Cost of Living in Harris 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 Harris County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Harris County ranks #2,863 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
Harris County Median Owner Costs Reach $1,535 Per Month
In Harris County, the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were estimated at $1,535. This amount is $658 higher than the Texas unweighted county mean of $877. The median gross rent was recorded at $1,401 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $995. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income, documented in ACS B25071, was 32.0%, which is 5.1 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.9%. The median home value in Harris County was estimated at $276,600, compared to the state unweighted county mean value of $185,237. For renter households, the median income was $51,599 for the 2020-2024 reporting period. All statistics are drawn from the ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25088 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: Harris County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.0% of renter household income in Harris 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 $1,401 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,535. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $56,040 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. Harris County's $1,401 median is 40.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Harris County
Rent Burden
22.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,750
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.6%
of gross income
The median home in Harris County may be a stretch
Median home value is $276,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,208 vs. your max of $1,750.
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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