What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in Texas this week

Out of reach · #14 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median Texas household earning $85,060 a year can afford a home of about $269,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median Texas listing is $355,765, which would take 37.1% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$269,000

Affordable home price

+$1,770 vs. last week · −$13,900 vs. a year ago

$356,000

Median list price (September 2026)

−$4,235 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · Texas 79 a year ago

37.1%

Share of income the median listing takes

$2,629/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$85,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

#14

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $360,000 and median income of $81,280 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $282,000 and the median listing took 35.7% of income. Affordability in Texas has worsened since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#12 Minnesota: can afford $300,000, median listing $380,000
#13 Kentucky: can afford $233,000, median listing $308,000
#15 West Virginia: can afford $195,000, median listing $260,000
#16 Alaska: can afford $324,000, median listing $435,000

Texas housing market report → · Texas brokerage directory → · Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.