Cost of Living in McLennan 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 McLennan County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
McLennan County ranks #2,557 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 19%)
Sourced county brief
McLennan County Official GRAPI Reaches 33.6 Percentage Points
In McLennan County, the official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 33.6% during the 2020-2024 period. This canonical affordability metric is 6.7 percentage points above the Texas unweighted county mean of 26.9%. The median gross rent in the county was $1,173 per month, which is $178 above the state unweighted county mean of $995. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,178, compared to an unweighted state county mean of $877. The median home value in the county was $243,600, while the median renter-household income was recorded at $39,947. These figures provide a snapshot of the housing cost landscape based on five-year census estimates rather than single-year fluctuations. 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: McLennan County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 33.6% of renter household income in McLennan 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 $1,173 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,178. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $46,920 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. McLennan County's $1,173 median is 17.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in McLennan County
Rent Burden
21.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,555
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.2%
of gross income
The median home in McLennan County may be a stretch
Median home value is $243,600. Estimated monthly cost: $1,945 vs. your max of $1,555.
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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