Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Ben Wheeler, Texas
A $259,000 home here costs
$2,247per 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 $96,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,412. The real number is $835 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Van Zandt County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Ben Wheeler from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,793 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Van Zandt County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Ben Wheeler against Van Zandt County and Texas
| Measure | Ben Wheeler | Van Zandt County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,600 | $199,500 |
| Median property tax | $2,456 | $2,204 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.950% | 1.105% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,010 |
| Population | 1,793 | 61,323 |
The weather behind that power bill
Ben Wheeler sits in Van Zandt County, which averages a high of 96.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.7°F in its coldest, with 38.42" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,738 cooling and 2,211 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Van Zandt County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Van Zandt County
Full Van Zandt County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Ben Wheeler 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 Ben Wheeler every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Ben Wheeler I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Ben Wheeler?
A $259,000 home in Ben Wheeler, Texas costs approximately $2,247 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,412 principal and interest, $205 property tax, $171 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $216 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Ben Wheeler?
Ben Wheeler has an effective property tax rate of 0.950%, based on a median home value of $258,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,456. That is lower than the Van Zandt County average of 1.105%.
What is the average home price in Ben Wheeler?
The median owner-occupied home value in Ben Wheeler, Texas is $258,600, against $199,500 across Van Zandt County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Ben Wheeler?
Rent data is not published for Ben Wheeler at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Ben Wheeler?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Ben Wheeler, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $96,500 a year. That covers the full $2,247 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Ben Wheeler, 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.