Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Arlington, Texas
A $276,000 home here costs
$2,572per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.40% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $110,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,529. The real number is $1,043 higher every month, 68% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Tarrant County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Arlington against Tarrant County and Texas
| Measure | Arlington | Tarrant County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $276,400 | $294,100 |
| Median property tax | $4,666 | $5,211 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.688% | 1.772% |
| Median gross rent | $1,389 | $1,447 |
| Population | 394,769 | 2,135,743 |
The weather behind that power bill
Arlington sits in Tarrant County, which averages a high of 97.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.9°F in its coldest, with 38.32" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,125 cooling and 1,992 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Tarrant County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Tarrant County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Arlington 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 Arlington every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Arlington I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Arlington?
A $276,000 home in Arlington, Texas costs approximately $2,572 per month with 20% down at 7.4%. That is $1,529 principal and interest, $388 property tax, $183 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $230 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Arlington?
Arlington has an effective property tax rate of 1.688%, based on a median home value of $276,400 and median real estate taxes of $4,666. That is lower than the Tarrant County average of 1.772%.
What is the average home price in Arlington?
The median owner-occupied home value in Arlington, Texas is $276,400, against $294,100 across Tarrant County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Arlington?
Median gross rent in Arlington is $1,389 a month, against $2,572 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 Arlington?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Arlington, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $110,000 a year. That covers the full $2,572 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Arlington, 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.