Houston, TX real estate investing data
Updated 2026-11-09 · Official Census, HUD, NAIC and FHFA figures
Summary
In Harris County, the county around Houston, the median home value is $255,000, median rent is $1,349 a month and the effective property tax rate is 1.72%. A $250,000 purchase at that rate means about $4,300 a year in property tax. Homeowners insurance averages $2,864 a year across Texas.
- Median home value
- $255,000
- Median rent / month
- $1,349
- Property tax rate
- 1.72%
- Gross rent yield
- 6.35%
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
Home values in Harris County are 61% above the median Texas county ($158,050). Rent is 45% above the state median ($928). The median county's property tax rate is 1.25%, against 1.72% here. Gross yield is a year of median rent divided by median home value. It leaves out all costs, so use it only to compare areas.
Houston fair market rent by size
| Studio | $1,233 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,261 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,497 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,017 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,502 |
Houston home price growth
| Latest year | 0.6% |
|---|---|
| 5 years, per year | 5.5% |
| 10 years, per year | 4.4% |
Common questions
What is the property tax rate in Houston?
The effective rate in Harris County is 1.72%, based on median taxes paid and median home value in the Census ACS (2019-2023). Your bill may differ, especially if a purchase triggers a reassessment.
What is fair market rent in Houston?
HUD's 2027 Fair Market Rent for Harris County is $1,497 for two bedrooms and $2,017 for three. HUD sets these near the 40th percentile and includes utilities, so check them against nearby listings.
How much have home prices risen in Houston?
FHFA's index shows Harris County prices rising 5.5% a year over the five years to 2025 and 4.4% a year over ten. Those years were unusually strong, so a lower figure is safer in a forecast.
Where these numbers come from
All figures are for Harris County as a whole, which can differ from the city and from any one neighborhood. Values, rents and taxes are from the Census ACS 2019-2023. Fair Market Rents are HUD 2027. Insurance is the NAIC 2023 Texas average. Price growth is FHFA's developmental county index through 2025. Estimates only, not financial advice.