The typical owner-occupied home in Houston is worth about $277,800, about the same as the Texas median of $283,800 and 17% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,198 a year in property taxes, about 1.51% of their home's value, close to the Texas rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $64,813 a year, so the median home costs 4.3 times the median income (3.6 times for Texas). 42% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 52% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Houston at a glance
| Houston | Texas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,800 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,198 | $4,232 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.51% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $64,813 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 42% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 52% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,240 | $2,106 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.6% | 21.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,361 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 32.1% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1982 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 10.6% | 9.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 2,328,253 | 30,188,424 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Houston
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Houston home of $277,800 with 20% down costs about $1,960 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,423, 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 $84,015 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 36% of the median Houston household income of $64,813; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $214,000.
The median rent here is $1,361 a month, so owning the median home costs about $599 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $55,560 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $222,240 |
| Principal and interest | $1,495 |
| Property taxes (1.51% a year) | $350 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $116 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,960 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $9,723 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $272,768 |
| Principal and interest | $1,835 |
| Property taxes (1.51% a year) | $350 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $116 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $123 |
| Total per month | $2,423 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Houston
What is the median home value in Houston?
About $277,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Houston?
Homeowners pay a median $4,198 a year, which is about 1.51% 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 Houston?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,960 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $84,015 a year.
More about Houston
- Mortgage Refinance in Houston
- Debt Relief in Houston
- Home Equity Loans in Houston
- 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