Rent vs buy in Georgetown, TX
In Georgetown, Texas, the typical rent is $1,596 /mo and the typical home price is $419,666.
Renting comes out ahead by $72k over 7 years
At 20% down and today's mortgage rate, the figures use Georgetown's typical rent and home value. No break-even within 30 years.
An opinion with a clear label and the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. If you change a number, the stamp changes.
- Rent leads by
- $72k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- At least 30 years owning never catches up sooner
- Actual cost to own
- $3,852 each month year 1, against $1,596 rent
Change my numbers
Georgetown's typical rent and home value are the stamp's two starting points. Change your rent, price or years, and the result can switch.
Do your numbers differ from the city's?
Enter a rent, price and down payment of your own. Your entries change the stamp.
In Georgetown, is it cheaper to rent or buy?
Across 7 years, renting saves $71,803 after including the money returned when you sell. Every year shown has a lower net cost for renting, and ownership never makes up the difference within 30 years.
Rent. Own. Net cost by year so far.
Georgetown's average rent compared with mortgage payment
Rent and the mortgage don't tell the whole story. Here are all monthly costs during year 1 at Georgetown's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,596 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,288 | $2,017 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $511 | 1.46% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $118 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $350 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,266 | $271 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $682 | Cash earnings at 8.3% a year |
| Buying costs, spread out | $175 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,852 | After subtracting the equity part from cash out, add the two lines above |
Figures supporting the Georgetown result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $419,666
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,596 /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, Georgetown
- 1.46% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Georgetown
- $118 /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 make the Georgetown result flip?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict for Georgetown changes, while everything else remains as it is.
Rent comes out ahead when
- Home prices grow below 6.7% a year; our calculation uses Texas's long-run rate of 4.7%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.17%.
- A home like this has a monthly rent below $2,370. The typical rent here is $1,596.
- You move at any time during the next 30 years. At these numbers, owning never catches up.
Buying takes the lead when
- Home prices rise by more than 6.7% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 4.17% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost over $2,370 monthly to rent.
How Georgetown compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | Georgetown | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $419,666 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,596 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 21.9 (#250 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 3.3% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | -0.2% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.46% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 31% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Texas
- Toss-up result: Houston, TX. Renting leads by $2k.
- In San Antonio, TX, renting comes out ahead by $10k.
- Rent. Dallas, TX. Renting leads by $20k.
- Rent. Fort Worth, TX. Renting leads by $17k.
- Rent. Austin, TX. Renting leads by $111k.
- In Arlington, TX, renting comes out ahead by $34k.