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County in Texas

Brazos County, Texas

Brazos County is a county in Texas with 242,311 residents, No. 23 of 254 by population. In Brazos County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $296,000. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,151 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $22.13 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $296,000

    +4% vs. Texas −11% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • Brazos
    • Texas
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,151 a month

    −23% vs. Texas −34% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • Brazos
    • Texas
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • Brazos
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    1.54% of value per year

    +3% vs. Texas +64% vs. U.S.

    $4,568 a year for the typical owner

    • Brazos
    • Texas
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$310,538
about the same as 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,514 a month
about the same as 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in Brazos County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $2,603 a month: 53% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $111,557 a year; the typical income here is $58,553. 47% of households own their home, fewer than in Texas (63%).

61% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing, more than in Texas (52%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Only here

What sets Brazos County apart

  1. Of the 251 counties in Texas with this figure, Brazos County has the lowest homeownership rate: 47%.

  2. At 61%, Brazos County ranks 2nd among the 202 counties in Texas with this figure for the largest share of rent-burdened renters.

  3. Brazos County has the highest typical rent in its area: $1,193, more than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Washington County ($1,165).

  4. Brazos County has the highest typical home value in its area: $296,000, more than any of its 6 neighboring counties; next is Washington County ($288,100).

  5. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Brazos County rose 47% on FHFA's index, faster than in Texas (44%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in Brazos County

What homes there are in Brazos County, 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

In Brazos County, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Texas, 6.

Year built

The typical home in Brazos County was built in 1997, 5 years after the typical one in Texas.

Homes in Brazos County are smaller: 59% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Texas, 63%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 86% of owner-occupied homes in Brazos County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 43% of rented homes in Brazos County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for this county ($1,151); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,972 a month

Texas: $2,106 a month

Without a mortgage

$721 a month

Texas: $678 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

Texas: 56%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Brazos County is $1,972 a month, less than in Texas ($2,106); without one, $721.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Brazos County rose 47% since 2015–2019, less than in Texas (65%).

The typical rent in Brazos County rose 26% over the same time; in Texas, it rose 34%.

The typical household income in Brazos County rose 19%: less than home values (+47%) and rent (+26%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBrazos CountyTexasUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.5%7.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.0%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.2%4.8%3.4%
People per household 2.462.692.53
Drive alone 73%71%69%
Carpool 9%10%9%
Public transit 2%1%3%
Walk or bike 4%2%3%
Work from home 11%14%15%
Other means 1%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Brazos County look like those in Texas: the rental vacancy rate is 7.5%.

More than one person per room: that is how 3.2% of households in Brazos County live, less than in Texas (4.8%).

On average, a household in Brazos County has 2.46 people, fewer than in Texas (2.69).

The car rules in Brazos County: 73% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in Brazos County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $296,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 53% of the typical household income here, which is $58,553 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $111,557 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Brazos County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $10,360 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,603

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$290,639
Total interest
$418,161
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,999 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,366 a month

  • Tight

    $1,366 to $1,757 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,757 a month

    Your payment · 53%

Compared with the typical household income in Brazos County ($58,553 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,603
Principal & interest$1,969
Property tax$380
Home insurance$123
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$131

You need at least $10,360 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

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.

Buying a home

Buying a home in Brazos County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Brazos County compares with Texas and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in Brazos County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Texas United States
In 2025 +2.0% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +47% +44% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +87% +88% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Brazos County compared with Texas and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Brazos $296,000
  • Texas $283,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Brazos $1,193
  • Texas $1,403
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Brazos $58,553
  • Texas $78,476
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Brazos compared with Texas and the United States
MeasureHereTexasU.S.
Residents242,31130,188,424334,922,499
Typical home value$296,000$283,800$332,700
Typical household income$58,553$78,476$80,734
Typical rent$1,193$1,403$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,151$1,488$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$22.13$28.62$33.65
Typical property tax$4,568$4,232$3,119
Effective tax rate1.54%1.49%0.94%
Households that own their home47%63%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent61%52%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Texas shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Brazos County

For a typical $296,000 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $2,603 $10,360 $290,639 7.18% FHA MIP · $131 $19,240 580
Conventional, 5% down $2,549 $14,800 $281,200 7.18% PMI · $141 $23,680 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,107 $59,200 $236,800 7.18% None $68,080 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,381 $44,400 $251,600 8.18% None $53,280 Set by the lender
  • 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.

Everything about buying in Brazos County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Brazos County use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in Brazos County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In Brazos County, the typical owner pays $4,568 a year: about 1.54% of the home's value. That is close to the rest of Texas and more than the national average.

  • Brazos 1.54%
  • Texas 1.49%
  • United States 0.94%

What Texas publishes School-district homestead exemption (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts)

Exemptions and deadlines in Texas

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in Brazos County 1.6% of homes (1,007) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 42% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in Brazos County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Brazos County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

According to FEMA, the natural hazard risk in Brazos County is relatively moderate.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

In Brazos County, FEMA expects natural hazards to cause $62.7 million in losses a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $18.5 million in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively moderate $18.5 million a year
  2. TornadoRelatively high $3.2 million a year
  3. HurricaneRelatively moderate $3.1 million a year
  4. EarthquakeVery low $111,302 a year
  5. WildfireVery low $45,129 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

The home energy code (IECC) puts Brazos County in zone 2A: hot and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Winter

    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$23.28$16.70 and $35.66
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$23.93$17.19 and $36.72
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$23.33$18.17 and $33.28
Carpenters$22.58$17.72 and $29.99
Painters, construction and maintenance$20.88$14.44 and $27.04
Maintenance and repair workers, general$19.96$14.22 and $29.64

An electrician earns about $23.28 an hour in the College Station-Bryan, TX area, and a plumber, about $23.93.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

BLS publishes no wages for roofers in this area.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Brazos County

The typical rent in Brazos County is $1,193 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

61% of renter households in Brazos County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 36% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,005 $19.33 $40,200
1 bedroom $1,057 $20.33 $42,280
2 bedrooms $1,151 $22.13 $46,040
3 bedrooms $1,594 $30.65 $63,760
4 bedrooms $1,900 $36.54 $76,000

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in Brazos County

Programs and counseling in Brazos County

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

One-story houses with chain-link fences in a South San Antonio, Texas, neighborhood.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Texas down payment programs

  1. My First Texas Home

    Texas state program for first-time buyers: a 30-year mortgage with down payment assistance

    First-time buyers only. Run by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    DeferredForgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. My Choice Texas Home

    Texas state program with down payment assistance for any buyer, not only first-time buyers

    No first-time requirement. Run by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    DeferredForgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  3. Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    Texas state certificate that turns part of your mortgage interest into a credit on your federal tax return

    First-time buyers only. Run by Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

    Tax credit Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Texas programs

Help in Spanish in Brazos County

None of the 0 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Brazos Valley Council of Governments Section 8 vouchers (979) 595-2801
  • Housing Authority of the City of Bryan Public housing (979) 822-2013

Free legal help

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.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

We didn't find counseling agencies near this county.

Places

Cities in Brazos County

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Brazos County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in Brazos County in 2026?

Brazos County has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in Brazos County?

Brazos County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in Brazos County?

The typical home value in Brazos County is $296,000 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Texas it's $283,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Brazos County?

Brazos County has a typical rent of $1,193 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,151 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in Brazos County?

About $22.13 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $46,040 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,151 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).