Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Cameron County › Primera Population 5,282 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
Before you budget for Primera FEMA rates natural hazard risk in Cameron County Relatively High, with cold wave its highest-ranked hazard against other US counties. It shapes what insurers charge here. See what threatens homes in this county

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Primera, Texas

A $147,000 home here costs

$1,444

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 $62,000 a year.

P&I 55%Tax 13%Insurance 7%Utilities 17%Upkeep 8%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $801. The real number is $643 higher every month, 80% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Cameron County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Primera median: $147,200
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, $117,600 borrowed $801
Property tax1.475% effective rate for Primera itself $181
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $97
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $123
Total monthly $1,444

Primera against Cameron County and Texas

MeasurePrimeraCameron County
Median home value$147,200$120,000
Median property tax$2,171$1,946
Effective tax rate1.475%1.622%
Median gross rent$1,113$899
Population5,282423,192

The weather behind that power bill

Primera sits in Cameron County, which averages a high of 93.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 51.9°F in its coldest, with 23.25" of precipitation a year and 43% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 4,140 cooling and 527 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Cameron County

Full Cameron County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $147,000 home in Primera, Texas costs approximately $1,444 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $801 principal and interest, $181 property tax, $97 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $123 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Primera?

Primera has an effective property tax rate of 1.475%, based on a median home value of $147,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,171. That is lower than the Cameron County average of 1.622%.

What is the average home price in Primera?

The median owner-occupied home value in Primera, Texas is $147,200, against $120,000 across Cameron County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Primera?

Median gross rent in Primera is $1,113 a month, against $1,444 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 Primera?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Primera, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $62,000 a year. That covers the full $1,444 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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