Rent vs buy in Conroe, TX
In Conroe, Texas, the typical rent is $1,567 /mo and the typical home costs $310,592.
Renting leads by $28k over 7 years
Using Conroe's typical rent and home value, the figures include 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point arrives in year 14.
An opinion, clearly labeled with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp will change too.
- Renting leads by
- $28k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 14 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $2,966 /mo year 1, against $1,567 rent
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The stamp takes its figures from Conroe's usual rent and typical home value. Your rent, price and years can change the result.
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Enter the rent, price and down payment you want to use. They change the stamp.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Conroe?
Over 7 years, renting costs $27,562 less, including the money you receive when you sell. During the first 13 years, renting costs less. By year 14, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Your net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payments in Conroe
Rent and the mortgage don't show the full cost. At Conroe's typical price, here are all monthly costs in year 1.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,567 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,693 | $1,493 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $440 | 1.7% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $140 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $259 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,532 | $201 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $505 | What the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $129 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,966 | Cash paid, minus the equity portion, plus the two costs listed above |
The numbers behind Conroe's result
- Typical home priceZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $310,592
- Typical rent: Zillow's ZORI, September 2026
- $1,567 each month
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance, but the engine leaves that out.
- 20%
- Rate for mortgagesFreddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US)
- 7.24%
- Growth in home prices based on the FHFA index for Texas, 1995 to 2025
- Each year: 4.7%
- Rent trend based on the CPI primary-residence rent measure, yearly growth 2006 to 2026
- 3.5% each year
- Return on savings: 60% S&P 500 with dividends plus 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced each year, 1928 to 2025
- 8.3% each year
- Tax on the propertyCensus ACS 2020-2024, Conroe
- 1.7% of the value
- Insurance for the homeCensus ACS 2020-2024, Conroe
- $140 each month
- Upkeep based on Fannie Mae, low end of 1% to 4%
- Yearly, 1% of the value.
- Costs of buying, using Freddie Mac, middle of 2% to 5%
- Price times 3.5%
- Sale expensesAgent commission and closing costs
- Price times 6%
What would change the result in Conroe?
Each line shows when Conroe's 7-year verdict changes, while all other figures remain the same.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow more slowly than 5.8% a year (our figure is 4.7%, Texas's rate over the long run).
- The mortgage rate remains above 5.66%.
- Monthly rent for a similar home is below $1,860. The typical amount here is $1,567.
- You make the move before year 14.
When buying wins
- Home prices grow by more than 5.8% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 5.66% (today's is 7.24%).
- You would spend more than $1,860 each month renting that home.
- You remain for 14 years or longer.
Conroe compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Conroe | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $310,592 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,567 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 16.5 (#514 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 1.2% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.70% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 45% | 42% |
Sources: Data from Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Texas
- Too close to call. In Houston, TX. Too close to call, but renting is ahead by $2k.
- Rent. Renting leads by $10k in San Antonio, TX.
- Rent. Renting comes out ahead in Dallas, TX by $20k.
- Rent. Fort Worth, TX shows a $17k lead for renting.
- Rent. Austin, TX. Here, renting leads by $111k.
- Rent. Renting comes out ahead in Arlington, TX by $34k.