Cost of living in Alton, TX
Alton is cheap by Texas standards. Median rent is $1,038 a month, 26% lower than the Texas median of $1,403, and the median home is worth $156,300, 45% lower than the Texas median of $283,800.
Cost of living94 of 100. Higher means more affordable.
Overall grade for Alton: D+
- Median rent
- $1,038Texas $1,403
- 2-bedroom fair rent
- $1,017HUD FY2027
- Median home value
- $156,300Texas $283,800
- Monthly cost to buy
- $1,043Loan and property tax
- Property tax
- $2,245Median per year
- Income to rent
- $42,000At 30% of pay
Is Alton expensive?
Prices only tell half the story. The typical household here earns $52,715, so the median home costs 3.0 times a year of income, against 3.6 times across Texas and 4.1 times across the US. So for people who earn local wages, homes here are easier to afford than in most of Texas.
Our cost of living grade for Alton is A (94 of 100), comparing it with US cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people. A higher grade means more affordable.
| Measure | Here | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent26% lower than Texas | $1,038 | $1,403 | $1,413 |
| Median home value45% lower than Texas | $156,300 | $283,800 | $332,700 |
| Home value to income18% lower than Texas | 3.0x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Median household income33% lower than Texas | $52,715 | $78,476 | $80,734 |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent19 points lower than Texas | 33% | 52% | 51% |
| Median property tax per year47% lower than Texas | $2,245 | $4,232 | $3,119 |
Rent in Alton
HUD's fair market rents for McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA run from $801 for a studio to $1,439 for 4 bedrooms. A two-bedroom is $1,017 a month, which takes an income of about $41,000 a year to stay at 30% of pay. HUD figures include utilities and describe a typical, modest unit.
33% of renters in Alton already spend 30% or more of their income on rent, against 52% across Texas.
Income you need to rent
| Unit | Rent | Yearly income at 30% |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $801 | $32,000 |
| 1 bedroom | $806 | $32,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,017 | $41,000 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,305 | $52,000 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,439 | $58,000 |
Buying a home in Alton
Buying the median $156,300 home with 20% down ($31,260) and a 30-year loan at 7.28% costs about $856 a month for the loan plus $187 a month in property tax, $1,043 in all. Homeowners insurance, HOA dues and upkeep come on top.
That is close to the median rent, so if you plan to stay a few years, buying can cost about the same each month while building equity.
Taxes
Texas has no state income tax, which helps take-home pay. The trade-off is high property tax, set by the county, city, school district and other local bodies.
The median homeowner in Alton pays $2,245 a year in property tax, 47% lower than the Texas median of $4,232 and 28% lower than the US median. Sales tax in most of Texas tops out at 8.25%.
Monthly cost to buy a median home
- Mortgage payment
- $856
- Property tax
- $187
- Median rent, for comparison
- $1,038
Based on a $156,300 home in Alton, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median paid locally, or the county median where the local figure is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.
Alton cost of living compared with nearby cities
Census medians. Cost grade compares each place with US places of its own size.
What these numbers leave out
We only show costs we can source for Alton itself: rent, home prices, property tax and incomes from the Census Bureau, fair market rents from HUD, and a mortgage payment at the current Freddie Mac average rate. Groceries, utilities, car insurance and health care are not included, because no public source publishes them city by city in Texas.
Cost of living in Alton: common questions
Is Alton, TX expensive to live in?
Alton is cheap by Texas standards. Median rent is $1,038 a month, 26% lower than the Texas median of $1,403, and the median home is worth $156,300, 45% lower than the Texas median of $283,800. Prices only tell half the story. The typical household here earns $52,715, so the median home costs 3.0 times a year of income, against 3.6 times across Texas and 4.1 times across the US. So for people who earn local wages, homes here are easier to afford than in most of Texas.
How much do you need to earn to live in Alton?
To rent a median home at $1,038 a month and keep rent at 30% of income, you need about $42,000 a year. To buy the median home, the monthly cost is about $1,043, which takes around $42,000 a year by the same rule.
What is the average rent in Alton?
The median rent across all units is $1,038 a month (Census). HUD's fair market rent is $801 for a studio, $806 for 1 bedroom, $1,017 for 2 bedrooms, $1,305 for 3 bedrooms, $1,439 for 4 bedrooms.
How much is property tax in Alton?
The median homeowner in Alton pays $2,245 a year in property tax, 47% lower than the Texas median of $4,232 and 28% lower than the US median. Sales tax in most of Texas tops out at 8.25%.
Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027, Freddie Mac PMMS (week of 2026-10-01). Updated 2026-10-04.