Texas home costs side by side - mortgage, property tax and electricity in Harris, Dallas and Hidalgo counties
Most home-cost comparisons use one number. We now have three public sources for the same large Texas counties, so we can put them next to each other. As of October 18, 2026, here are three counties that differ.
| Harris | Dallas | Hidalgo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median mortgage rate on loans made in 2025 | 6.5% | 6.5% | 6.625% |
| County property tax rate for 2025 (per $100 of taxable value) | $0.3810 | $0.2155 | $0.5750 |
| Median school-district rate for 2025 (per $100) | $1.0669 (25 districts) | $1.1054 (16 districts) | $1.0967 (16 districts) |
| Lowest estimated annual electricity cost, main utility area, 1,000 kWh a month | $1,417 (CenterPoint) | $1,440 (Oncor) | $1,323 (AEP Texas Central) |
What each row means
- Mortgage: the median note rate of conventional 30-year home-purchase loans that were actually made in the county in 2025. It is not today's rate and not an offer. Source: mortgage rates by county.
- Property tax: rates, not bills. The county rate is only one part; the school district, the city and special districts add to it, and the tax is charged on taxable value after exemptions. Source: property tax rates by county.
- Electricity: the lowest estimated 12-month cost among fixed-rate plans of six months or more, for a home averaging 1,000 kWh a month, using plans imported on October 17, 2026. It changes as plans change; see the CenterPoint, Oncor and AEP Texas Central pages. Your own plans depend on the utility that serves your address.
Notice that the rows do not move together: Hidalgo has the highest county rate of the three and the lowest electricity cost, and Harris and Dallas have the same median mortgage rate with very different county tax rates. The numbers describe different things, so they are not added into one total.
Each county has one page with all three: Harris, Dallas and Hidalgo, and the full list of 30 counties is on Texas home costs by county. TexasHomeBills is independent and is not a lender, appraisal district or provider; see our advertiser disclosure.
Questions
Can I add electricity, mortgage and property tax into one monthly cost?
Not directly. Each is a different kind of number: electricity is the lowest estimated annual cost among fixed-rate plans at 1,000 kWh a month, the mortgage rate is the median of loans already made, and property tax rates apply to taxable value. They cannot be added into one total, so we show them side by side.
Can everyone in these counties choose an electricity provider?
Your electricity plans depend on the utility that serves your address, not the county. Enter your ZIP code on the electricity page; city utilities and electric co-ops are outside the competitive market.
Where can I see my own county?
Yes. The Texas home costs page lists 30 large Texas counties, and each county has its own page with its mortgage rate, its county, school district and city tax rates, and the electricity cities we cover.
Sources
- HMDA Data Browser — loans originated, Texas counties, 2025 — Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC)
- Statewide Report of Tax Rates, 2025 — Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Power to Choose plan export (imported October 17, 2026) — Public Utility Commission of Texas
General information as of Oct 18, 2026, not legal or financial advice. PUCT rules (16 TAC Chapter 25), your contract and the provider's Electricity Facts Label control; check the current rule text and your own documents.
