17 Best Texas Cities To Buy a Home for Under $300K

Recently, GOBankingRates compiled a study concerning nearly 100 of America’s major cities to determine which were the most optimal locations to purchase a house for under $300,000. In that study, it was found that Texas was home to many of those most advantageous cities.

Planning on moving to the Lone Star State? Considering buying a home? Are you operating on a budget that falls beneath $300,00?

This list — which calculates such factors as average home values, median household incomes per city, annual costs of living per city and that city’s livability score — locates for you the 17 best cities in Texas in which to affordably purchase a home for less than $300,000.

• Average home value: $190,862
• Median household income: $62,720
• Annual cost of living: $35,742
• Livability score: 75

• Average home value: $236,408
• Median household income: $73,030
• Annual cost of living: $32,029
• Livability score: 74

• Average home value: $224,379
• Median household income: $58,734
• Annual cost of living: $37,645
• Livability score: 81

• Average home value: $246,595
• Median household income: $65,527
• Annual cost of living: $38,727
• Livability score: 74

• Average home value: $226,102
• Median household income: $60,165
• Annual cost of living: $36,994
• Livability score: 75

• Average home value: $217,306
• Median household income: $66,325
• Annual cost of living: $37,289
• Livability score: 80

• Average home value: $211,755
• Median household income: $63,264
• Annual cost of living: $36,950
• Livability score: 73

• Average home value: $190,186
• Median household income: $48,675
• Annual cost of living: $34,683
• Livability score: 79

• Average home value: $201,215
• Median household income: $60,487
• Annual cost of living: $36,184
• Livability score: 78

• Average home value: $195,549
• Median household income: $62,469
• Annual cost of living: $34,728
• Livability score: 66

• Average home value: $267,193
• Median household income: $71,843
• Annual cost of living: $43,329
• Livability score: 69

• Average home value: $252,102
• Median household income: $62,917
• Annual cost of living: $40,007
• Livability score: 80

• Average home value: $219,709
• Median household income: $58,339
• Annual cost of living: $37,044
• Livability score: 63

• Average home value: $220,032
• Median household income: $64,270
• Annual cost of living: $39,428
• Livability score: 66

• Average home value: $210,609
• Median household income: $57,789
• Annual cost of living: $36,108
• Livability score: 63

• Average home value: $153,365
• Median household income: $57,530
• Annual cost of living: $32,396
• Livability score: 65

• Average home value: $270,718
• Median household income: $62,894
• Annual cost of living: $42,974
• Livability score: 74

Editor’s note: Photos are for representational purposes only and might not reflect the exact locations listed.

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities across the United States for the best places you can buy a home for under $300,000. First GOBankingRates found cities where the average home value for single-family homes (November 2023 to November 2024) was under $300,000 and no monthly value was above $300,000. The 100 cities with the highest population were used. For each city, GOBankingRates found total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, household median income and the population below the poverty line, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The average home values were sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and include the grocery, healthcare, housing, utilities, transportation and miscellaneous cost-of-living indexes. Using the cost of living and the national expenditure costs, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average expenditure cost for each location were calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location. Using the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the most recent national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated. Using the average mortgage and average expenditure costs, the average cost of living was calculated. The total cost of living was scored and weighted at 1.00, the household median income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00, the property crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate was scored and weighted at 1.00, the percent population below poverty line was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the total score for each location. The locations were sorted to show the best places to buy a house under $300,000. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Dec. 30, 2024.