Rent vs buy in Bryan, TX
In Bryan, Texas, the typical home is $272,213, and typical rent is $1,428 /mo.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $14k.
These figures use Bryan's typical rent and home value, 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You reach break-even in year 10.
Clearly labelled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes.
- Renting leads by
- $14k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 10 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $2,543 each month year 1, against $1,428 rent
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Bryan's typical home value and rent are the figures the stamp uses. You can change the result with your rent, price and years.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Bryan?
Over 7 years, renting costs $13,836 less after you count the money returned when you sell. For the first 9 years, you pay less by renting. By year 10, owning catches up.
Rental. Homeownership. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Bryan
Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the full story. At Bryan's typical price, these are all monthly expenses in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,428 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,484 | $1,308 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $347 | 1.53% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $105 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $227 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,163 | $176 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $442 | At 8.3% a year, this is what the cash would earn. |
| Buying costs, spread out | $113 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,543 | Cash paid out, minus equity, plus the two items listed above |
The Bryan verdict, explained by the numbers
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $272,213
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,428 /mo
- Down payment20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the engine does not model
- 20%
- Mortgage rateFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Home price growthFHFA house price index, Texas, 1995 to 2025
- 4.7% a year
- Rent growthCPI rent of primary residence, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% a year
- Return on savings60% S&P 500 with dividends and 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% a year
- Property taxCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bryan
- 1.53% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Bryan
- $105 /mo
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- 1% of value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of price
- Selling costsAgent commission plus closing costs
- 6% of price
What would change the Bryan result?
Each line gives the point where Bryan's 7-year verdict changes; everything else remains as it is.
Renting comes out ahead when
- Annual home-price growth runs below 5.3%. We use 4.7%, based on Texas's long-term rate.
- The mortgage rate remains above 6.34%.
- Homes like this cost less than $1,580 in monthly rent; here, the typical figure is $1,428.
- You move out before year 10.
Buying comes out ahead when
- Home prices rise by more than 5.3% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 6.34% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost more than $1,580 a month to rent.
- You remain in the home for 10 years or more.
Bryan compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Bryan | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $272,213 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,428 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 15.9 (#565 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.7% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.53% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 49% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Cities in Texas besides Bryan
- Toss-up. Houston, TX. Renting leads by $2k.
- Rent. San Antonio, TX. Renting leads by $10k.
- Dallas, TX favors renting by $20k.
- Fort Worth, TX favors renting by $17k.
- Austin, TX favors renting by $111k.
- Toss-up. El Paso, TX. Buying leads by $2k.
- Arlington, TX favors renting by $34k.
- Corpus Christi, TX favors buying by $4k.
- Plano, TX favors renting by $105k.
- Toss-up. Lubbock, TX. Buying leads by $2k.
- Laredo, TX favors renting by $20k.
- Irving, TX favors renting by $36k.