Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Brown County › Brownwood Population 18,805 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 $592 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Brown County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Brownwood, Texas

A $124,000 home here costs

$1,268

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 $54,500 a year.

P&I 53%Tax 13%Insurance 6%Utilities 19%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $676. The real number is $592 higher every month, 88% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Brown County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Brownwood median: $123,700
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, $99,200 borrowed $676
Property tax1.587% effective rate for Brownwood itself $164
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $82
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $103
Total monthly $1,268

Brownwood against Brown County and Texas

MeasureBrownwoodBrown County
Median home value$123,700$149,900
Median property tax$1,963$1,727
Effective tax rate1.587%1.152%
Median gross rent$829$887
Population18,80538,294

The weather behind that power bill

Brownwood sits in Brown County, which averages a high of 96.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.7°F in its coldest, with 30.64" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,607 cooling and 2,352 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Brown County

Full Brown County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $124,000 home in Brownwood, Texas costs approximately $1,268 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $676 principal and interest, $164 property tax, $82 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $103 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Brownwood?

Brownwood has an effective property tax rate of 1.587%, based on a median home value of $123,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,963. That is higher than the Brown County average of 1.152%.

What is the average home price in Brownwood?

The median owner-occupied home value in Brownwood, Texas is $123,700, against $149,900 across Brown County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Brownwood?

Median gross rent in Brownwood is $829 a month, against $1,268 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 Brownwood?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Brownwood, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $54,500 a year. That covers the full $1,268 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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