States › Texas › Highlands

Is Highlands, TX expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 27 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,28727% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$56,262about $4,689/month · 35% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$214,40036% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 70% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.8 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 30.7 minutes each way. Most homes (80.4%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $51,480 a year. That is $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Texas cities?

Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Texas. It is number 157 of 426 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Highlands
$1,287
Bridgeport
$1,407
Olivarez
$905
Alvarado
$829
Crockett
$900
Wilmer
$1,435
White Oak
$1,256

How much do households earn in Highlands?

Under $25k
13.5%
$25k–50k
41.7%
$50k–100k
23.0%
$100k–150k
5.4%
$150k+
15.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 21.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Highlands

SizeHighlandsU.S. average
2 bedrooms$1,184$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,678$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Highlands overall?

Everyday prices in Texas overall are 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).

Housing
97
Goods (food, clothes…)
98
Utilities
88
Other services
97
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Highlands, so the Texas figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Highlands

🏛️ Property tax$2,262a year · 1.06% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$233a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Highlands

Commute to work30.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree11.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home80.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line9.8%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment10.1%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Highlands?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $201 a month less.

Renting
$1,287
Owning
$1,488

Owning assumes a typical $214,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $21,440 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Highlands, TX?

Renting in Highlands costs a median of about $1,287 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Texas median is $1,451.

How much do I need to make to live in Highlands?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $51,480 a year, or $25 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Highlands cheap or expensive?

Highlands is rated OK: rent takes 27.5% of the typical household income of $56,262. It ranks 157th cheapest of 426 Texas cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Highlands?

The median homeowner in Highlands pays $2,262 a year in property taxes, about 1.06% of the median home value.

Is Highlands more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Texas are 3% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Highlands?

The median home value in Highlands is $214,400, about 3.8 times the typical yearly household income.

6,335 people live in Highlands. Numbers are typical (middle) values.