Cost of Living in Howard 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 Howard County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Howard County ranks #1,881 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 40%)
Sourced county brief
Howard County Rental Burden Exceeds State Mean
In Howard County, Texas, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.2%. This canonical affordability metric is 3.3 percentage points higher than the Texas unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent was $1,034 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $995. For owner-occupied properties, the median home value was $155,600, while the state unweighted county mean was $185,237. Selected monthly owner costs for all units were $805, which is below the state unweighted mean of $877. The median renter-household income was $43,532. These figures are based on the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for the period between 2020 and 2024. The data provides a static representation of the county's housing costs relative to state-level county averages during the specified survey years. 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: Howard County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.2% of renter household income in Howard 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 $1,034 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $805. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,360 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. Howard County's $1,034 median is 3.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Howard County
Rent Burden
17.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,625
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Howard County
Median home value is $155,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,242 vs. your max of $1,625.
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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