Cost of Living in Bell 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 Bell County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Bell County ranks #2,678 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 15%)
Sourced county brief
Bell County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $1,315
The median selected monthly owner cost in Bell County was $1,315 for the 2020-2024 period, which is $438 higher than the Texas unweighted county mean of $877. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.6%, which is 3.7 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 26.9%. Renters paid a median gross rent of $1,224 per month, an amount that is $229 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $995. The median income for renter-households was recorded at $47,555. Additionally, the median home value in the county was $241,000, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $185,237. 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: Bell County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.6% of renter household income in Bell County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,224 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,315. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $48,960 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. Bell County's $1,224 median is 23.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Bell County
Rent Burden
21.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,607
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.9%
of gross income
The median home in Bell County may be a stretch
Median home value is $241,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,924 vs. your max of $1,607.
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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