In Wharton, a typical home is worth $149,400 and typical rent is $1,051 a month. Compared with all of Wharton County, the typical home value is 21% lower, typical household income is 13% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $208,520 to $217,842.
Typical rent
$1,258a month
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2026 to September 2026: from $1,328 to $1,258.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Wharton is in Wharton 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 Wharton County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
54% of households in Wharton own their home, against 72% in Wharton County.
2
Wharton has the 17th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 356 cities in Texas with more than 5,000 people (37%).
3
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Wharton rose 2.5%; in Texas, it fell 1.4%.
4
The typical home in Wharton is worth $149,400,21% less than in Wharton County as a whole ($189,900).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Wharton
What homes there are in Wharton, 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
Wharton
Wharton County
Texas
United States
Kind of home: Wharton and its comparisons
Measure
Wharton
Wharton County
Texas
United States
Detached house
64%
77%
64%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
Unreliable estimate
4%
5%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
8%
21%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
10%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Wharton, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Wharton County, 8.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Wharton
Wharton County
Texas
United States
Year built: Wharton and its comparisons
Measure
Wharton
Wharton County
Texas
United States
Before 1960
20%
24%
12%
26%
1960–1979
39%
27%
21%
24%
1980–1999
23%
25%
28%
25%
2000–2009
Unreliable estimate
11%
18%
14%
2010 or later
10%
13%
21%
11%
The typical year built in Wharton is 1977, about the same as in Wharton County (1980).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K30%
$100K–$200K40%
$200K–$300K16%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Wharton and its comparisons
Measure
Wharton
Under $100K
30%
$100K–$200K
40%
$200K–$300K
16%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99941%
$1,000–$1,49934%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Wharton and its comparisons
Measure
Wharton
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
41%
$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 estimate
With a mortgage
$1,910 a month
Wharton County: $1,840 a month
Without a mortgage
$612 a month
Wharton County: $617 a month
Owners with a mortgage
43%
Wharton County: 41%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Wharton is $1,910 a month, near the figure in Wharton County ($1,840).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Wharton+61%
Wharton County+48%
Texas+65%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Wharton+35%
Wharton County+35%
Texas+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Wharton+49%
Wharton County+39%
Texas+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Wharton and its comparisons
Measure
Wharton
Wharton County
Texas
United States
Typical home value
+61%
+48%
+65%
+53%
Typical rent
+35%
+35%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+49%
+39%
+27%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Wharton rose 61%; in Wharton County, it rose 48%.
Much as in Wharton County, the typical rent in Wharton rose 35% since 2015–2019.
While home values in Wharton changed +61% and rent +35%, the typical household income rose 49%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Wharton and its comparisons
Measure
Wharton
Wharton County
Texas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
9.6%
7.7%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
4.0%
4.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.43
2.58
2.69
2.53
Drive alone
78%
79%
71%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
13%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
3%
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
5%
14%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Wharton are smaller: 2.43 people on average; in Wharton County, 2.58.
To get to work, 78% of workers in Wharton drive alone; in Wharton County, 79%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Wharton?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Wharton, worth $149,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Wharton, which is $58,212 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Wharton 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 Wharton. 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 $5,229 (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
$1,333
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$146,694
Total interest
$211,058
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,523 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,358 a month
Your payment · 27%
Tight
$1,358 to $1,746 a month
Hard
more than $1,746 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Wharton ($58,212 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$994
Property tax
$210
Home insurance
$62
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$66
You need at least $5,229 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 $1,333; principal and interest $994.
The city and its county
Wharton and Wharton County
Wharton is in Wharton 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).
Wharton
Map of Wharton County, Texas, with Wharton marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Wharton
Wharton County
Other cities with a page
Wharton's own numbers
Typical home value
$149,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,051
Typical yearly household income
$58,212
Households that own their home
54%
Effective property tax rate
1.69%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Wharton County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,184
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+40%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
29%
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 Wharton County.
