Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Harper, Texas
A $349,000 home here costs
$2,877per 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 $123,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,903. The real number is $975 higher every month, 51% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Gillespie County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Harper from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,199 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 Gillespie 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.
Harper against Gillespie County and Texas
| Measure | Harper | Gillespie County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $348,900 | $432,300 |
| Median property tax | $2,526 | $4,404 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.724% | 1.019% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,331 |
| Population | 1,199 | 27,202 |
The weather behind that power bill
Harper sits in Gillespie County, which averages a high of 94.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 34.2°F in its coldest, with 30.56" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,382 cooling and 2,163 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Gillespie County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Gillespie County
Full Gillespie County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Harper 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 Harper every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Harper I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Harper?
A $349,000 home in Harper, Texas costs approximately $2,877 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,903 principal and interest, $211 property tax, $231 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $291 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Harper?
Harper has an effective property tax rate of 0.724%, based on a median home value of $348,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,526. That is lower than the Gillespie County average of 1.019%.
What is the average home price in Harper?
The median owner-occupied home value in Harper, Texas is $348,900, against $432,300 across Gillespie County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Harper?
Rent data is not published for Harper at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Harper?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Harper, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $123,500 a year. That covers the full $2,877 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Harper, 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.