Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Poetry, Texas
A $408,000 home here costs
$3,508per 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 $150,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,224. The real number is $1,283 higher every month, 58% 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 Poetry from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,352 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.
Poetry against Kaufman County and Texas
| Measure | Poetry | Kaufman County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $408,300 | $290,800 |
| Median property tax | $5,175 | $5,036 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.267% | 1.732% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,408 |
| Population | 1,352 | 160,718 |
Poetry extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Kaufman County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Poetry 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 Poetry 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 Poetry every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Poetry I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Poetry?
A $408,000 home in Poetry, Texas costs approximately $3,508 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $2,224 principal and interest, $431 property tax, $270 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $340 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Poetry?
Poetry has an effective property tax rate of 1.267%, based on a median home value of $408,300 and median real estate taxes of $5,175. That is lower than the Kaufman County average of 1.732%.
What is the average home price in Poetry?
The median owner-occupied home value in Poetry, Texas is $408,300, against $290,800 across Kaufman County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Poetry?
Rent data is not published for Poetry at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Poetry?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Poetry, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $150,500 a year. That covers the full $3,508 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Poetry, 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.