Rent vs buy in League City, TX
With a typical rent of $1,773 /mo, League City, Texas has a typical home value of $373,269.
Renting comes out ahead by $46k across 7 years
The figures assume the typical rent and home value in League City's market, 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point falls in year 18.
An opinion with a clear label and the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Change any number and the stamp will change.
- How much renting leads by
- $46k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 18 when owning catches up
- Full cost of home ownership
- $3,596 /mo year 1, against $1,773 rent
Change my numbers
League City's market figures for typical rent and home value drive the stamp. Your rent, price and time period can change the result.
Do these figures differ from the city's?
Add the rent, purchase price and down payment amounts you want. Those figures change the stamp.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in League City?
Across 7 years, renting costs $45,820 less after counting the money returned when you sell. For the first 17 years, renting costs less. Home ownership catches up during year 18.
Renting. Owning a home. Net cost by year so far.
Average League City rent and mortgage payment comparison
Using League City's typical price, here are all monthly costs for year 1. Rent and mortgage payments don't tell the whole story.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,773 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $2,035 | $1,794 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $507 | 1.63% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $222 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $311 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $3,075 | $241 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $607 | What the cash would earn each year at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $156 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,596 | Cash paid out, minus the equity share, plus the two amounts listed above |
The figures behind the League City result
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $373,269
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,773 /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, League City
- 1.63% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, League City
- $222 /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 flip the League City result?
Each line shows where the 7-year result in League City changes, while every other factor stays the same.
Renting is the better choice when
- Home prices grow by less than 6.2% each year. Our figure is 4.7%, Texas's long-run rate.
- For mortgages, the rate stays above 5.05%.
- A similar home rents for less than $2,260 each month; the typical rent here is $1,773.
- Before year 18, you move.
Buying is the better choice when
- Home prices rise by more than 6.2% a year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 5.05% (today's is 7.24%).
- The same home would cost over $2,260 a month to rent.
- You stay for 18 years or longer.
How League City compares with 812 other cities
| Measure | League City | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $373,269 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,773 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 17.5 (#459 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.2% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2.8% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.63% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 25% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Texas
- Toss-up. Houston, TX. Renting leads by $2k; it's a toss-up.
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- Toss-up. El Paso, TX. Buying leads by $2k; it's a toss-up.
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- Buy. Corpus Christi, TX. Buying leads by $4k.
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- Toss-up. Lubbock, TX. Buying leads by $2k; it's a toss-up.
- Rent. Laredo, TX. Renting leads by $20k.
- Rent. Irving, TX. Renting leads by $36k.