Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Marfa, Texas
A $218,000 home here costs
$1,936per 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 $83,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,189. The real number is $748 higher every month, 63% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Presidio County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Marfa from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,179 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 Presidio 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.
Marfa against Presidio County and Texas
| Measure | Marfa | Presidio County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,600 | $123,100 |
| Median property tax | $2,148 | $1,949 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.987% | 1.583% |
| Median gross rent | $395 | $445 |
| Population | 2,179 | 6,043 |
The weather behind that power bill
Marfa sits in Presidio County, which averages a high of 86.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.3°F in its coldest, with 18.98" of precipitation a year and 55% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 989 cooling and 3,068 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Presidio County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Presidio County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Marfa 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 Marfa 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 Marfa?
A $218,000 home in Marfa, Texas costs approximately $1,936 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,189 principal and interest, $179 property tax, $144 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $182 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Marfa?
Marfa has an effective property tax rate of 0.987%, based on a median home value of $217,600 and median real estate taxes of $2,148. That is lower than the Presidio County average of 1.583%.
What is the average home price in Marfa?
The median owner-occupied home value in Marfa, Texas is $217,600, against $123,100 across Presidio County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Marfa?
Median gross rent in Marfa is $395 a month, against $1,936 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 Marfa?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Marfa, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $83,000 a year. That covers the full $1,936 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Marfa, 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.