Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Matagorda County › Palacios Population 4,394 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 $667 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Matagorda County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Palacios, Texas

A $153,000 home here costs

$1,501

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 $64,500 a year.

P&I 56%Tax 13%Insurance 7%Utilities 16%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $834. The real number is $667 higher every month, 80% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Matagorda County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Palacios from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 4,394 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 Matagorda County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Palacios median: $153,000
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, $122,400 borrowed $834
Property tax1.533% effective rate for Palacios itself $195
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $101
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $128
Total monthly $1,501

Palacios against Matagorda County and Texas

MeasurePalaciosMatagorda County
Median home value$153,000$162,200
Median property tax$2,346$2,035
Effective tax rate1.533%1.255%
Median gross rent$1,042$998
Population4,39436,274

The weather behind that power bill

Palacios sits in Matagorda County, which averages a high of 88.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 44.2°F in its coldest, with 44.46" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,820 cooling and 1,319 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Matagorda County

Full Matagorda County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Palacios?

A $153,000 home in Palacios, Texas costs approximately $1,501 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $834 principal and interest, $195 property tax, $101 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $128 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Palacios?

Palacios has an effective property tax rate of 1.533%, based on a median home value of $153,000 and median real estate taxes of $2,346. That is higher than the Matagorda County average of 1.255%.

What is the average home price in Palacios?

The median owner-occupied home value in Palacios, Texas is $153,000, against $162,200 across Matagorda County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Palacios?

Median gross rent in Palacios is $1,042 a month, against $1,501 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 Palacios?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Palacios, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $64,500 a year. That covers the full $1,501 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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