Rent vs. Buy in Harris County, TX

Should you rent or buy in Harris County? Here are the numbers.

Median Home Price

$235,300

Median Rent

$1,269/mo

Price-to-Rent Ratio

15.5x

Homeownership Rate

54.6%

Monthly Cost Comparison

Buying (20% down, 6.5% rate)

Mortgage (P&I)$1,190
Property Tax$347
Insurance$78

Total Monthly$1,615

Renting

Monthly Rent$1,269
Renter's Insurance$25

Total Monthly$1,294

In Harris County, buying costs approximately $346/mo more than renting. This doesn't account for equity buildup, tax deductions, or home appreciation.

About Harris County, Texas

Harris County in Texas has a median household income of $70,789 and an effective property tax rate of 1.8%. With a price-to-rent ratio of 15.5x, the rent-vs-buy decision is nuanced and depends on your timeline.

These are starting estimates based on county-level medians. Your actual costs depend on the specific property, your credit score, down payment, and dozens of other variables. Our Monte Carlo simulation models 10,000 scenarios to give you probability-weighted answers, not single-point estimates.

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Other Counties in Texas

County-level data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2022 5-Year Estimates. Additional sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Housing Finance Agency. Estimates are based on county-level medians and may not reflect specific neighborhoods or property types. This is not financial advice — consult a licensed professional before making housing decisions.