Cost of Living in Wharton 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 Wharton County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Wharton County ranks #2,202 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 30%)
Sourced county brief
Wharton County Median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Income
In Wharton County, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was estimated at 29.4%. This value is 2.5 percentage points higher than the Texas unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 26.9%. The median gross rent for the period was $1,046 per month, which is above the state unweighted county mean of $995. For homeowners, the median home value was $189,900, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $185,237. Selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $972, whereas the state unweighted county mean was $877. Renter-occupied households had a median income of $44,043. These figures provide a snapshot of the housing landscape as measured by the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All metrics are presented as reported by the Census Bureau without adjustments for local market conditions or demographic shifts. 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: Wharton County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.4% of renter household income in Wharton 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 $1,046 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $972. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $41,840 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. Wharton County's $1,046 median is 5.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Wharton County
Rent Burden
18.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,562
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Wharton County
Median home value is $189,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,516 vs. your max of $1,562.
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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