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City Housing Verdict

Baytown, TX

Stretch

The cost of living in Baytown, TX is 10% below the national average (Cost Index: 90). Homes here are typically valued around $244,112, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $61,699 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Baytown sits in the stretch zone: not impossible, but household feasibility will depend heavily on rent, down payment, debt load, and whether you are renting or buying. Start with the verdict panel, then compare scenarios before treating this city as affordable.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Safe

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Baytown.

Monthly Housing
$1,217/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
24%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$3,425/mo
After housing and debt · $1,142/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 33%
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Cost Index
90
Average
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$244,112
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $187,900
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,217/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$61,699
National: $78,538
Population
84,538
Purchasing Power
87
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
80 / 100
20% below average
Rent Index
90 / 100
10% below average
Goods & Groceries
101 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
95 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
96 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
90
Average

Baytown Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $244,112 and Texas's property tax rate of 1.6%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$61,699
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
24%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Baytown looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Baytown, TX

Est. Annual Property Tax
$3,906
Monthly Impact
$326
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.60%
National avg: ~1.00%

Texas Place Tax Context

Tax TypeTexasNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.60%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax8.19%~5.0%

Compare Baytown to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Baytown, TX
90
90
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Baytown, TX: 80
Rent Prices
90

FAQ: Living in Baytown

Is Baytown, TX an affordable place to live?+

Yes — everyday expenses in Baytown run about 10% below the US average (Cost Index: 90). Housing is especially affordable: the median home is valued around $244,112, compared to the $303,400 national median. Monthly rent is typically around $1,217, versus $1,348 nationally.

How does Baytown fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,217, while local median household income is $61,699. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 24% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Baytown, TX?+

Texas is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 1.6%. On a home worth $244,112, that translates to roughly $3,906 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.19% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Baytown, TX?+

The typical monthly rent in Baytown is around $1,217. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $244,112, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Baytown, TX?+

The median home in Baytown is valued at $244,112. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $1,234/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 53% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Baytown?+

Grocery prices in Baytown are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 101, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 95). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Baytown, TX like to live in?+

Baytown is a smaller city with a population of about 84,538. The median age of residents is 33.9, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 17.69%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Texas

If Baytown feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Texas

Use these city pages when you want to compare Baytown against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly