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City · 5,271 residents · Shelby County, Texas

Center , Texas

In Center, typical rent is $823 a month. Compared with all of Shelby County, typical rent is 5% higher and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

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  • Typical rent

    $823a month

    5% above the county

    41% below Texas

    • Center
    • Shelby
    • Texas

  • Typical household income

    $48,293a year

    3% below the county

    38% below Texas

    • Center
    • Shelby
    • Texas

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    18 points below the county

    6 points below Texas

    • Center
    • Shelby
    • Texas

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$199,870
6.1% less than 12 months ago

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

Center is in Shelby 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 Shelby County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Center apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 57% of households in Center own their home, against 74% in Shelby County.

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Center fell 6.1%; in Texas, it fell 1.4%.

  3. Center has the 23rd lowest typical rent of the 413 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($823).

  4. Center has the 39th lowest typical household income of the 424 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($48,293).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Center

What homes there are in Center, 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

The detached house rules in Center: 66% of homes, more than in Shelby County (60%).

Year built

In Center, half of the homes were built before 1982; in Shelby County, before 1984.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,465 a month

Shelby County: $1,383 a month

Without a mortgage

$512 a month

Shelby County: $456 a month

Owners with a mortgage

32%

Shelby County: 28%

Owning costs more in Center: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,465 a month; in Shelby County, $1,383. Without one, $512.

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 rent in Center stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

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

MeasureCenterShelby CountyTexasUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate4.2%4.8%3.4%
People per household 2.622.562.692.53
Drive alone 77%82%71%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate10%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate4%14%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Shelby County, a household in Center has 2.62 people on average.

To get to work, 77% of workers in Center drive alone; in Shelby County, 82%.

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 for a home in Center?

The Census Bureau publishes no typical home value or typical household income for Center, so we don't measure how heavy the payment is. Enter your own numbers in the calculator. The Census Bureau publishes no typical home value for Center, so the calculator starts with the one for Shelby County: $101,500. The rate is Freddie Mac’s weekly average (7.18%, November 5, 2026); yours may be different. The FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Shelby County. Change the price, the down payment or the loan type and see how your payment changes.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Shelby County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Center. 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 $3,553 (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

$848

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$99,661
Total interest
$143,389
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,714 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,127 a month

    Your payment · 21%

  • Tight

    $1,127 to $1,449 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,449 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Center ($48,293 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$848
Principal & interest$675
Property tax$85
Home insurance$42
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$45

You need at least $3,553 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.

The city and its county

Center and Shelby County

Center is in Shelby 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).

Center's own numbers

Typical monthly rent
$823
Typical yearly household income
$48,293
Households that own their home
57%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Shelby County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+57%

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 Shelby County.

Everything about Shelby County

Buying

Buying a home in Center

The Census Bureau publishes no typical home value for Center. Below are the numbers for Shelby County.

How prices have changed in Shelby County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Shelby County rose 58% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Shelby County.

Period County Texas U.S.
Last year (2025) +14.2% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +57% +44% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +58% +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

Center next to Shelby County, Texas and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical monthly rent
  • Center $823
  • Shelby $781
  • Texas $1,403
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Center $48,293
  • Shelby $49,776
  • Texas $78,476
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Center next to Shelby County and Texas
Measure Center Shelby County Texas U.S.
Typical monthly rent $823 $781 $1,403 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $48,293 $49,776 $78,476 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 74% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,476 $1,024 $4,232 $3,119

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Shelby 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 Center

The Census Bureau publishes no typical home value for Center, so we don't build this table. You can enter the price you're looking for in the calculator above.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Center and for Shelby County.

Property tax

Data not available for this place

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Texas

Flood risk in Shelby County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Shelby County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Shelby County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Center

Typical rent in Center is $823 a month: 5% above the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Shelby County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Shelby County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $771 $14.83 $30,840
1 bedroom $878 $16.88 $35,120
2 bedrooms $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
3 bedrooms $1,404 $27.00 $56,160
4 bedrooms $1,502 $28.88 $60,080

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 Center

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Center is in ZIP code 75935.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,130: $116 more than the fair market rent for Shelby County ($1,014).

  • 75935 $1,130$1,560

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Center 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 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Center

HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Center. These are the largest.

  • Union Acres Trust 818 Cotton Ford Rd, Center 75935 100 low-income homes · For families (936) 598-3634
  • Southwood 1401 Holly Dr, Center 75935 60 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of Center · Average payment: $447 a month · Average wait: 10 months (936) 598-2332
  • Center Place Apts - Center 705 Clifford St, Center 75935 32 low-income homes · 2 bd: 32 · In service since 2001
  • Arcadia Village 673 Arcadia Ct, Center 75935 26 low-income homes · 3 bd: 13 · 4 bd: 13 · In service since 2005

See all 9 buildings in Shelby County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Center

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 Shelby County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Center

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Center or Shelby County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Center the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Texas

  • My First Texas Home

    Statewide in Texas

    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).

    DeferredForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • My Choice Texas Home

    Statewide in Texas

    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).

    DeferredForgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Texas Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Texas

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    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).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Center

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Center, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Catholic Charities of Southeast Texas

    2780 Eastex Fwy, Beaumont · 117 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (409) 924-4425

  • Tender Loving Care Center for Children, DBA Legacy CDC

    3800 Park Ln, Port Arthur · 131 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (409) 832-2723

  • Nid-Hca Dightman

    113 N Avenue H, Humble · 140 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (281) 895-0563

All counseling agencies in Texas

Help in Spanish near Center

2 of the 3 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.

Housing authorities of Center

HUD’s record names them for Center or Shelby County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

2 other authorities have an office in Shelby County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Center, with the typical home value.

Everything about Shelby County Housing in Texas

Neighboring counties

If Shelby County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Center.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Center

Short answers with the numbers for Center and all of Shelby County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does it cost to rent in Center?

Typical rent in Center is $823 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Shelby County is $1,014.

What is the FHA loan limit in Center?

Center uses the FHA limit for all of Shelby 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 Center?

The typical homeowner in Center pays $1,476 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is Data not available for this place of the home’s value; in Shelby County, the rate is 1.01%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Center?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Shelby County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).