Most rent-burdened cities in Texas

Cities in Texas ranked by highest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

Lancaster ranks first, with rent at 39.6% of median household income.
Across all 170 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,596/mo.
Abilene moved from #25 to #5 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

170 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	LancasterTX Pop. 41KCompare →	39.6%	$2,252/mo	$68,302	↑1 from #2
02	BrownsvilleTX Pop. 189KCompare →	39.2%	$1,703/mo	$52,130	↑1 from #3
03	College StationTX Pop. 125KCompare →	39.0%	$1,655/mo	$50,900	↓2 from #1
04	PalestineTX Pop. 19KCompare →	38.8%	$1,453/mo	$44,981	--
05	AbileneTX Pop. 128KCompare →	38.1%	$1,988/mo	$62,648	↑20 from #25
06	KerrvilleTX Pop. 25KCompare →	36.3%	$1,877/mo	$62,102	↓1 from #5
07	SeagovilleTX Pop. 19KCompare →	35.6%	$1,980/mo	$66,743	↓3 from #4
08	Glenn HeightsTX Pop. 18KCompare →	34.5%	$2,349/mo	$81,718	↑3 from #11
09	HuntsvilleTX Pop. 48KCompare →	34.3%	$1,359/mo	$47,529	↓3 from #6
10	ParisTX Pop. 25KCompare →	34.2%	$1,348/mo	$47,239	--
11	ChannelviewTX Pop. 44KCompare →	33.6%	$1,802/mo	$64,422	↑5 from #16
12	San MarcosTX Pop. 71KCompare →	33.5%	$1,433/mo	$51,281	↓4 from #8
13	HumbleTX Pop. 17KCompare →	33.4%	$1,589/mo	$57,011	↓6 from #7
14	TexarkanaTX Pop. 36KCompare →	33.4%	$1,406/mo	$50,573	↓5 from #9
15	RosenbergTX Pop. 41KCompare →	32.8%	$1,793/mo	$65,668	↓5 from #10
16	White SettlementTX Pop. 18KCompare →	32.7%	$1,546/mo	$56,784	↓2 from #14
17	La MarqueTX Pop. 19KCompare →	32.5%	$1,923/mo	$71,102	↓4 from #13
18	Horizon CityTX Pop. 24KCompare →	31.8%	$1,744/mo	$65,737	same
19	BeltonTX Pop. 24KCompare →	31.6%	$1,557/mo	$59,130	↓7 from #12
20	KingsvilleTX Pop. 25KCompare →	31.1%	$1,506/mo	$58,148	↑8 from #28
21	Port ArthurTX Pop. 56KCompare →	31.0%	$1,196/mo	$46,354	↓1 from #20
22	GalvestonTX Pop. 53KCompare →	31.0%	$1,435/mo	$55,631	↓5 from #17
23	DesotoTX Pop. 56KCompare →	30.9%	$2,131/mo	$82,782	↓8 from #15
24	El PasoTX Pop. 680KCompare →	30.3%	$1,508/mo	$59,745	↓1 from #23
25	LockhartTX Pop. 15KCompare →	30.0%	$1,712/mo	$68,400	--
26	BaytownTX Pop. 85KCompare →	29.9%	$1,491/mo	$59,910	↓7 from #19
27	WacoTX Pop. 144KCompare →	29.6%	$1,342/mo	$54,365	↓6 from #21
28	AlvinTX Pop. 28KCompare →	29.5%	$1,758/mo	$71,477	↓4 from #24
29	BrenhamTX Pop. 19KCompare →	29.4%	$1,596/mo	$65,112	↑1 from #30
30	Balch SpringsTX Pop. 27KCompare →	29.3%	$1,636/mo	$66,942	↑3 from #33
31	TerrellTX Pop. 20KCompare →	29.1%	$1,598/mo	$65,842	↑1 from #32
32	GreenvilleTX Pop. 31KCompare →	28.9%	$1,513/mo	$62,781	↓3 from #29
33	BryanTX Pop. 88KCompare →	28.9%	$1,428/mo	$59,289	↓7 from #26
34	HoustonTX Pop. 2.3MCompare →	28.6%	$1,544/mo	$64,813	↓7 from #27
35	Mineral WellsTX Pop. 15KCompare →	28.5%	$1,328/mo	$55,929	--
36	TaylorTX Pop. 17KCompare →	28.4%	$1,788/mo	$75,508	↓14 from #22
37	LufkinTX Pop. 34KCompare →	28.2%	$1,341/mo	$57,048	↓2 from #35
38	FresnoTX Pop. 25KCompare →	27.7%	$2,107/mo	$91,264	↓7 from #31
39	Haltom CityTX Pop. 46KCompare →	27.6%	$1,357/mo	$59,057	↓1 from #38
40	EnnisTX Pop. 23KCompare →	27.3%	$1,709/mo	$75,074	↓6 from #34
41	DallasTX Pop. 1.3MCompare →	27.3%	$1,604/mo	$70,518	↓4 from #37
42	CorsicanaTX Pop. 26KCompare →	27.1%	$1,292/mo	$57,212	same
43	BeaumontTX Pop. 113KCompare →	27.1%	$1,287/mo	$56,997	↓3 from #40
44	Missouri CityTX Pop. 77KCompare →	26.9%	$2,112/mo	$94,390	↓8 from #36
45	Red OakTX Pop. 17KCompare →	26.8%	$2,335/mo	$104,561	↑7 from #52
46	WataugaTX Pop. 23KCompare →	26.8%	$2,033/mo	$91,171	↓3 from #43
47	ShermanTX Pop. 46KCompare →	26.2%	$1,287/mo	$58,859	↓8 from #39
48	Wichita FallsTX Pop. 103KCompare →	26.2%	$1,312/mo	$60,177	↑14 from #62
49	MissionTX Pop. 87KCompare →	26.0%	$1,319/mo	$60,767	↓8 from #41
50	LubbockTX Pop. 265KCompare →	25.9%	$1,315/mo	$60,895	↓2 from #48