salaryRent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Incomes are on the low side for rents this high, so budgets feel tight. A typical house costs about 3.5 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 31.6 minutes each way.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $131,280 a year. That is $63 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Texas cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Texas. It is number 415 of 426 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Rockdale?
Share of households by yearly income. 17.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Rockdale
| Size | Rockdale | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $772 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $997 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,794 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Rockdale overall?
Everyday prices in Texas overall are 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Rockdale, so the Texas figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Rockdale
Life in Rockdale
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Rockdale?
Buying is cheaper month to month: about $1,680 a month less than renting.
Owning assumes a typical $230,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $23,090 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Rockdale, TX?
Renting in Rockdale costs a median of about $3,282 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Texas median is $1,451.
How much do I need to make to live in Rockdale?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $131,280 a year, or $63 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Rockdale cheap or expensive?
Rockdale is rated Expensive: rent takes 60.3% of the typical household income of $65,346. It ranks 415th cheapest of 426 Texas cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Rockdale?
The median homeowner in Rockdale pays $3,651 a year in property taxes, about 1.58% of the median home value.
Is Rockdale 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 Rockdale?
The median home value in Rockdale is $230,900, about 3.5 times the typical yearly household income.
5,523 people live in Rockdale. Numbers are typical (middle) values.