The typical owner-occupied home in San Marcos is worth about $310,400, 9% above the Texas median of $283,800 and 7% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,774 a year in property taxes, about 1.54% of their home's value, close to the Texas rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $51,281 a year, so the median home costs 6.1 times the median income (3.6 times for Texas). 31% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 58% of those owners still have a mortgage.
San Marcos at a glance
| San Marcos | Texas | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $310,400 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,774 | $4,232 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.54% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $51,281 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 31% | 63% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 58% | 56% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,899 | $2,106 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 23.6% | 21.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,322 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 39.8% | 30.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 2001 | 1992 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 7.7% | 9.4% | 10.1% |
| Population | 70,897 | 30,188,424 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in San Marcos
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median San Marcos home of $310,400 with 20% down costs about $2,198 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,715, 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 $94,206 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 51% of the median San Marcos household income of $51,281; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $169,000.
The median rent here is $1,322 a month, so owning the median home costs about $876 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $62,080 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $248,320 |
| Principal and interest | $1,670 |
| Property taxes (1.54% a year) | $398 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $129 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,198 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $10,864 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $304,778 |
| Principal and interest | $2,050 |
| Property taxes (1.54% a year) | $398 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $129 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $137 |
| Total per month | $2,715 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in San Marcos
What is the median home value in San Marcos?
About $310,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in San Marcos?
Homeowners pay a median $4,774 a year, which is about 1.54% 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 San Marcos?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,198 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $94,206 a year.
More about San Marcos
- Mortgage Refinance in San Marcos
- Debt Relief in San Marcos
- Home Equity Loans in San Marcos
- 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