Cost of Living in Smith 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 Smith County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Smith County ranks #2,579 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 18%)
Sourced county brief
Smith County median gross rent exceeds 1,200 dollars
In Smith County, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,238, which is above the Texas unweighted county mean of $995. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 28.8%. This figure is 1.9 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 26.9%. For homeowners, the median home value was estimated at $240,700, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $185,237. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,157, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $877. The median renter-household income in the county was $51,430, while the median income for all households was $74,192. These statistics are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25064 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: Smith County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.8% of renter household income in Smith County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,238 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,157. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $49,520 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. Smith County's $1,238 median is 24.4% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Smith County
Rent Burden
20.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,731
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.7%
of gross income
The median home in Smith County may be a stretch
Median home value is $240,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,922 vs. your max of $1,731.
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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