Cost to Own
United StatesTexasWharton CountyEast Bernard Population 2,653 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in East Bernard, Texas

A $269,000 home here costs

$2,295

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,383. The real number is $913 higher every month — 66% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

East Bernard median: $269,200
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $215,200 borrowed $1,383
Property tax1.314% effective rate for East Bernard itself $295
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $178
Electricity16.44¢/kWh — Texas residential average, EIA $148
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $224
Total monthly $2,295

East Bernard against Wharton County and Texas

MeasureEast BernardWharton County
Median home value$269,200$182,700
Median property tax$3,537$2,749
Effective tax rate1.314%1.505%
Median gross rent$1,140$986
Population2,65341,651

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 $148 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

Full Wharton County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in East Bernard?

A $269,000 home in East Bernard, Texas costs approximately $2,295 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,383 principal and interest, $295 property tax, $178 homeowners insurance, $216 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 $2,295 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

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.

Full methodology