In Big Spring, a typical home is worth $140,200 and typical rent is $1,050 a month. Compared with all of Howard County, the typical home value is 10% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $166,738 to $140,457.
Typical rent
$1,452a month
▲ 5.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2025 to September 2026: from $1,370 to $1,452.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Big Spring is in Howard County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Howard County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Lamesa, the typical home value is $95,000: 32% less than in Big Spring ($140,200).
2
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Big Spring rose 4.5%; in Texas, it fell 1.4%.
3
Nearby, in Lamesa, the typical rent is $813: 23% less than in Big Spring ($1,050).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Big Spring
What homes there are in Big Spring, 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
Big Spring
Howard County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Big Spring and its comparisons
Measure
Big Spring
Howard County
Texas
United States
Detached house
77%
76%
64%
61%
Attached house
3%
3%
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
4%
3%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
14%
11%
21%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
8%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is the most common home in Big Spring: 77% of homes, near the figure in Howard County (76%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Big Spring
Howard County
Texas
United States
Year built: Big Spring and its comparisons
Measure
Big Spring
Howard County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
43%
38%
12%
26%
1960–1979
37%
35%
21%
24%
1980–1999
11%
15%
28%
25%
2000–2009
4%
5%
18%
14%
2010 or later
6%
8%
21%
11%
By age, homes in Big Spring look like those in Howard County: the typical year built is 1963.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K36%
$100K–$200K35%
$200K–$300K19%
$300K–$500K9%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Big Spring and its comparisons
Measure
Big Spring
Under $100K
36%
$100K–$200K
35%
$200K–$300K
19%
$300K–$500K
9%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable
The FHA limit for Howard County is high ($541,287): at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Big Spring are worth less than $500,000.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50010%
$500–$99936%
$1,000–$1,49938%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,217
$1,500–$1,99913%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Big Spring and its comparisons
Measure
Big Spring
Under $500
10%
$500–$999
36%
$1,000–$1,499
38%
$1,500–$1,999
13%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,217), about 63% of rented homes in Big Spring cost less.
With a mortgage
$1,431 a month
Howard County: $1,506 a month
Without a mortgage
$505 a month
Howard County: $510 a month
Owners with a mortgage
45%
Howard County: 44%
In Big Spring, 45% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,431 a month, about the same as in Howard County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Big Spring+55%
Howard County+57%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Big Spring+20%
Howard County+19%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Big Spring+29%
Howard County+29%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Big Spring and its comparisons
Measure
Big Spring
Howard County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+55%
+57%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
+20%
+19%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+29%
+29%
+27%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Big Spring rose at about the same pace as in Howard County: 55% against 57%.
Rents in Big Spring rose at about the same pace as in Howard County: 20% since 2015–2019, against 19%.
To compare: typical income in Big Spring rose 29%; the home, +55%; the rent, +20%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Big Spring and its comparisons
Measure
Big Spring
Howard County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
7.6%
7.6%
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
4.4%
4.9%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.29
2.39
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
76%
79%
71%
69%
Carpool
19%
16%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
3%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Howard County, the rental vacancy rate in Big Spring is 7.6%.
In Big Spring, 4.4% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Howard County.
Much as in Howard County, a household in Big Spring has 2.29 people on average.
In Big Spring, 76% of workers drive alone to work; in Howard County, 79%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Big Spring?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Big Spring, worth $140,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 21% of the typical household income in Big Spring, which is $67,581 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Howard 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 Big Spring. 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 $4,907 (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
$1,171
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$137,661
Total interest
$198,061
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,368 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,577 a month
Your payment · 21%
Tight
$1,577 to $2,027 a month
Hard
more than $2,027 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Big Spring ($67,581 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$933
Property tax
$118
Home insurance
$58
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$62
You need at least $4,907 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 $1,171; principal and interest $933.
The city and its county
Big Spring and Howard County
Big Spring is in Howard 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).
Big Spring
Map of Howard County, Texas, with Big Spring marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Big Spring
Howard County
Big Spring's own numbers
Typical home value
$140,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,050
Typical yearly household income
$67,581
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
1.01%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Howard County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,217
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+28%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%
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 Howard County.
