Cost of Living in Hays 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 Hays County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Hays County ranks #2,966 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 6%)
Sourced county brief
Hays County Official GRAPI Estimated at 34.8 Percent
The official ACS B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in Hays County was estimated at 34.8%. This figure is 7.9 percentage points higher than the Texas unweighted county mean GRAPI of 26.9%. The median gross rent for the county was $1,495 per month, which is $500 above the state unweighted county mean of $995. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,841, a value that is $964 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $877. The median home value in Hays County was $399,800, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $185,237. For households that rent, the median renter-household income was recorded at $49,302. These statistics are snapshot estimates from the American Community Survey. 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: Hays County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.8% of renter household income in Hays 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 $1,495 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,841. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $59,800 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. Hays County's $1,495 median is 50.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Hays County
Rent Burden
20.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,079
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.8%
of gross income
The median home in Hays County may be a stretch
Median home value is $399,800. Estimated monthly cost: $3,192 vs. your max of $2,079.
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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