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County in Texas

Harris County, Texas

With 4,838,303 residents, Harris County is the most populous county in Texas. In Harris County, the FHA loan limit for a one-unit home is $541,287, and a typical home is worth $276,600. To rent a 2-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent ($1,497 a month) without going over 30% of your income, you need to earn about $28.79 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $276,600

    −3% vs. Texas −17% vs. U.S.

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

    • Harris
    • Texas
    • United States

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

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,497 a month

    Same as Texas −14% vs. U.S.

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

    • Harris
    • 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.

    • Harris
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    1.62% of value per year

    +9% vs. Texas +72% vs. U.S.

    $4,489 a year for the typical owner

    • Harris
    • Texas
    • United States

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$276,524
2% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,583 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 Harris County today?

With an FHA loan and the minimum down payment, a typical home would cost about $2,451 a month: 39% of the typical household income here. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $105,036 a year; the typical income here is $74,983. 55% of households own their home, fewer than in Texas (63%).

54% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on housing. Here 35% of people speak Spanish at home; 8 agencies nearby offer housing counseling in Spanish.

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

Only here

What sets Harris County apart

  1. Harris County has the 6th lowest homeownership rate of the 251 counties in Texas with this figure (55%).

  2. Nearby, in Liberty County, the typical home value is $181,700: 34% less than in Harris County ($276,600).

  3. Among the neighboring counties, Liberty County has the lowest typical rent ($1,044), 25% below the $1,401 in Harris County.

  4. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in Harris County rose 31% on FHFA's index, slower than in Texas (44%).

  5. 9% of homes in Harris County (113,215) are in FEMA's high-risk flood zone, and only 48% of those carry NFIP flood insurance.

  6. At 1.62%, Harris County ranks 21st among the 236 counties in Texas with this figure for the highest effective property tax rate.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data); FEMA (As of August 3, 2026).

The homes here

Housing in Harris County

What homes there are in Harris 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Harris County, but it weighs less than in Texas: 57% against 64%.

Year built

In Harris County, half of the homes were built before 1988; in Texas, before 1992.

Homes in Harris County are smaller: 57% 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 85% of owner-occupied homes in Harris County are worth less than the FHA loan limit for this county ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for this county is $1,497: about 57% of rents in Harris County are below it.

With a mortgage

$2,155 a month

Texas: $2,106 a month

Without a mortgage

$744 a month

Texas: $678 a month

Owners with a mortgage

57%

Texas: 56%

In Harris County, 57% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $2,155 a month, about the same as in Texas.

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

Homes in Harris County gained value more slowly than in Texas: 57% since 2015–2019, against 65%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Harris County rose 30%, less than in Texas (34%).

The typical household income in Harris County rose 22%: less than home values (+57%) and rent (+30%).

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

MeasureHarris CountyTexasUnited States
Rental vacancy 9.3%7.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.2%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room 6.6%4.8%3.4%
People per household 2.732.692.53
Drive alone 70%71%69%
Carpool 11%10%9%
Public transit 2%1%3%
Walk or bike 2%2%3%
Work from home 13%14%15%
Other means 2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Harris County is 9.3%, higher than in Texas (7.7%).

More than one person per room: that is how 6.6% of households in Harris County live, more than in Texas (4.8%).

Much as in Texas, a household in Harris County has 2.73 people on average.

In Harris County, 70% of workers drive alone to work; in Texas, 71%.

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 Harris County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $276,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 39% of the typical household income here, which is $74,983 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $105,036 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Harris 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 $9,681 (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

$2,451

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$271,590
Total interest
$390,754
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,671 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,750 a month

  • Tight

    $1,750 to $2,249 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,249 a month

    Your payment · 39%

Compared with the typical household income in Harris County ($74,983 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,451
Principal & interest$1,840
Property tax$373
Home insurance$115
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$122

You need at least $9,681 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 Harris County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how Harris 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 Harris County rose 54% 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 +0.6% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +31% +44% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +54% +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

