Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Brewster County › Alpine Population 6,003 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $767 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Brewster County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Alpine, Texas

A $208,000 home here costs

$1,901

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $81,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 11%Insurance 7%Utilities 13%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,134. The real number is $767 higher every month, 68% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Brewster County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Alpine median: $207,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
TX average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $166,400 borrowed $1,134
Property tax1.234% effective rate for Alpine itself $214
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $138
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $173
Total monthly $1,901

Alpine against Brewster County and Texas

MeasureAlpineBrewster County
Median home value$207,700$216,000
Median property tax$2,562$2,644
Effective tax rate1.234%1.224%
Median gross rent$901$768
Population6,0039,464

The weather behind that power bill

Alpine sits in Brewster County, which averages a high of 98.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 33.4°F in its coldest, with 10.85" of precipitation a year and 47% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,037 cooling and 1,789 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Brewster County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Brewster County

No other places of this size are published in Brewster County.

Full Brewster County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Alpine averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Alpine every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Alpine I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Alpine?

A $208,000 home in Alpine, Texas costs approximately $1,901 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,134 principal and interest, $214 property tax, $138 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $173 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Alpine?

Alpine has an effective property tax rate of 1.234%, based on a median home value of $207,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,562. That is higher than the Brewster County average of 1.224%.

What is the average home price in Alpine?

The median owner-occupied home value in Alpine, Texas is $207,700, against $216,000 across Brewster County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Alpine?

Median gross rent in Alpine is $901 a month, against $1,901 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Alpine?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Alpine, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $81,500 a year. That covers the full $1,901 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Alpine, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Texas.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology