Rent vs buy in Cedar Park, TX
The typical rent is $1,702 /mo and the typical home price is $456,996 in Cedar Park, Texas.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $93k
Today's mortgage rate and a 20% down payment are combined with Cedar Park's typical figures for rent and home value. No break-even point occurs within 30 years.
An opinion, clearly labeled, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes too.
- Rent leads by
- $93k after 7 years
- Point where costs match
- 30 years or more owning never catches up sooner
- Full cost of ownership
- $4,314 each month year 1, against $1,702 rent
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Cedar Park?
Renting costs $92,889 less over 7 years, counting the money you get back when you sell. In each year displayed, renting has a lower net cost than owning, and owning doesn't catch up during 30 years.
Rent Owning a home. Net cost by year so far
Mortgage payment compared with average rent in Cedar Park
Year 1 shows all monthly costs at Cedar Park's typical price, including amounts besides rent and mortgage payments.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,702 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,492 | $2,196 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $659 | 1.73% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $145 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $381 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,676 | $295 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $743 | The yearly earnings from cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $190 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $4,314 | Cash out minus equity, then add both entries listed above |
Cedar Park verdict: the numbers behind it
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $456,996
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,702 /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, Cedar Park
- 1.73% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Cedar Park
- $145 /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 reverse the Cedar Park result?
Each line shows where Cedar Park's 7-year verdict changes, with all other values left as they are.
Renting is the winner when
- At less than 7.1% annual growth, we apply 4.7%, Texas's long-run rate for home prices.
- The mortgage rate remains above 3.58%.
- This type of home rents for under $2,700 each month (the local typical is $1,702).
- At these numbers, owning never catches up if you move during the next 30 years.
Conditions for buying to win
- Home prices increase at more than 7.1% yearly.
- You lock in a mortgage rate under 3.58% (the current rate is 7.24%).
- The monthly rent for the same home would exceed $2,700.
Cedar Park compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Cedar Park | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $456,996 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,702 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 22.4 (#226 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.5% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | -1% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.73% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 33% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
Other Texas cities
- Toss-up. Houston, TX. Renting leads by $2k.
- Rent. San Antonio, TX. Renting leads by $10k.
- Rent. Dallas, TX. Renting leads by $20k.
- Rent. Fort Worth, TX. Renting leads by $17k.
- Rent. Austin, TX. Renting leads by $111k.
- Toss-up. El Paso, TX. Buying leads by $2k.
- Rent. Arlington, TX. Renting leads by $34k.
- Buy. Corpus Christi, TX. Buying leads by $4k.
- Rent. Plano, TX. Renting leads by $105k.
- Toss-up. Lubbock, TX. Buying leads by $2k.
- Rent. Laredo, TX. Renting leads by $20k.
- Rent. Irving, TX. Renting leads by $36k.