In Crystal City, a typical home is worth $109,100 and typical rent is $518 a month. Compared with all of Zavala County, the typical home value is 10% higher, typical rent is 5% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 6 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $71,254 to $89,890.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Crystal City is in Zavala 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 Zavala County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Crystal City has the lowest typical rent of the 413 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people: $518.
2
Crystal City has the 6th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 356 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people (32%).
3
Crystal City has the 7th lowest typical household income of the 424 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($36,328).
4
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Crystal City rose 16.9%; in Texas, it fell 1.4%.
5
Crystal City has the 33rd lowest typical home value of the 422 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($109,100).
6
63% of households in Crystal City own their home, against 69% in Zavala County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Crystal City
What homes there are in Crystal City, 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
Crystal City
Zavala County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Crystal City and its comparisons
Measure
Crystal City
Zavala County
Texas
United States
Detached house
69%
65%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
9%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
21%
19%
Mobile home
15%
23%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Crystal City, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Zavala County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Crystal City
Zavala County
Texas
United States
Year built: Crystal City and its comparisons
Measure
Crystal City
Zavala County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
Unreliable estimate
19%
12%
26%
1960–1979
38%
32%
21%
24%
1980–1999
24%
31%
28%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
18%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
15%
21%
11%
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K45%
$100K–$200K37%
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Crystal City and its comparisons
Measure
Crystal City
Under $100K
45%
$100K–$200K
37%
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable
$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: Crystal City and its comparisons
Measure
Crystal City
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,350 a month
Zavala County: $1,333 a month
Without a mortgage
$521 a month
Zavala County: $441 a month
Owners with a mortgage
44%
Zavala County: 34%
In Crystal City, 44% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,350 a month, about the same as in Zavala County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Crystal City+126%
Zavala County+98%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Crystal CityNo clear change
Zavala CountyNo clear change
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Crystal CityNo clear change
Zavala CountyNo clear change
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Crystal City and its comparisons
Measure
Crystal City
Zavala County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+126%
+98%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
No clear change
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
No clear change
+27%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Crystal City gained value faster than in Zavala County: 126% against 98%.
Rent in Crystal City 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: Crystal City and its comparisons
Measure
Crystal City
Zavala County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.79
2.86
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
87%
81%
71%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Crystal City look like those in Zavala County: 2.79 people on average.
To get to work, 87% of workers in Crystal City drive alone; in Zavala County, 81%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Crystal City?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Crystal City, worth $109,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in Crystal City, which is $36,328 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $41,196 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Zavala 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 Crystal City. 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 $3,819 (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
$961
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$107,123
Total interest
$154,125
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $1,842 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $848 a month
Tight
$848 to $1,090 a month
Your payment · 32%
Hard
more than $1,090 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Crystal City ($36,328 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$726
Property tax
$142
Home insurance
$46
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$48
You need at least $3,819 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 $961; principal and interest $726.
The city and its county
Crystal City and Zavala County
Crystal City is in Zavala 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).
Crystal City
Map of Zavala County, Texas, with Crystal City marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Crystal City
Zavala County
Crystal City's own numbers
Typical home value
$109,100
Typical monthly rent
$518
Typical yearly household income
$36,328
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
1.56%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Zavala County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
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 Zavala County.
A typical home in Crystal City is worth $109,100: 10% above the county and 62% below Texas. With the typical household income in Crystal City ($36,328 a year), a typical home costs 3.0 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.
Crystal City3.0 years
Zavala2.7 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Texas
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Texas rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Texas, 2016 to 2025
2016: +7.0% +7.0% 2016
2017: +7.0% +7.0% 2017
2018: +6.1% +6.1% 2018
2019: +4.6% +4.6% 2019
2020: +3.3% +3.3% 2020
2021: +12.6% +12.6% 2021
2022: +18.4% +18.4% 2022
2023: +4.4% +4.4% 2023
2024: +2.3% +2.3% 2024
2025: +0.8% +0.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Texas, Texas and the United States
Period
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+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
Crystal City next to Zavala 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
Crystal City$109,100
Zavala$98,800
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Crystal City$518
Zavala$548
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Crystal City$36,328
Zavala$36,749
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Crystal City next to Zavala County and Texas
Measure
Crystal City
Zavala County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$109,100 ▲10% above the county
$98,800
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$518 ▼5% below the county
$548
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$36,328
$36,749
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
63% ▼6 points below the county
69%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,701 ▲13% above the county
$1,512
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.56% ▲0.03 points above the county
1.53%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
32% ▼12 points below the county
44%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Zavala 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 Crystal City
For a typical $109,100 home in Crystal City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Crystal City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$961a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$3,819
Cash to close
$7,092
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $48
Conventional, 5% down$941a month
Down payment
$5,455
Cash to close
$8,728
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $52
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$779a month
Down payment
$21,820
Cash to close
$25,093
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$879a month
Down payment
$16,365
Cash to close
$19,638
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Crystal City
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$961
$3,819
$107,124
7.18%
FHA MIP · $48
$7,092
580
Conventional, 5% down
$941
$5,455
$103,645
7.18%
PMI · $52
$8,728
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$779
$21,820
$87,280
7.18%
None
$25,093
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$879
$16,365
$92,735
8.18%
None
$19,638
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 Crystal City is $518 a month: 5% below the county. In Crystal City, 32% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Zavala 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.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Zavala County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$771
$14.83
$30,840
1 bedroom
$807
$15.52
$32,280
2 bedrooms
$1,014
$19.50
$40,560
3 bedrooms
$1,310
$25.19
$52,400
4 bedrooms
$1,461
$28.10
$58,440
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 Crystal City
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Crystal City is in ZIP code 78839.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,040: $26 more than the fair market rent for Zavala County ($1,014).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Crystal City, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
78839
$790
$830
$1,040
$1,340
$1,500
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
78839 $1,040$1,340
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Crystal City 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 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Crystal City. These are the largest.
Roberto Alonzo Courts802 E Uvalde St, Crystal City 78839152 low-income homes · Run by Crystal City Housing Authority · Average payment: $308 a month · Average wait: 14 months(830) 374-3433
Ninfa Moncada Courts1600 N 7th Ave, Crystal City 78839116 low-income homes · Run by Crystal City Housing Authority · Average payment: $319 a month · Average wait: 2 months(830) 374-3433
Villa Hermosa Apts1015 E Crockett St, Crystal City 7883960 low-income homes · In service since 2004
Elena C. Diaz Homes for Special Citizens114 Casitas Cash Dr, Crystal City 7883924 low-income homes · For people with disabilities(830) 374-2300
unnamed901 Hardy Dr, Crystal City 7883920 low-income homes · Run by Crystal City Housing Authority · Average payment: $350 a month · Average wait: 1 month · Homes at several sites(830) 374-3433
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 Zavala 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 Crystal City or Zavala County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Crystal City 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).
The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Crystal City, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.
LN
Laredo-Webb Neighborhood Housing Services
216 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo · 86 miles away · Spanish
No legal help resource on our list is for Crystal City or Zavala 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 Crystal City and all of Zavala 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 Crystal City?
The typical home value in Crystal City is $109,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Zavala County it is $98,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Crystal City?
Typical rent in Crystal City is $518 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Zavala County is $1,014.
What is the FHA loan limit in Crystal City?
Crystal City uses the FHA limit for all of Zavala 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 Crystal City?
The typical homeowner in Crystal City pays $1,701 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.56% of the home’s value; in Zavala County, the rate is 1.53%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Crystal City?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Zavala County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