A typical home in Big Spring is worth $140,200: 10% below the county and 51% below Texas. With the typical household income in Big Spring ($67,581 a year), a typical home costs 2.1 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.
Big Spring2.1 years
Howard2.2 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Howard County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Howard County rose 60% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Howard County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Howard County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −2.4% −2.4% 2016
2017: +1.5% +1.5% 2017
2018: +7.1% +7.1% 2018
2019: +10.0% +10.0% 2019
2020: +6.8% +6.8% 2020
2021: +5.6% +5.6% 2021
2022: +8.0% +8.0% 2022
2023: +4.5% +4.5% 2023
2024: +2.2% +2.2% 2024
2025: +5.1% +5.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Howard County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.1%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+28%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+60%
+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
Big Spring next to Howard 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
Big Spring$140,200
Howard$155,600
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Big Spring$1,050
Howard$1,034
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Big Spring$67,581
Howard$69,649
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Big Spring next to Howard County and Texas
Measure
Big Spring
Howard County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$140,200 ▼10% below the county
$155,600
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,050
$1,034
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$67,581 ▼3% below the county
$69,649
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
65% ▼5 points below the county
70%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,420 ▼4% below the county
$1,480
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.01% ▲0.06 points above the county
0.95%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
53% ▲2 points above the county
51%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Howard 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 Big Spring
For a typical $140,200 home in Big Spring, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Big Spring's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,171a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,907
Cash to close
$9,113
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $62
Conventional, 5% down$1,145a month
Down payment
$7,010
Cash to close
$11,216
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $67
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$936a month
Down payment
$28,040
Cash to close
$32,246
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,066a month
Down payment
$21,030
Cash to close
$25,236
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Big Spring
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,171
$4,907
$137,661
7.18%
FHA MIP · $62
$9,113
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,145
$7,010
$133,190
7.18%
PMI · $67
$11,216
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$936
$28,040
$112,160
7.18%
None
$32,246
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,066
$21,030
$119,170
8.18%
None
$25,236
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 Big Spring is $1,050 a month: about the same as the county. In Big Spring, 53% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Howard County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,217 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.40 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 Howard County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$948
$18.23
$37,920
1 bedroom
$954
$18.35
$38,160
2 bedrooms
$1,217
$23.40
$48,680
3 bedrooms
$1,492
$28.69
$59,680
4 bedrooms
$1,812
$34.85
$72,480
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 Big Spring
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Big Spring has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,210 in 79721 to $1,600 in 79720.
1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Howard County ($1,217).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Big Spring, fiscal year 2027.
79720
$1,290
$1,300
$1,600
$2,000
$2,460
79721
$940
$950
$1,210
$1,480
$1,800
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
79720 $1,600$2,000
79721 $1,210$1,480
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Big Spring 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 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Big Spring. These are the largest.
Canterbury Apts1600 S Lancaster St, Big Spring 79720179 low-income homes · For older adults(432) 263-1265
Limestone Ridge Apts1401 N US Highway 87, Big Spring 7972076 low-income homes · In service since 2003
Park Village Apts1905 Wasson Rd, Big Spring 7972076 homes, 74 low-income · In service since 2012 · For families(432) 267-6421
Laredo Hill1002 N Main St, Big Spring 7972068 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 32 · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
Laredo Hills1002 N Main St, Big Spring 7972068 low-income homes · For families(432) 267-5191
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 Howard 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 Big Spring or Howard County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Big Spring 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 Big Spring or Howard 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 Big Spring and all of Howard 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 Big Spring?
The typical home value in Big Spring is $140,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Howard County it is $155,600.
How much does it cost to rent in Big Spring?
Typical rent in Big Spring is $1,050 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Howard County is $1,217.
What is the FHA loan limit in Big Spring?
Big Spring uses the FHA limit for all of Howard County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Big Spring?
The typical homeowner in Big Spring pays $1,420 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.01% of the home’s value; in Howard County, the rate is 0.95%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Big Spring?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Howard County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
