Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Columbia, Texas
A $138,000 home here costs
$1,408per 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 $60,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $752. The real number is $655 higher every month, 87% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Brazoria County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for West Columbia from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,631 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 Brazoria 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.
West Columbia against Brazoria County and Texas
| Measure | West Columbia | Brazoria County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,200 | $276,800 |
| Median property tax | $2,484 | $4,831 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.797% | 1.745% |
| Median gross rent | $1,011 | $1,410 |
| Population | 3,631 | 381,650 |
The weather behind that power bill
West Columbia sits in Brazoria County, which averages a high of 91.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 46.8°F in its coldest, with 53.37" of precipitation a year and 31% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,213 cooling and 1,044 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Brazoria County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Brazoria County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Columbia 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 West Columbia every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Columbia I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Columbia?
A $138,000 home in West Columbia, Texas costs approximately $1,408 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $752 principal and interest, $207 property tax, $91 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $115 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West Columbia?
West Columbia has an effective property tax rate of 1.797%, based on a median home value of $138,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,484. That is higher than the Brazoria County average of 1.745%.
What is the average home price in West Columbia?
The median owner-occupied home value in West Columbia, Texas is $138,200, against $276,800 across Brazoria County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Columbia?
Median gross rent in West Columbia is $1,011 a month, against $1,408 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 West Columbia?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Columbia, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $60,500 a year. That covers the full $1,408 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West Columbia, 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.