Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Jefferson, Texas
A $144,000 home here costs
$1,281per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $740. The real number is $541 higher every month — 73% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Jefferson against Marion County and Texas
| Measure | Jefferson | Marion County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,800 | $110,500 |
| Median property tax | $1,315 | $870 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.914% | 0.787% |
| Median gross rent | $721 | $854 |
| Population | 2,111 | 9,631 |
The weather behind that power bill
Jefferson sits in Marion County, which averages a high of 94.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 34.2°F in its coldest, with 49.74" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,393 cooling and 2,470 heating degree days, which is what sets the $148 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Marion County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Marion County
No other places of this size are published in Marion County.
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Jefferson?
A $144,000 home in Jefferson, Texas costs approximately $1,281 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $740 principal and interest, $110 property tax, $95 homeowners insurance, $216 utilities and $120 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Jefferson?
Jefferson has an effective property tax rate of 0.914%, based on a median home value of $143,800 and median real estate taxes of $1,315. That is higher than the Marion County average of 0.787%.
What is the average home price in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home value in Jefferson, Texas is $143,800, against $110,500 across Marion County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Jefferson?
Median gross rent in Jefferson is $721 a month, against $1,281 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 Jefferson — 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.