Rent vs buy in Longview, TX
In Longview, Texas, the typical rent is $1,140 /mo and the typical home is $232,947.
Over 7 years, renting comes out ahead by $17k
Using Longview's typical rent and home value, the calculation includes 20% down and today's mortgage rate. The break-even point is year 12.
An opinion with a clear label and the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. Adjust any number and the stamp shifts.
- Renting leads by
- $17k after 7 years
- Break even point
- In year 12 when owning catches up
- What owning really costs
- $2,152 per month year 1, against $1,140 rent
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The stamp is based on Longview's typical rent and typical home value. Your own rent, price and years can flip it.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Longview?
Over 7 years renting costs $16,647 less, counting the money you get back when you sell. For the first 11 years, renting stays cheaper. In year 12, owning catches up.
Rent. Buy. Net cost to date, by year.
Average rent compared with mortgage payment in Longview
Rent and mortgage payments aren't the whole story. Here are all the monthly costs in year 1, using Longview's typical price.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,140 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,270 | $1,119 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $231 | 1.19% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $132 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $194 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $1,827 | $151 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $379 | What the cash would earn yearly at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $97 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $2,152 | Subtract the equity portion from cash out, then add both lines above. |
Longview's verdict, by the numbers
- Typical home value, from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $232,947
- Typical rent, from Zillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,140 a month
- A 20% down payment avoids private mortgage insurance, but the engine leaves that cost out.
- 20%
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US) provides the mortgage rate.
- 7.24%
- FHFA house price index, Texas, 1995 to 2025 measures home price growth.
- 4.7% each year
- Rent growth: CPI rent of primary residence, growth per year from 2006 to 2026
- Annual growth: 3.5%
- Savings return: S&P 500 with dividends 60%, 10-year Treasuries 40%, rebalanced yearly, 1928 to 2025
- Annual return: 8.3%
- Property tax comes from Census ACS 2020-2024, Longview.
- The rate on value is 1.19%.
- Home insurance comes from Census ACS 2020-2024, Longview.
- $132 a month
- MaintenanceFannie Mae, low end of the 1% to 4% range
- 1% of the value a year
- Buying costsFreddie Mac, midpoint of 2% to 5%
- 3.5% of the price
- Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs
- 6% of the price
What would flip the decision in Longview?
The 7-year verdict in Longview changes at the point shown on each line, with every other figure unchanged.
When renting wins
- Home prices grow under 5.6% a year; we use Texas's long-run rate of 4.7%.
- The rate on a mortgage stays above 5.97%.
- Monthly rent for a home like this costs less than $1,320; the local typical amount is $1,140.
- You move out before year 12.
When buying wins
- Home prices grow faster than 5.6% each year.
- You secure a mortgage rate under 5.97%; today's rate is 7.24%.
- Your monthly rent for that home would exceed $1,320.
- Your stay lasts 12 years or longer.
Longview compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Longview | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $232,947 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,140 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 17.0 (#491 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 4.7% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 4.5% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.19% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 45% | 42% |
More cities in Texas
- A toss-up in Houston, TX, with renting ahead by $2k.
- Renting leads by $10k in San Antonio, TX.
- Renting leads by $20k in Dallas, TX.
- Renting leads by $17k in Fort Worth, TX.
- Renting leads by $111k in Austin, TX.
- A toss-up in El Paso, TX, with buying ahead by $2k.
- Renting leads by $34k in Arlington, TX.
- Buying leads by $4k in Corpus Christi, TX.
- Rent. Plano, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $105k.
- Close call. Lubbock, TX. Buying leads by $2k.
- Renting wins. Laredo, TX. Renting is ahead by $20k.
- Rent. Irving, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $36k.