Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Kemp, Texas
A $168,000 home here costs
$1,607per 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 $69,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $916. The real number is $691 higher every month, 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Kaufman County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Kemp from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,389 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 Kaufman 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.
Kemp against Kaufman County and Texas
| Measure | Kemp | Kaufman County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,300 | $290,800 |
| Median property tax | $2,378 | $5,036 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.413% | 1.732% |
| Median gross rent | $1,080 | $1,408 |
| Population | 1,389 | 160,718 |
The weather behind that power bill
Kemp sits in Kaufman County, which averages a high of 96.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 35.7°F in its coldest, with 38.42" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,738 cooling and 2,211 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Kaufman County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Kaufman County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Kemp 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 Kemp every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Kemp?
A $168,000 home in Kemp, Texas costs approximately $1,607 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $916 principal and interest, $198 property tax, $111 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $140 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Kemp?
Kemp has an effective property tax rate of 1.413%, based on a median home value of $168,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,378. That is lower than the Kaufman County average of 1.732%.
What is the average home price in Kemp?
The median owner-occupied home value in Kemp, Texas is $168,300, against $290,800 across Kaufman County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kemp?
Median gross rent in Kemp is $1,080 a month, against $1,607 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 Kemp?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Kemp, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $69,000 a year. That covers the full $1,607 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Kemp, 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.