Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Gardendale, Texas
A $368,000 home here costs
$3,121per 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 $134,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,006. The real number is $1,115 higher every month, 56% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Ector County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Gardendale from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,520 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 Ector 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.
Gardendale against Ector County and Texas
| Measure | Gardendale | Ector County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $367,700 | $190,500 |
| Median property tax | $3,867 | $2,438 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.052% | 1.280% |
| Median gross rent | $1,306 | $1,284 |
| Population | 1,520 | 163,206 |
The weather behind that power bill
Gardendale sits in Ector County, which averages a high of 95.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.7°F in its coldest, with 12.93" of precipitation a year and 38% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,478 cooling and 2,512 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Ector County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Ector County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Gardendale 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 Gardendale every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Gardendale I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Gardendale?
A $368,000 home in Gardendale, Texas costs approximately $3,121 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,006 principal and interest, $323 property tax, $243 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $307 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Gardendale?
Gardendale has an effective property tax rate of 1.052%, based on a median home value of $367,700 and median real estate taxes of $3,867. That is lower than the Ector County average of 1.280%.
What is the average home price in Gardendale?
The median owner-occupied home value in Gardendale, Texas is $367,700, against $190,500 across Ector County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Gardendale?
Median gross rent in Gardendale is $1,306 a month, against $3,121 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 Gardendale?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Gardendale, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $134,000 a year. That covers the full $3,121 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Gardendale, 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.