Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Henderson County › Athens Population 13,013 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 $777 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Henderson County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Athens, Texas

A $206,000 home here costs

$1,900

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 59%Tax 12%Insurance 7%Utilities 13%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,123. The real number is $777 higher every month, 69% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Henderson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Athens median: $205,700
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, $164,800 borrowed $1,123
Property tax1.320% effective rate for Athens itself $227
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $136
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $172
Total monthly $1,900

Athens against Henderson County and Texas

MeasureAthensHenderson County
Median home value$205,700$189,600
Median property tax$2,716$1,859
Effective tax rate1.320%0.980%
Median gross rent$1,069$978
Population13,01383,658

The weather behind that power bill

Athens sits in Henderson County, which averages a high of 95.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 34.5°F in its coldest, with 44.75" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,529 cooling and 2,301 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Henderson County

Full Henderson County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Athens 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 Athens every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

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

Common questions

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

A $206,000 home in Athens, Texas costs approximately $1,900 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,123 principal and interest, $227 property tax, $136 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $172 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Athens?

Athens has an effective property tax rate of 1.320%, based on a median home value of $205,700 and median real estate taxes of $2,716. That is higher than the Henderson County average of 0.980%.

What is the average home price in Athens?

The median owner-occupied home value in Athens, Texas is $205,700, against $189,600 across Henderson County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Athens?

Median gross rent in Athens is $1,069 a month, against $1,900 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 Athens?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Athens, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $81,500 a year. That covers the full $1,900 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Athens, 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