In Alvarado, a typical home is worth $249,000 and typical rent is $788 a month. Compared with all of Johnson County, typical rent is 44% lower and the typical home value is 13% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $255,854 to $299,088.
Typical rent
$1,717a month
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2026 to September 2026: from $1,632 to $1,717.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Alvarado is in Johnson County. The FHA loan limit ($563,500 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Johnson County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Alvarado has the 14th lowest typical rent of the 413 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($788).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Alvarado
What homes there are in Alvarado, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Alvarado
Johnson County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Alvarado and its comparisons
Measure
Alvarado
Johnson County
Texas
United States
Detached house
75%
70%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
5%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
7%
21%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
16%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
1%
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 75% of homes here, against 70% in Johnson County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Alvarado
Johnson County
Texas
United States
Year built: Alvarado and its comparisons
Measure
Alvarado
Johnson County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
13%
7%
12%
26%
1960–1979
21%
18%
21%
24%
1980–1999
19%
30%
28%
25%
2000–2009
14%
20%
18%
14%
2010 or later
34%
25%
21%
11%
By age, homes in Alvarado look like those in Johnson County: the typical year built is 1999.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300K33%
$300K–$500K28%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Alvarado and its comparisons
Measure
Alvarado
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
33%
$300K–$500K
28%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Alvarado and its comparisons
Measure
Alvarado
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,029 a month
Johnson County: $2,003 a month
Without a mortgage
$587 a month
Johnson County: $608 a month
Owners with a mortgage
67%
Johnson County: 60%
In Alvarado, 67% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $2,029 a month, about the same as in Johnson County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Alvarado+123%
Johnson County+84%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
AlvaradoNo clear change
Johnson County+39%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Alvarado+40%
Johnson County+32%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Alvarado and its comparisons
Measure
Alvarado
Johnson County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+123%
+84%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+39%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+40%
+32%
+27%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Alvarado gained value faster than in Johnson County: 123% against 84%.
Rent in Alvarado moved so little since 2015–2019 that the Census cannot say whether it rose or fell.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Alvarado and its comparisons
Measure
Alvarado
Johnson County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
7.1%
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.0%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
4.3%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
3.36
2.94
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
79%
84%
71%
69%
Carpool
14%
8%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
7%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
30 to 39 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
On average, a household in Alvarado has 3.36 people, more than in Johnson County (2.94).
More people carpool to work in Alvarado than in Johnson County: 14% against 8%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Alvarado?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Alvarado, worth $249,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in Alvarado, which is $80,523 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $95,356 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Johnson County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Alvarado. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,715 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,225
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$244,490
Total interest
$351,764
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,205 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,879 a month
Tight
$1,879 to $2,416 a month
Your payment · 33%
Hard
more than $2,416 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Alvarado ($80,523 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,656
Property tax
$355
Home insurance
$104
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$110
You need at least $8,715 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,225; principal and interest $1,656.
The city and its county
Alvarado and Johnson County
Alvarado is in Johnson County, Texas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Alvarado
Map of Johnson County, Texas, with Alvarado marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Alvarado
Johnson County
Other cities with a page
Alvarado's own numbers
Typical home value
$249,000
Typical monthly rent
$788
Typical yearly household income
$80,523
Households that own their home
75%
Effective property tax rate
1.71%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Johnson County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$563,500
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,745
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Johnson County.
A typical home in Alvarado is worth $249,000: 13% below the county and 12% below Texas. With the typical household income in Alvarado ($80,523 a year), a typical home costs 3.1 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Alvarado3.1 years
Johnson3.4 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Johnson County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Johnson County rose 114% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Johnson County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Johnson County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +8.5% +8.5% 2016
2017: +10.1% +10.1% 2017
2018: +8.1% +8.1% 2018
2019: +6.8% +6.8% 2019
2020: +3.7% +3.7% 2020
2021: +14.5% +14.5% 2021
2022: +22.3% +22.3% 2022
2023: +3.8% +3.8% 2023
2024: +3.0% +3.0% 2024
2025: +0.1% +0.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Johnson County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.1%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+50%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+114%
+88%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Alvarado next to Johnson County, Texas and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Alvarado$249,000
Johnson$285,900
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Alvarado$788
Johnson$1,398
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Alvarado$80,523
Johnson$84,859
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Alvarado next to Johnson County and Texas
Measure
Alvarado
Johnson County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$249,000 ▼13% below the county
$285,900
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$788 ▼44% below the county
$1,398
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$80,523 ▼5% below the county
$84,859
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
75%
75%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,250 ▲19% above the county
$3,557
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.71% ▲0.47 points above the county
1.24%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
54% ▲1 points above the county
52%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Johnson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Alvarado
For a typical $249,000 home in Alvarado, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Alvarado's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,225a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,715
Cash to close
$16,185
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $110
Conventional, 5% down$2,179a month
Down payment
$12,450
Cash to close
$19,920
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $118
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,808a month
Down payment
$49,800
Cash to close
$57,270
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,038a month
Down payment
$37,350
Cash to close
$44,820
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Alvarado
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,225
$8,715
$244,490
7.18%
FHA MIP · $110
$16,185
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,179
$12,450
$236,550
7.18%
PMI · $118
$19,920
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,808
$49,800
$199,200
7.18%
None
$57,270
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,038
$37,350
$211,650
8.18%
None
$44,820
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Alvarado is $788 a month: 44% below the county. In Alvarado, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Johnson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,745 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.56 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Johnson County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,461
$28.10
$58,440
1 bedroom
$1,481
$28.48
$59,240
2 bedrooms
$1,745
$33.56
$69,800
3 bedrooms
$2,284
$43.92
$91,360
4 bedrooms
$2,866
$55.12
$114,640
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Alvarado
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Alvarado is in ZIP code 76009.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,500: $245 less than the fair market rent for Johnson County ($1,745).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Alvarado, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
76009
$1,260
$1,270
$1,500
$1,960
$2,460
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
76009 $1,500$1,960
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Alvarado when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Alvarado.
Alvarado Seniors Apartments1035 N Cummings Dr, Alvarado 7600924 low-income homes · 1 bd: 20 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 2000 · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Johnson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Alvarado or Johnson County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Alvarado the same as in the rest of the state.
Texas state program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with down payment assistance.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state program with down payment assistance for any buyer, not only first-time buyers.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
Texas state certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return.Offered by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Alvarado or Johnson County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Alvarado and all of Johnson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Alvarado?
The typical home value in Alvarado is $249,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Johnson County it is $285,900.
How much does it cost to rent in Alvarado?
Typical rent in Alvarado is $788 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Johnson County is $1,745.
What is the FHA loan limit in Alvarado?
Alvarado uses the FHA limit for all of Johnson County (2026): $563,500 for a one-unit home and $1,083,650 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Alvarado?
The typical homeowner in Alvarado pays $4,250 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.71% of the home’s value; in Johnson County, the rate is 1.24%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Alvarado?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Johnson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
