Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Brenham, Texas
A $223,000 home here costs
$2,032per 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 $87,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,216. The real number is $816 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Washington 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.
Brenham against Washington County and Texas
| Measure | Brenham | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $223,200 | $270,100 |
| Median property tax | $2,884 | $3,105 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.292% | 1.150% |
| Median gross rent | $1,087 | $1,091 |
| Population | 18,086 | 36,156 |
The weather behind that power bill
Brenham sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 95.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 39.6°F in its coldest, with 48.03" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,852 cooling and 1,738 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Washington County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Washington County
No other places of this size are published in Washington County.
Full Washington County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Brenham 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 Brenham every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Brenham I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Brenham?
A $223,000 home in Brenham, Texas costs approximately $2,032 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,216 principal and interest, $240 property tax, $148 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $186 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Brenham?
Brenham has an effective property tax rate of 1.292%, based on a median home value of $223,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,884. That is higher than the Washington County average of 1.150%.
What is the average home price in Brenham?
The median owner-occupied home value in Brenham, Texas is $223,200, against $270,100 across Washington County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brenham?
Median gross rent in Brenham is $1,087 a month, against $2,032 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 Brenham?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Brenham, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $87,000 a year. That covers the full $2,032 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Brenham, 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.