In Roma, a typical home is worth $94,400 and typical rent is $563 a month. Compared with all of Starr County, typical household income is 35% lower, typical rent is 22% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 14 points lower.
Roma is in Starr 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 Starr County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Roma has the 2nd lowest typical household income of the 424 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($24,579).
2
Roma has the 2nd lowest typical rent of the 413 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($563).
3
Roma has the 10th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 356 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people (76%).
4
Roma has the 16th lowest typical home value of the 422 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($94,400).
5
55% of households in Roma own their home, against 70% in Starr County.
6
31% of households in Roma have no internet at home (20% in Starr County).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Roma
What homes there are in Roma, 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
Roma
Starr County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Roma and its comparisons
Measure
Roma
Starr County
Texas
United States
Detached house
74%
80%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
9%
5%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
21%
19%
Mobile home
8%
10%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Roma, but it weighs less than in Starr County: 74% against 80%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Roma
Starr County
Texas
United States
Year built: Roma and its comparisons
Measure
Roma
Starr County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
Unreliable estimate
4%
12%
26%
1960–1979
22%
15%
21%
24%
1980–1999
38%
42%
28%
25%
2000–2009
19%
20%
18%
14%
2010 or later
17%
18%
21%
11%
The typical year built in Roma is 1993, about the same as in Starr County (1994).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K52%
$100K–$200K37%
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Roma and its comparisons
Measure
Roma
Under $100K
52%
$100K–$200K
37%
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50048%
$500–$99943%
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,014
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Roma and its comparisons
Measure
Roma
Under $500
48%
$500–$999
43%
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a HUD fair market rent of $1,014 for 2 bedrooms, at least 91% of rented homes in Roma sit below it.
With a mortgage
$2,045 a month
Starr County: $1,473 a month
Without a mortgage
$399 a month
Starr County: $394 a month
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Roma is $2,045 a month, more than in Starr County ($1,473); without one, $399.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
RomaNo clear change
Starr County+32%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
RomaNo clear change
Starr County+24%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
RomaNo clear change
Starr County+24%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Roma and its comparisons
Measure
Roma
Starr County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
No clear change
+32%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
No clear change
+24%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
No clear change
+24%
+27%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, home values in Roma moved so little that the Census cannot say whether they rose or fell.
Rent in Roma 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: Roma and its comparisons
Measure
Roma
Starr County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
13.8%
6.5%
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
7.9%
8.3%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
3.50
3.42
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
59%
72%
71%
69%
Carpool
16%
13%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
7%
4%
2%
3%
Work from home
17%
9%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
The rental vacancy rate in Roma is 13.8%, higher than in Starr County (6.5%).
In Roma, 7.9% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Starr County.
By size, households in Roma look like those in Starr County: 3.50 people on average.
Many people here do not commute at all: 17% work from home; in Starr County, 9%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Roma?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Roma, worth $94,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Roma, which is $24,579 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $34,735 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Starr 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 Roma. 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 $3,304 (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
$811
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$92,690
Total interest
$133,359
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $1,594 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $574 a month
Tight
$574 to $737 a month
Hard
more than $737 a month
Your payment · 40%
Compared with the typical household income in Roma ($24,579 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$628
Property tax
$102
Home insurance
$39
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$42
You need at least $3,304 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 $811; principal and interest $628.
The city and its county
Roma and Starr County
Roma is in Starr 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).
Roma
Map of Starr County, Texas, with Roma marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Roma
Starr County
Other cities with a page
Roma's own numbers
Typical home value
$94,400
Typical monthly rent
$563
Typical yearly household income
$24,579
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
1.29%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Starr 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)
+71%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
14%
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 Starr County.
A typical home in Roma is worth $94,400: about the same as the county and 67% below Texas. With the typical household income in Roma ($24,579 a year), a typical home costs 3.8 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.
Roma3.8 years
Starr2.5 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Starr County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Starr County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Starr County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Starr County, 2016 to 2025
2016: −3.4% −3.4% 2016
2017: +4.0% +4.0% 2017
2018: +6.4% +6.4% 2018
2019: −5.1% −5.1% 2019
2020: +5.3% +5.3% 2020
2021: +12.9% +12.9% 2021
2022: +17.9% +17.9% 2022
2023: +8.4% +8.4% 2023
2024: −2.2% −2.2% 2024
2025: +21.3% +21.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Starr County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+21.3%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+71%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+83%
+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
Roma next to Starr 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
Roma$94,400
Starr$95,100
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Roma$563
Starr$726
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Roma$24,579
Starr$37,639
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Roma next to Starr County and Texas
Measure
Roma
Starr County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$94,400
$95,100
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$563 ▼22% below the county
$726
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$24,579 ▼35% below the county
$37,639
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
55% ▼14 points below the county
70%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,215 ▲12% above the county
$1,083
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.29% ▲0.15 points above the county
1.14%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
76% ▲20 points above the county
56%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Starr 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 Roma
For a typical $94,400 home in Roma, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Roma's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$810a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$3,304
Cash to close
$6,136
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $42
Conventional, 5% down$793a month
Down payment
$4,720
Cash to close
$7,552
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $45
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$652a month
Down payment
$18,880
Cash to close
$21,712
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$740a month
Down payment
$14,160
Cash to close
$16,992
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Roma
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$810
$3,304
$92,690
7.18%
FHA MIP · $42
$6,136
580
Conventional, 5% down
$793
$4,720
$89,680
7.18%
PMI · $45
$7,552
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$652
$18,880
$75,520
7.18%
None
$21,712
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$740
$14,160
$80,240
8.18%
None
$16,992
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 Roma is $563 a month: 22% below the county. In Roma, 76% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Starr 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 Starr County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$771
$14.83
$30,840
1 bedroom
$775
$14.90
$31,000
2 bedrooms
$1,014
$19.50
$40,560
3 bedrooms
$1,404
$27.00
$56,160
4 bedrooms
$1,471
$28.29
$58,840
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 Roma
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Roma is in ZIP code 78584.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,010: $4 less than the fair market rent for Starr County ($1,014).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Roma, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
78584
$770
$780
$1,010
$1,410
$1,480
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
78584 $1,010$1,410
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Roma 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 3 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Roma. These are the largest.
unnamed301 N Canales Cir, Roma 7858456 low-income homes · Run by Roma Housing Authority · Average payment: $405 a month · Average wait: 5 months(956) 849-1159
Roma Apts1751 E 2nd St, Roma 7858440 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 16 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 1998
Rio Vista Apts191 S Portaleza Ave, Roma 7858428 low-income homes · In service since 2004 · For older adults
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 Starr 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 Roma or Starr County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Roma 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 Roma or Starr 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 Roma and all of Starr 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 Roma?
The typical home value in Roma is $94,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Starr County it is $95,100.
How much does it cost to rent in Roma?
Typical rent in Roma is $563 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Starr County is $1,014.
What is the FHA loan limit in Roma?
Roma uses the FHA limit for all of Starr 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 Roma?
The typical homeowner in Roma pays $1,215 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.29% of the home’s value; in Starr County, the rate is 1.14%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Roma?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Starr County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