Harris 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
  • Harris $276,600
  • Texas $283,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • Harris $1,401
  • Texas $1,403
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • Harris $74,983
  • Texas $78,476
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Harris compared with Texas and the United States
MeasureHereTexasU.S.
Residents4,838,30330,188,424334,922,499
Typical home value$276,600$283,800$332,700
Typical household income$74,983$78,476$80,734
Typical rent$1,401$1,403$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,497$1,488$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$28.79$28.62$33.65
Typical property tax$4,489$4,232$3,119
Effective tax rate1.62%1.49%0.94%
Households that own their home55%63%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent54%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 Harris County

For a typical $276,600 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 $2,451 $9,681 $271,590 7.18% FHA MIP · $122 $17,979 580
Conventional, 5% down $2,400 $13,830 $262,770 7.18% PMI · $131 $22,128 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,988 $55,320 $221,280 7.18% None $63,618 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,243 $41,490 $235,110 8.18% None $49,788 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 Harris County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in Harris 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 Harris 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 Harris County, the typical owner pays $4,489 a year: about 1.62% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Texas and more than the national average.

  • Harris 1.62%
  • 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 Harris County 9.1% of homes (113,215) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 48% 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 Harris County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in Harris 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 Harris County is very high.

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

The loss FEMA expects each year in Harris County from all natural hazards is $2.2 billion, counting buildings, people and crops.

For homes and buildings, the costliest hazard here is inland flooding, at about $1.1 billion in losses a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingVery high $1.1 billion a year
  2. HurricaneVery high $428 million a year
  3. TornadoVery high $62.9 million a year
  4. EarthquakeRelatively moderate $4.1 million a year
  5. Coastal floodingRelatively high $2.2 million 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

Harris County is in climate zone 2A of the home energy code (IECC): 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$28.45$18.66 and $40.61
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$29.47$19.19 and $41.19
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$28.34$18.65 and $39.96
Roofers$21.87$16.38 and $28.41
Carpenters$23.88$18.98 and $32.93
Painters, construction and maintenance$22.18$18.01 and $28.07
Maintenance and repair workers, general$22.46$15.20 and $36.64

In the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX area, half of electricians earn more than $28.45 an hour and half earn less; for a plumber, the typical figure is $29.47.

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

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in Harris County

The typical rent in Harris County is $1,401 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

54% of renter households in Harris County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 27% 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 $1,233 $23.71 $49,320
1 bedroom $1,261 $24.25 $50,440
2 bedrooms $1,497 $28.79 $59,880
3 bedrooms $2,017 $38.79 $80,680
4 bedrooms $2,502 $48.12 $100,080

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

Free help in Harris County

Programs and counseling in Harris County

There are 13 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in Harris County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

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. Homebuyer Assistance Program (HAP)

    Only in: Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County

    Out of funds for now, per the source

    City of Houston interest-free forgivable loan of up to $75,000 for the down payment, closing costs or to buy down the mortgage of first-time buyers with income up to 80% of the median; forgiven if you live in the home eight years

    First-time buyers only. Run by City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCD).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. 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

  3. 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

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Texas programs

Help in Spanish in Harris County

8 of the 13 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.

  • Houston Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (713) 260-0500
  • Harris County Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (713) 578-2100

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

These agencies have an office in Harris County. The full list is on the Texas counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • Avenue Community Development Corporation

    3517 Irvington Blvd, Houston · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 3 more
    (713) 864-9099

  • Chinese Community Center

    9800 Town Park Dr, Houston · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, and Vietnamese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 10 more
    (713) 271-6100

  • Easter Seals of Greater Houston, Inc.

    4888 Loop Central Dr Ste 200, Houston · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (713) 838-9050
See every agency in Texas

Places

Cities in Harris County

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

See all 22 cities of Harris County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with Harris 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 Harris County in 2026?

Harris 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 Harris County?

Harris 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 Harris County?

The typical home value in Harris County is $276,600 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Texas it's $283,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Harris County?

Harris County has a typical rent of $1,401 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,497 (Fiscal year 2027).

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

About $28.79 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $59,880 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,497 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).