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City Housing Verdict

Carrollton, TX

Stretch

The cost of living in Carrollton, TX is 13% above the national average (Cost Index: 113). Homes here are typically valued around $401,490, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $99,115 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Carrollton 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 Carrollton.

Monthly Housing
$1,517/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
18%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$6,243/mo
After housing and debt · $2,081/person
Rent vs Buy
Renting is the lower-pressure baseline
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: HighHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ZILLOWBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 24%
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Cost Index
113
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$401,490
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $353,600
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,517/mo
Zillow ZORI Market Rate • Census ACS: $1,674/mo
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$99,115
National: $78,538
Population
132,741
Purchasing Power
112
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
132 / 100
32% above average
Rent Index
113 / 100
13% above average
Goods & Groceries
103 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
91 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
100 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
113
Expensive · 13% above average

Carrollton Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $401,490 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
$99,115
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
18%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
4.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Carrollton 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 Carrollton, TX

Est. Annual Property Tax
$6,424
Monthly Impact
$535
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 Carrollton 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.

Carrollton, TX
113
113
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Carrollton, TX: 132
Rent Prices
113

FAQ: Living in Carrollton

Is Carrollton, TX an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Carrollton is about 13% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 113. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $401,490, and monthly rents average roughly $1,517. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Carrollton fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,517, while local median household income is $99,115. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 18% 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 Carrollton, 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 $401,490, that translates to roughly $6,424 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 8.19% on everyday purchases.

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

The typical monthly rent in Carrollton is around $1,517. That's about 13% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $401,490, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

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

The median home in Carrollton is valued at $401,490. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,030/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 58% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Carrollton?+

Grocery prices in Carrollton are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 103, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 91). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Carrollton, TX like to live in?+

Carrollton is a mid-sized city with a population of about 132,741. The median age of residents is 38.4, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 6.85%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Texas

If Carrollton 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 Carrollton 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