Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Shepherd, Texas
A $144,000 home here costs
$1,378per 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 $59,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $785. The real number is $593 higher every month, 76% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare San Jacinto County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Shepherd from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,124 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 San Jacinto 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.
Shepherd against San Jacinto County and Texas
| Measure | Shepherd | San Jacinto County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,100 | $183,100 |
| Median property tax | $1,628 | $2,086 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.130% | 1.139% |
| Median gross rent | $642 | $1,018 |
| Population | 2,124 | 27,983 |
The weather behind that power bill
Shepherd sits in San Jacinto County, which averages a high of 94.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 39.3°F in its coldest, with 47.65" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,721 cooling and 1,704 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for San Jacinto County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in San Jacinto County
Full San Jacinto County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Shepherd 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 Shepherd every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Shepherd I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Shepherd?
A $144,000 home in Shepherd, Texas costs approximately $1,378 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $785 principal and interest, $136 property tax, $95 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $120 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Shepherd?
Shepherd has an effective property tax rate of 1.130%, based on a median home value of $144,100 and median real estate taxes of $1,628. That is in line with the San Jacinto County average of 1.139%.
What is the average home price in Shepherd?
The median owner-occupied home value in Shepherd, Texas is $144,100, against $183,100 across San Jacinto County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Shepherd?
Median gross rent in Shepherd is $642 a month, against $1,378 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 Shepherd?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Shepherd, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $59,000 a year. That covers the full $1,378 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Shepherd, 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.