In San Benito, a typical home is worth $85,300 and typical rent is $839 a month. Compared with all of Cameron County, the typical home value is 38% lower and typical household income is 17% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $137,903 to $158,982.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
San Benito 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
San Benito has the 12th lowest typical home value of the 422 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($85,300).
2
San Benito has the 18th lowest typical household income of the 424 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($43,639).
3
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in San Benito rose 4.8%; in Texas, it fell 1.4%.
4
San Benito has the 26th lowest typical rent of the 413 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people ($839).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in San Benito
What homes there are in San Benito, 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
San Benito
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: San Benito and its comparisons
Measure
San Benito
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Detached house
71%
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
11%
11%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
In San Benito, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Cameron County, 6.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
San Benito
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Year built: San Benito and its comparisons
Measure
San Benito
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
18%
10%
12%
26%
1960–1979
21%
20%
21%
24%
1980–1999
28%
32%
28%
25%
2000–2009
19%
21%
18%
14%
2010 or later
14%
16%
21%
11%
The typical home in San Benito was built in 1987, 5 years before the typical one in Cameron County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K59%
$100K–$200K25%
$200K–$300K11%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: San Benito and its comparisons
Measure
San Benito
Under $100K
59%
$100K–$200K
25%
$200K–$300K
11%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99943%
$1,000–$1,49934%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: San Benito and its comparisons
Measure
San Benito
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
43%
$1,000–$1,499
34%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,338 a month
Cameron County: $1,449 a month
Without a mortgage
$430 a month
Cameron County: $481 a month
Owners with a mortgage
29%
Cameron County: 39%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in San Benito is $1,338 a month, less than in Cameron County ($1,449); without one, $430.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
San Benito+50%
Cameron County+59%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
San Benito+19%
Cameron County+24%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
San Benito+59%
Cameron County+36%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: San Benito and its comparisons
Measure
San Benito
Cameron County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+50%
+59%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
+19%
+24%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+59%
+36%
+27%
+29%
Homes in San Benito gained value more slowly than in Cameron County: 50% since 2015–2019, against 59%.
Rents in San Benito rose more slowly than in Cameron County: 19% since 2015–2019, against 24%.
Income in San Benito grew faster than housing: it rose 59%, while home values changed +50% and rent +19%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: San Benito and its comparisons
Measure
San Benito
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
8.3%
9.9%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.93
3.05
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
72%
76%
71%
69%
Carpool
15%
12%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
3%
Work from home
11%
9%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In San Benito, 8.3% of households live with more than one person per room, against 9.9% in Cameron County.
By size, households in San Benito look like those in Cameron County: 2.93 people on average.
In San Benito, 15% of workers share a car to get to work; in Cameron County, 12%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in San Benito?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in San Benito, worth $85,300, 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 San Benito, which is $43,639 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 San Benito. 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 $2,986 (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
$748
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$83,754
Total interest
$120,503
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $1,440 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,018 a month
Your payment · 21%
Tight
$1,018 to $1,309 a month
Hard
more than $1,309 a month
Compared with the typical household income in San Benito ($43,639 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$567
Property tax
$107
Home insurance
$36
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$38
You need at least $2,986 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 $748; principal and interest $567.
The city and its county
San Benito and Cameron County
San Benito 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).
San Benito
Map of Cameron County, Texas, with San Benito marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
San Benito
Cameron County
Other cities with a page
San Benito's own numbers
Typical home value
$85,300
Typical monthly rent
$839
Typical yearly household income
$43,639
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
1.51%
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 San Benito is worth $85,300: 38% below the county and 70% below Texas. With the typical household income in San Benito ($43,639 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.
San Benito2.0 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
San Benito 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
San Benito$85,300
Cameron$136,500
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
San Benito$839
Cameron$912
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
San Benito$43,639
Cameron$52,601
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
San Benito next to Cameron County and Texas
Measure
San Benito
Cameron County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$85,300 ▼38% below the county
$136,500
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$839 ▼8% below the county
$912
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$43,639 ▼17% below the county
$52,601
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▲1 points above the county
65%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,286 ▼37% below the county
$2,042
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.51% ▲0.01 points above the county
1.5%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
61% ▲11 points above the county
50%
52%
51%
“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 San Benito
For a typical $85,300 home in San Benito, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, San Benito's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$748a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$2,986
Cash to close
$5,545
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $38
Conventional, 5% down$732a month
Down payment
$4,265
Cash to close
$6,824
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $41
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$605a month
Down payment
$17,060
Cash to close
$19,619
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$684a month
Down payment
$12,795
Cash to close
$15,354
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in San Benito
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$748
$2,986
$83,755
7.18%
FHA MIP · $38
$5,545
580
Conventional, 5% down
$732
$4,265
$81,035
7.18%
PMI · $41
$6,824
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$605
$17,060
$68,240
7.18%
None
$19,619
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$684
$12,795
$72,505
8.18%
None
$15,354
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 San Benito is $839 a month: 8% below the county. In San Benito, 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
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 San Benito
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). San Benito is in ZIP code 78586.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,010: $32 less than the fair market rent for Cameron County ($1,042).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in San Benito, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
78586
$800
$860
$1,010
$1,370
$1,470
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
78586 $1,010$1,370
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for San Benito 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 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in San Benito. These are the largest.
Hacienda del Sol - San Benito698 N Stookey Rd, San Benito 78586152 low-income homes · In service since 2014
Kenneth Lake100 Cornejo Dr, San Benito 78586109 low-income homes · Run by San Benito Housing Authority · Average payment: $393 a month · Average wait: 17 months(956) 399-7501
Canal Place Apts - San Benito2280 W Business 77, San Benito 7858696 low-income homes · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 56 · 4 bd: 16 · In service since 1998
Palmville Homes1400 N Reagan St, San Benito 7858684 low-income homes · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
Villa San Benito870 S McCullough St, San Benito 7858660 low-income homes · For families(956) 399-6409
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 San Benito or Cameron County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in San Benito 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 San Benito 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 San Benito 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 San Benito?
The typical home value in San Benito is $85,300, 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 San Benito?
Typical rent in San Benito is $839 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 San Benito?
San Benito 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 San Benito?
The typical homeowner in San Benito pays $1,286 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.51% of the home’s value; in Cameron County, the rate is 1.5%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in San Benito?
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.
