It depends on where you live. Temple homeowners pay Temple ISD ($1.1372 per $100) plus Bell County ($0.3227) plus the City of Temple — a combined blended rate around 2.2–2.4%. Killeen homeowners pay Killeen ISD ($0.8778), which results in a lower combined rate around 1.8–2.0%. Belton ISD carries the highest rate at $1.1494. This calculator defaults to 2.35% for Temple, which you can dial down for Killeen or other cities.

Budget $3,400–$4,000 per year for a typical Bell County home. Central Texas sits in a severe hail corridor — premiums here run significantly above the national average of roughly $2,470/yr. Roof age is the single biggest variable: homes with roofs older than 10 years can see quotes 30–50% higher. New construction with impact-resistant shingles will be at the lower end. Investors buying rental properties need DP3 landlord policies, which typically run higher than standard HO3.

As of mid-2026, median apartment rent in Temple runs approximately $980–$1,250/month depending on the source and unit type. Single-family home rentals are notably higher — a 3-bedroom house in Temple or Belton typically rents for $1,500–$1,900/month. The calculator defaults to $1,250 (a 2BR apartment benchmark). If you’re comparing to a house, adjust up to $1,600–$1,800 for a more accurate comparison.

At current Bell County prices and mortgage rates, the breakeven point — where buying becomes cheaper than renting in total cost terms — typically falls between 3 and 6 years for most scenarios. The biggest variables are your down payment size (a larger down payment shifts breakeven earlier), how fast local rents rise, and home appreciation. Military buyers on 2–3 year PCS cycles face a tighter window, though VA loans with no PMI and no down payment change the math meaningfully.

Yes, and this calculator doesn’t model them explicitly — that’s a deliberate simplification. Buying closing costs run 2–4% of purchase price in Texas (roughly $5,100–$10,200 on a $255K home). Selling costs add another 6–8% when you eventually sell. That round-trip cost is a real headwind that makes short time horizons harder for buyers. For a $255K home, plan on $18,000–$28,000 in total transaction costs over the full buy-and-sell cycle.

No — and this is worth being direct about. If you invest the down payment and the monthly savings from renting into a diversified index fund, and home prices appreciate slowly while your investment return is high, renting can produce more net wealth over a given period. The calculator models this honestly. Whether buying wins depends on your specific numbers, time horizon, and what happens to local home prices. Bell County has appreciated roughly 3–4% annually over the long run, but past appreciation doesn’t guarantee future returns.