In Primera, a typical home is worth $160,900 and typical rent is $1,293 a month. Compared with all of Cameron County, typical household income is 52% higher, typical rent is 42% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points higher.
Primera is in Cameron 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 Cameron County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Mila Doce, the typical home value is $67,700: 58% less than in Primera ($160,900).
2
Nearby, in Mila Doce, the typical rent is $640: 51% less than in Primera ($1,293).
3
The typical household income in Primera is $80,116,52% more than in Cameron County as a whole ($52,601).
4
The typical rent in Primera is $1,293 a month, 42% more than in Cameron County as a whole ($912).
5
The typical home in Primera is worth $160,900,18% more than in Cameron County as a whole ($136,500).
6
75% of households in Primera own their home, against 65% in Cameron County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Primera
What homes there are in Primera, 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
Primera
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Primera and its comparisons
Measure
Primera
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Detached house
77%
65%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
8%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
14%
21%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
11%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
In Primera, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Cameron County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Primera
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Year built: Primera and its comparisons
Measure
Primera
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
Unreliable estimate
10%
12%
26%
1960–1979
11%
20%
21%
24%
1980–1999
22%
32%
28%
25%
2000–2009
26%
21%
18%
14%
2010 or later
33%
16%
21%
11%
Homes in Primera are newer: the typical year built is 2003; in Cameron County, 1992.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K36%
$100K–$200K32%
$200K–$300K20%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Primera and its comparisons
Measure
Primera
Under $100K
36%
$100K–$200K
32%
$200K–$300K
20%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49961%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Primera and its comparisons
Measure
Primera
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
61%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,362 a month
Cameron County: $1,449 a month
Without a mortgage
$525 a month
Cameron County: $481 a month
Owners with a mortgage
59%
Cameron County: 39%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Primera is $1,362 a month, less than in Cameron County ($1,449); without one, $525.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Primera+80%
Cameron County+59%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Primera+72%
Cameron County+24%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Primera+72%
Cameron County+36%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Primera and its comparisons
Measure
Primera
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+80%
+59%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
+72%
+24%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+72%
+36%
+27%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Primera rose 80%; in Cameron County, it rose 59%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Primera rose 72%, more than in Cameron County (24%).
To compare: typical income in Primera rose 72%; the home, +80%; the rent, +72%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Primera and its comparisons
Measure
Primera
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.5%
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.4%
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
9.9%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
3.63
3.05
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
89%
76%
71%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
12%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
9%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Primera are bigger: 3.63 people on average; in Cameron County, 3.05.
To get to work, 89% of workers in Primera drive alone; in Cameron County, 76%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Primera?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Primera, worth $160,900, 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 Primera, which is $80,116 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cameron 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 Primera. 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 $5,632 (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
$1,385
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$157,985
Total interest
$227,304
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,717 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,869 a month
Your payment · 21%
Tight
$1,869 to $2,403 a month
Hard
more than $2,403 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Primera ($80,116 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,070
Property tax
$177
Home insurance
$67
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$71
You need at least $5,632 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 $1,385; principal and interest $1,070.
The city and its county
Primera and Cameron County
Primera is in Cameron 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).
Primera
Map of Cameron County, Texas, with Primera marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Primera
Cameron County
Other cities with a page
Primera's own numbers
Typical home value
$160,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,293
Typical yearly household income
$80,116
Households that own their home
75%
Effective property tax rate
1.32%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Cameron County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,042
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+55%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
9.5%
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 Cameron County.
A typical home in Primera is worth $160,900: 18% above the county and 43% below Texas. With the typical household income in Primera ($80,116 a year), a typical home costs 2.0 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.
Primera2.0 years
Cameron2.6 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Cameron County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cameron County rose 81% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cameron County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Cameron County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +0.6% +0.6% 2016
2017: +3.6% +3.6% 2017
2018: +2.2% +2.2% 2018
2019: +4.8% +4.8% 2019
2020: +4.7% +4.7% 2020
2021: +12.0% +12.0% 2021
2022: +18.5% +18.5% 2022
2023: +11.8% +11.8% 2023
2024: +4.4% +4.4% 2024
2025: +0.1% +0.1% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Cameron County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.1%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+55%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+81%
+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
Primera next to Cameron 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
Primera$160,900
Cameron$136,500
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Primera$1,293
Cameron$912
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Primera$80,116
Cameron$52,601
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Primera next to Cameron County and Texas
Measure
Primera
Cameron County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$160,900 ▲18% above the county
$136,500
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,293 ▲42% above the county
$912
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$80,116 ▲52% above the county
$52,601
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
75% ▲10 points above the county
65%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,131 ▲4% above the county
$2,042
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.32% ▼0.18 points below the county
1.5%
1.49%
0.94%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cameron 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 Primera
For a typical $160,900 home in Primera, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Primera's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,385a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$5,632
Cash to close
$10,459
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $71
Conventional, 5% down$1,356a month
Down payment
$8,045
Cash to close
$12,872
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $76
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,116a month
Down payment
$32,180
Cash to close
$37,007
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,265a month
Down payment
$24,135
Cash to close
$28,962
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Primera
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,385
$5,632
$157,986
7.18%
FHA MIP · $71
$10,459
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,356
$8,045
$152,855
7.18%
PMI · $76
$12,872
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,116
$32,180
$128,720
7.18%
None
$37,007
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,265
$24,135
$136,765
8.18%
None
$28,962
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 Primera is $1,293 a month: 42% above the county.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cameron County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,042 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $20.04 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 Cameron County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$827
$15.90
$33,080
1 bedroom
$884
$17.00
$35,360
2 bedrooms
$1,042
$20.04
$41,680
3 bedrooms
$1,393
$26.79
$55,720
4 bedrooms
$1,496
$28.77
$59,840
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 Primera
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Primera is in ZIP code 78552.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,220: $178 more than the fair market rent for Cameron County ($1,042).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Primera, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
78552
$970
$1,040
$1,220
$1,630
$1,750
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
78552 $1,220$1,630
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Primera 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)
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.
There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Cameron County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Primera or Cameron County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Primera 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 Primera or Cameron 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 Primera and all of Cameron 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 Primera?
The typical home value in Primera is $160,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cameron County it is $136,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Primera?
Typical rent in Primera is $1,293 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cameron County is $1,042.
What is the FHA loan limit in Primera?
Primera uses the FHA limit for all of Cameron 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 Primera?
The typical homeowner in Primera pays $2,131 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.32% of the home’s value; in Cameron County, the rate is 1.5%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Primera?
There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Cameron County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
