Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Panhandle, Texas
A $152,000 home here costs
$1,479per 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 $63,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $829. The real number is $650 higher every month, 78% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Carson County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Panhandle from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,613 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 Carson 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.
Panhandle against Carson County and Texas
| Measure | Panhandle | Carson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,800 | $140,600 |
| Median property tax | $2,166 | $1,915 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.427% | 1.362% |
| Median gross rent | $981 | $933 |
| Population | 2,613 | 5,802 |
The weather behind that power bill
Panhandle sits in Carson County, which averages a high of 93.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 23.8°F in its coldest, with 21.06" of precipitation a year and 42% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,579 cooling and 4,087 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Carson County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Carson County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Panhandle 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 Panhandle every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Panhandle I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Panhandle?
A $152,000 home in Panhandle, Texas costs approximately $1,479 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $829 principal and interest, $181 property tax, $101 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $127 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Panhandle?
Panhandle has an effective property tax rate of 1.427%, based on a median home value of $151,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,166. That is higher than the Carson County average of 1.362%.
What is the average home price in Panhandle?
The median owner-occupied home value in Panhandle, Texas is $151,800, against $140,600 across Carson County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Panhandle?
Median gross rent in Panhandle is $981 a month, against $1,479 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 Panhandle?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Panhandle, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $63,500 a year. That covers the full $1,479 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Panhandle, 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.