Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Starr County › La Grulla Population 1,447 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $363 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Starr County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in La Grulla, Texas

A $53,000 home here costs

$652

per 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 $28,000 a year.

P&I 44%Tax 6%Insurance 5%Utilities 37%Upkeep 7%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $289. The real number is $363 higher every month, 126% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Starr County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for La Grulla from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,447 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 Starr County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

La Grulla median: $52,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
TX 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, $42,400 borrowed $289
Property tax0.945% effective rate for La Grulla itself $42
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $35
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $44
Total monthly $652

La Grulla against Starr County and Texas

MeasureLa GrullaStarr County
Median home value$52,700$93,300
Median property tax$498$1,047
Effective tax rate0.945%1.122%
Median gross rent$803$715
Population1,44765,809

The weather behind that power bill

La Grulla sits in Starr County, which averages a high of 99.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 45.2°F in its coldest, with 22.47" of precipitation a year and 40% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 4,232 cooling and 796 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Starr County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Starr County

Full Starr County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

These are La Grulla 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 La Grulla every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in La Grulla I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in La Grulla?

A $53,000 home in La Grulla, Texas costs approximately $652 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $289 principal and interest, $42 property tax, $35 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $44 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in La Grulla?

La Grulla has an effective property tax rate of 0.945%, based on a median home value of $52,700 and median real estate taxes of $498. That is lower than the Starr County average of 1.122%.

What is the average home price in La Grulla?

The median owner-occupied home value in La Grulla, Texas is $52,700, against $93,300 across Starr County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in La Grulla?

Median gross rent in La Grulla is $803 a month, against $652 to own the median home all in. Owning costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in La Grulla?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in La Grulla, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $28,000 a year. That covers the full $652 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for La Grulla, 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