Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in East Bernard, Texas
A $269,000 home here costs
$2,406per 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 $103,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,467. The real number is $939 higher every month, 64% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Wharton County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for East Bernard from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,653 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 Wharton 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.
East Bernard against Wharton County and Texas
| Measure | East Bernard | Wharton County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,200 | $182,700 |
| Median property tax | $3,537 | $2,749 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.314% | 1.505% |
| Median gross rent | $1,140 | $986 |
| Population | 2,653 | 41,651 |
The weather behind that power bill
East Bernard sits in Wharton County, which averages a high of 96.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 42.4°F in its coldest, with 49.6" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,307 cooling and 1,214 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Wharton County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Wharton County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are East Bernard 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 East Bernard every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in East Bernard I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in East Bernard?
A $269,000 home in East Bernard, Texas costs approximately $2,406 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,467 principal and interest, $295 property tax, $178 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $224 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in East Bernard?
East Bernard has an effective property tax rate of 1.314%, based on a median home value of $269,200 and median real estate taxes of $3,537. That is lower than the Wharton County average of 1.505%.
What is the average home price in East Bernard?
The median owner-occupied home value in East Bernard, Texas is $269,200, against $182,700 across Wharton County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in East Bernard?
Median gross rent in East Bernard is $1,140 a month, against $2,406 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 East Bernard?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in East Bernard, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $103,000 a year. That covers the full $2,406 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for East Bernard, 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.