Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in West Lake Hills, Texas
A $1,647,000 home here costs
$12,517per 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 $536,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $8,979. The real number is $3,538 higher every month, 39% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Travis County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for West Lake Hills from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,315 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 Travis 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 Lake Hills against Travis County and Texas
| Measure | West Lake Hills | Travis County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,647,400 | $487,600 |
| Median property tax | $10,001 | $7,487 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.607% | 1.535% |
| Median gross rent | $3,500+ | $1,669 |
| Population | 3,315 | 1,307,625 |
The weather behind that power bill
West Lake Hills sits in Travis County, which averages a high of 97.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 37.7°F in its coldest, with 35.57" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,996 cooling and 1,718 heating degree days, which is what sets the $174 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Travis County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Travis County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are West Lake Hills 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 Lake Hills every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in West Lake Hills I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in West Lake Hills?
A $1,647,000 home in West Lake Hills, Texas costs approximately $12,517 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $8,979 principal and interest, $833 property tax, $1,090 homeowners insurance, $242 utilities and $1,373 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in West Lake Hills?
West Lake Hills has an effective property tax rate of 0.607%, based on a median home value of $1,647,400 and median real estate taxes of $10,001. That is lower than the Travis County average of 1.535%.
What is the average home price in West Lake Hills?
The median owner-occupied home value in West Lake Hills, Texas is $1,647,400, against $487,600 across Travis County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in West Lake Hills?
Median gross rent in West Lake Hills is above $3,500 (the Census reporting cap) a month, against $12,517 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 Lake Hills?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in West Lake Hills, Texas at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $536,500 a year. That covers the full $12,517 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for West Lake Hills, 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.