Rent vs buy in Rowlett, TX
In Rowlett, Texas, typical rent is $1,634 /mo and a typical home costs $362,534.
Renting comes out $51k ahead over 7 years
Based on Rowlett's typical rent and home value, the calculation applies 20% down and today's mortgage rate. You reach the break-even point in year 21.
These are estimates, not quotes. An opinion, clearly labeled, with the math shown Adjust any figure and the stamp updates.
- Renting leads by
- $51k after 7 years
- Break-even point
- year 21 when owning catches up
- Actual cost of owning
- $3,473 each month year 1, against $1,634 rent
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The stamp draws on Rowlett's typical rent and home value. The result can flip with your rent, price or years.
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Is renting or buying cheaper in Rowlett?
Over 7 years, renting saves $50,909, including the money you get back when you sell. For the first 20 years, renting costs less. By year 21, owning catches up.
Renting. Owning. Net cost by year so far.
How average rent compares with the mortgage payment in Rowlett
At Rowlett's typical price, here are all the monthly costs for year 1. Rent and mortgage payments aren't the whole story.
| Each month, year 1 | Amount | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,634 | All of it, every month |
| Mortgage payment | $1,977 | $1,742 of it is interest in year 1 |
| Property tax | $480 | 1.59% of the value a year |
| Insurance | $208 | Census median for the city |
| Upkeep | $302 | 1% of the value a year |
| Owning, cash out | $2,967 | $234 of it builds equity |
| Lost return on the down payment | $589 | The yearly return on cash at 8.3% |
| Buying costs, spread out | $151 | 3.5% of the price over 7 years |
| True cost of owning | $3,473 | Cash out minus equity, then add the two lines above |
The Rowlett numbers behind the verdict
- Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
- $362,534
- Typical rentZillow ZORI, September 2026
- $1,634 /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, Rowlett
- 1.59% of value
- Home insuranceCensus ACS 2020-2024, Rowlett
- $208 /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 Rowlett result?
Each line shows where the 7-year verdict for Rowlett changes, with all other factors held as they are.
When renting wins
- With annual home price growth below 6.4%, we use Texas's long-run rate of 4.7%.
- The mortgage rate remains above 4.73%.
- For a home like this, monthly rent is less than $2,180 (typical here: $1,634).
- Moving before year 21 changes this.
When buying wins
- Home prices rise at more than 6.4% a year.
- You get a mortgage rate under 4.73% locked in (today's is 7.24%).
- Monthly rent for the same home would run you more than $2,180.
- You live there for 21 years or more.
Rowlett compared with the other 812 cities
| Measure | Rowlett | Median city |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $362,534 | $422,451 |
| Typical rent | $1,634 /mo | $1,837 /mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 18.5 (#405 of 813) | 18.5 |
| Home prices, last 10 years | 5.2% a year | 6.2% a year |
| Rents, last 5 years | 2% a year | 4% a year |
| Property tax | 1.59% | 0.87% |
| Households that rent | 25% | 42% |
Sources: Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.
More cities in Texas
- Toss-up. Houston in Texas. The two are close, with renting $2k ahead.
- Rent. San Antonio, TX. Renting leads by $10k.
- Rent. Dallas, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $20k.
- Rent. Fort Worth, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $17k.
- Rent wins in Austin, TX, coming out ahead by $111 thousand.
- Too close to call in El Paso, TX, with buying ahead by $2 thousand.
- Rent. Arlington in Texas. Renting leads by $34k.
- Buy. Corpus Christi, TX. Buying comes out ahead by $4k.
- Rent. Plano, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $105k.
- Toss-up. Lubbock in Texas. Nearly even, but buying holds a $2k lead.
- Rent. Laredo in Texas. Renting leads by $20k.
- Rent. Irving, TX. Renting comes out ahead by $36k.