Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Refugio, Texas
A $85,000 home here costs
$946per 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 $40,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $463. The real number is $482 higher every month, 104% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Refugio County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Refugio from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,729 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 Refugio 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.
Refugio against Refugio County and Texas
| Measure | Refugio | Refugio County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,000 | $94,400 |
| Median property tax | $1,356 | $1,325 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.595% | 1.404% |
| Median gross rent | $748 | $842 |
| Population | 2,729 | 6,693 |
The weather behind that power bill
Refugio sits in Refugio County, which averages a high of 95.2°F in its hottest month and a low of 44.8°F in its coldest, with 34.78" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,308 cooling and 1,061 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Refugio County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Refugio County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Refugio 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 Refugio every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Refugio I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Refugio?
A $85,000 home in Refugio, Texas costs approximately $946 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $463 principal and interest, $113 property tax, $56 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $71 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Refugio?
Refugio has an effective property tax rate of 1.595%, based on a median home value of $85,000 and median real estate taxes of $1,356. That is higher than the Refugio County average of 1.404%.
What is the average home price in Refugio?
The median owner-occupied home value in Refugio, Texas is $85,000, against $94,400 across Refugio County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Refugio?
Median gross rent in Refugio is $748 a month, against $946 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 Refugio?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Refugio, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $40,500 a year. That covers the full $946 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Refugio, 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.