A typical home in Wharton is worth $149,400: 21% below the county and 47% below Texas. With the typical household income in Wharton ($58,212 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 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.
Wharton2.6 years
County2.8 years
Texas3.6 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Wharton County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Wharton County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Wharton County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Wharton County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +6.0% +6.0% 2016
2017: +2.4% +2.4% 2017
2018: +7.3% +7.3% 2018
2019: +3.8% +3.8% 2019
2020: +2.4% +2.4% 2020
2021: +7.3% +7.3% 2021
2022: +12.0% +12.0% 2022
2023: +7.7% +7.7% 2023
2024: +3.4% +3.4% 2024
2025: +4.2% +4.2% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Wharton County, Texas and the United States
Period
County
Texas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+4.2%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+40%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+73%
+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
Wharton next to Wharton 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
Wharton$149,400
County$189,900
Texas$283,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Wharton$1,051
County$1,046
Texas$1,403
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Wharton$58,212
County$66,924
Texas$78,476
United States$80,734
See the full table
Wharton next to Wharton County and Texas
Measure
Wharton
Wharton County
Texas
U.S.
Typical home value
$149,400 ▼21% below the county
$189,900
$283,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,051
$1,046
$1,403
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$58,212 ▼13% below the county
$66,924
$78,476
$80,734
Households that own their home
54% ▼18 points below the county
72%
63%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,530 ▼12% below the county
$2,881
$4,232
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.69% ▲0.17 points above the county
1.52%
1.49%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
37% ▼12 points below the county
49%
52%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Wharton 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 Wharton
For a typical $149,400 home in Wharton, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wharton's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,332a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$5,229
Cash to close
$9,711
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $66
Conventional, 5% down$1,305a month
Down payment
$7,470
Cash to close
$11,952
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $71
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,082a month
Down payment
$29,880
Cash to close
$34,362
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,220a month
Down payment
$22,410
Cash to close
$26,892
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Wharton
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,332
$5,229
$146,694
7.18%
FHA MIP · $66
$9,711
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,305
$7,470
$141,930
7.18%
PMI · $71
$11,952
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,082
$29,880
$119,520
7.18%
None
$34,362
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,220
$22,410
$126,990
8.18%
None
$26,892
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 Wharton is $1,051 a month: about the same as the county. In Wharton, 37% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Wharton County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,184 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.77 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 Wharton County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$824
$15.85
$32,960
1 bedroom
$915
$17.60
$36,600
2 bedrooms
$1,184
$22.77
$47,360
3 bedrooms
$1,584
$30.46
$63,360
4 bedrooms
$1,590
$30.58
$63,600
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 Wharton
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wharton is in ZIP code 77488.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,220: $36 more than the fair market rent for Wharton County ($1,184).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Wharton, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
77488
$850
$940
$1,220
$1,630
$1,640
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
77488 $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 Wharton 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 Wharton. These are the largest.
Meadows Apartments501J Willow Ln, Wharton 7748882 low-income homes · For older adults(979) 532-5550
Pecan Village310 University St, Wharton 7748882 low-income homes · 1 bd: 81 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2006 · For older adults, families(979) 532-0241
Morning Star Apartments1520 Barfield Rd, Wharton 7748840 low-income homes · Studio: 10 · 1 bd: 30 · For older adults, people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness(979) 532-4007
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 Wharton 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 Wharton or Wharton County. The ones below are statewide in Texas: they work in Wharton 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 Wharton or Wharton 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 Wharton and all of Wharton 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 Wharton?
The typical home value in Wharton is $149,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Wharton County it is $189,900.
How much does it cost to rent in Wharton?
Typical rent in Wharton is $1,051 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Wharton County is $1,184.
What is the FHA loan limit in Wharton?
Wharton uses the FHA limit for all of Wharton 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 Wharton?
The typical homeowner in Wharton pays $2,530 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.69% of the home’s value; in Wharton County, the rate is 1.52%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Wharton?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Wharton County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
