in Lake Geneva.

  • Lake Geneva 1.25%
  • Walworth 1.33%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Walworth County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Walworth County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.2%
78
Of those, with NFIP insurance
38%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.2% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 38% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Lake Geneva

Typical rent in Lake Geneva is $1,389 a month: 21% above the county. In Lake Geneva, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Walworth County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,300 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.00 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Walworth County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $905 $17.40 $36,200
1 bedroom $994 $19.12 $39,760
2 bedrooms $1,300 $25.00 $52,000
3 bedrooms $1,625 $31.25 $65,000
4 bedrooms $2,142 $41.19 $85,680

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Lake Geneva

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lake Geneva is in ZIP code 53147.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,480: $180 more than the fair market rent for Walworth County ($1,300).

  • 53147 $1,480$1,850

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lake Geneva when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Lake Geneva

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lake Geneva. These are the largest.

  • Walworth Apartments 250 Havenwood Dr, Lake Geneva 53147 141 low-income homes · For families (414) 276-1515
  • Geneva Hills Apartments 1385 Elkhorn Rd, Lake Geneva 53147 33 homes, 32 low-income · For older adults (262) 248-8394
  • Terraces of Geneva Crossing 725 S Curtis St, Lake Geneva 53147 48 homes, 24 low-income · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 24 · In service since 2000
  • Highlands of Geneva Crossing 721 S Curtis St, Lake Geneva 53147 48 homes, 10 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 36 · In service since 2003 · For older adults

See all 21 buildings in Walworth County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Lake Geneva

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Walworth County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

An older woman smiles in front of her apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Lake Geneva

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lake Geneva or Walworth County. The ones below are statewide in Wisconsin: they work in Lake Geneva the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Lake Geneva

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Lake Geneva, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • City of Kenosha Housing Authority

    625-52nd ST., Room 98, Kenosha · 31 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (262) 653-4120

  • Housing Resources Inc - Waukesha

    217 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 411, Waukesha · 31 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    (262) 522-1230

  • La Casa de Esperanza, Inc.

    134 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha · 31 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (262) 547-0887

All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Lake Geneva

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Lake Geneva

HUD’s record names them for Lake Geneva or Walworth County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

All housing agencies in Wisconsin Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Walworth County

These cities are also in Walworth County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Walworth County Housing in Wisconsin

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Lake Geneva, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Walworth County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Lake Geneva.

All guides
A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

Questions

Housing questions about Lake Geneva

Short answers with the numbers for Lake Geneva and all of Walworth County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Lake Geneva?

The typical home value in Lake Geneva is $343,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Walworth County it is $302,700.

How much does it cost to rent in Lake Geneva?

Typical rent in Lake Geneva is $1,389 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Walworth County is $1,300.

What is the FHA loan limit in Lake Geneva?

Lake Geneva uses the FHA limit for all of Walworth County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Lake Geneva?

The typical homeowner in Lake Geneva pays $4,313 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.25% of the home’s value; in Walworth County, the rate is 1.33%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lake Geneva?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Walworth County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).