Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Zavala County › Crystal City Population 6,241 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 $485 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Zavala County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Crystal City, Texas

A $87,000 home here costs

$959

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 $41,000 a year.

P&I 49%Tax 12%Insurance 6%Utilities 25%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $474. The real number is $485 higher every month, 102% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Zavala County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Crystal City median: $86,500
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, $69,600 borrowed $474
Property tax1.551% effective rate for Crystal City itself $112
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $58
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $73
Total monthly $959

Crystal City against Zavala County and Texas

MeasureCrystal CityZavala County
Median home value$86,500$88,100
Median property tax$1,342$1,254
Effective tax rate1.551%1.423%
Median gross rent$445$544
Population6,2419,532

The weather behind that power bill

Crystal City sits in Zavala County, which averages a high of 99.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 43.9°F in its coldest, with 19.46" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,838 cooling and 990 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Zavala County

Full Zavala County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Crystal City?

A $87,000 home in Crystal City, Texas costs approximately $959 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $474 principal and interest, $112 property tax, $58 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $73 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Crystal City?

Crystal City has an effective property tax rate of 1.551%, based on a median home value of $86,500 and median real estate taxes of $1,342. That is higher than the Zavala County average of 1.423%.

What is the average home price in Crystal City?

The median owner-occupied home value in Crystal City, Texas is $86,500, against $88,100 across Zavala County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Crystal City?

Median gross rent in Crystal City is $445 a month, against $959 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 Crystal City?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Crystal City, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $41,000 a year. That covers the full $959 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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