The typical owner-occupied home in Hays County is worth about $399,800, 41% above the Texas median of $283,800 and 20% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,649 a year in property taxes, about 1.66% of their home's value, higher than the Texas rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $89,097 a year, so the median home costs 4.5 times the median income (3.6 times for Texas). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Hays County at a glance
| Hays County | Texas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $399,800 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $6,649 | $4,232 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.66% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $89,097 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 64% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 68% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,289 | $2,106 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 22.5% | 21.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,495 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 34.8% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 2007 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.6% | 9.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 268,638 | 30,188,424 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Hays County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Hays County home of $399,800 with 20% down costs about $2,871 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,537, 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 $123,052 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 39% of the median Hays County household income of $89,097; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $289,000.
The median rent here is $1,495 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,376 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $79,960 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $319,840 |
| Principal and interest | $2,152 |
| Property taxes (1.66% a year) | $553 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $167 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,871 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,993 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $392,559 |
| Principal and interest | $2,641 |
| Property taxes (1.66% a year) | $553 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $167 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $177 |
| Total per month | $3,537 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Hays County
What is the median home value in Hays County?
About $399,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Hays County?
Homeowners pay a median $6,649 a year, which is about 1.66% 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 Hays County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,871 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $123,052 a year.
More about Hays County
- Mortgage Refinance in Hays County
- Debt Relief in Hays County
- Home Equity Loans in Hays 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