Cost of Living in Austin County, Texas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Austin County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Austin County ranks #2,446 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 22%)
Sourced county brief
Austin County Median Home Value Reaches $296,900
The median home value in Austin County is $296,900, which is $111,663 higher than the Texas unweighted county mean of $185,237. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were estimated at $1,089, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $877. The median gross rent in the county is $1,137 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $995. According to the official ACS B25071 metric, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 29.5%, which is 2.6 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median income for renter households is $39,555. This report relies on official GRAPI data from the Census Bureau rather than derived calculations. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Austin County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.5% of renter household income in Austin County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,137 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,089. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $45,480 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Texas unweighted mean of county median rents is $995 per month. Austin County's $1,137 median is 14.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Austin County
Rent Burden
18.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,768
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.2%
of gross income
The median home in Austin County may be a stretch
Median home value is $296,900. Estimated monthly cost: $2,370 vs. your max of $1,768.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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