Cost to Own
United States › Texas › Erath County › Stephenville Population 21,345 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $827 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Erath County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Stephenville, Texas

A $226,000 home here costs

$2,059

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 $88,500 a year.

P&I 60%Tax 12%Insurance 7%Utilities 12%Upkeep 9%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,232. The real number is $827 higher every month, 67% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Erath County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Stephenville median: $226,300
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, $180,800 borrowed $1,232
Property tax1.311% effective rate for Stephenville itself $247
Homeowners insuranceTexas averages $2,124/yr (NAIC), or 0.794% of home value $150
Electricity15.91ยข/kWh, Texas residential average, EIA $174
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $188
Total monthly $2,059

Stephenville against Erath County and Texas

MeasureStephenvilleErath County
Median home value$226,300$251,900
Median property tax$2,967$2,836
Effective tax rate1.311%1.126%
Median gross rent$1,128$1,134
Population21,34543,244

The weather behind that power bill

Stephenville sits in Erath County, which averages a high of 97.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 30.9°F in its coldest, with 34.13" of precipitation a year and 33% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,502 cooling and 2,484 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in Erath County

Full Erath County cost breakdown · Every county in Texas

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $226,000 home in Stephenville, Texas costs approximately $2,059 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,232 principal and interest, $247 property tax, $150 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $188 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Stephenville?

Stephenville has an effective property tax rate of 1.311%, based on a median home value of $226,300 and median real estate taxes of $2,967. That is higher than the Erath County average of 1.126%.

What is the average home price in Stephenville?

The median owner-occupied home value in Stephenville, Texas is $226,300, against $251,900 across Erath County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Stephenville?

Median gross rent in Stephenville is $1,128 a month, against $2,059 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 Stephenville?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Stephenville, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $88,500 a year. That covers the full $2,059 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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