Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Rockdale, Texas
A $164,000 home here costs
$1,566per 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 $67,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $894. The real number is $672 higher every month, 75% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Milam County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Rockdale against Milam County and Texas
| Measure | Rockdale | Milam County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,300 | $168,900 |
| Median property tax | $2,221 | $1,789 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.352% | 1.059% |
| Median gross rent | $1,013 | $948 |
| Population | 5,455 | 25,268 |
The weather behind that power bill
Rockdale sits in Milam County, which averages a high of 94.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 38.7°F in its coldest, with 38.6" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,820 cooling and 1,709 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Milam County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Milam County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Rockdale 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 Rockdale every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Rockdale I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Rockdale?
A $164,000 home in Rockdale, Texas costs approximately $1,566 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $894 principal and interest, $185 property tax, $109 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $137 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Rockdale?
Rockdale has an effective property tax rate of 1.352%, based on a median home value of $164,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,221. That is higher than the Milam County average of 1.059%.
What is the average home price in Rockdale?
The median owner-occupied home value in Rockdale, Texas is $164,300, against $168,900 across Milam County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rockdale?
Median gross rent in Rockdale is $1,013 a month, against $1,566 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 Rockdale?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Rockdale, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $67,000 a year. That covers the full $1,566 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Rockdale, 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.