A Texas County With A Median Home Price Below $55,000 Is One Of The Cheapest Places To Live

Owning a home is still a big part of the American dream for many. But the true cost of that American dream keeps getting more expensive for millions of families. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says the national median home price hit over $422,000 in May 2025, up 1.3% from 2024. These rising prices have created just one of several financial challenges families face today. While it's much harder to buy a home than it used to be, Texas still has some affordable options if you're willing to look past big cities. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis puts the state's median home listing price at $375,000 in May 2025. While still expensive, it's lower than the national median of $422,000.

More specifically, Stonewall County, which sits in the North Central Plains of Northwest Texas, is one of the cheapest places to buy a home in Texas. The median home price there is just $54,700, according to the United States Census Bureau – less than a fifth of what you'd pay statewide, and well below the national average. Property taxes are reasonable too, with a median bill of $744.

Stonewall County residents, especially retirees, get a break due to the fact Texas is among the states that exempt Social Security income. Local homeowners also pay a median property tax rate of just 1.48%, according to Tax Rate's 2024 analysis — well under the Texas statewide average of 1.81%.

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey shows Stonewall County's median household income was $61,250 from 2019 to 2023. According to Areavibes, the cost of living index is 93 — about 7% under the national average of 100. That means people pay less for housing, groceries, and daily goods than most Americans do. This is part of a larger pattern across Texas, where $100 tends to go further than in other places.

The Texas Comptroller's Office explains that agricultural land in Stonewall County gets appraised based on productivity value, not market value. In 2025, the cap rate for agricultural land was 10%, which drops the tax burden even more for people who own farms or ranches. This special agricultural appraisal saves would-be homebuyers a lot of money.

Outdoor activities are a big part of life in Stonewall County, with hunting drawing both locals and visitors. To hunt in designated areas, you'll need a resident hunting license, and to pay for a $48 annual public hunting permit through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Deer, turkey, and dove seasons run on both public and private land. The Brazos River is open for bank fishing, canoeing, and kayaking too — all allowed under TPWD River Access and Conservation Areas (RACA) leases. With so much to do outside, residents can enjoy a frugal lifestyle that doesn't sacrifice their quality of life. 

Stonewall County's history also stays alive through designated markers and local events. Rath City, for example, started as a buffalo-hide trading post back in 1876. Today, a marker south of Aspermont tells its story, giving you a peek into the area's frontier past. In Aspermont proper, the city holds a rodeo every spring at the livestock show barn. The town also keeps up a public library and swimming pool as the county seat.