Best Rental Markets in Texas (2026)
Data updated September 2026 · 233 cities screened
Texas's median home value is $296,423 with a median rent of $1,475/mo across our 233 investable cities. At 6.0% annual rent-to-price (94th percentile nationally), it leans toward cash-flow territory, with rents large relative to what you pay for the house. Landlord-tenant law is friendlier to owners than in most states.
Top Texas cities for cash flow
Ranked by annual rent ÷ median home value. Higher means the rent check is bigger relative to what you paid, the first screen for a cash-flowing rental.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweetwater | $118,581 | $1,525/mo | 15.4% | 10,385 |
| 2 | Kingsville | $141,978 | $1,506/mo | 12.7% | 24,994 |
| 3 | Galena Park | $157,956 | $1,650/mo | 12.5% | 10,487 |
| 4 | Big Spring | $140,456 | $1,451/mo | 12.4% | 23,975 |
| 5 | Port Arthur | $124,744 | $1,195/mo | 11.5% | 55,828 |
| 6 | Snyder | $142,030 | $1,300/mo | 11.0% | 11,241 |
| 7 | Abilene | $223,852 | $1,988/mo | 10.7% | 128,053 |
| 8 | Brownsville | $194,705 | $1,703/mo | 10.5% | 189,177 |
| 9 | Freeport | $153,805 | $1,335/mo | 10.4% | 10,621 |
| 10 | Forest Hill | $222,093 | $1,923/mo | 10.4% | 14,062 |
Most affordable entry points
Lowest median home values, where a first deal or a limited budget goes furthest. Cheap is not automatically good: check rent and condition before assuming a bargain.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Rent / Price | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borger | $106,980 | $900/mo | 10.1% | 12,226 |
| 2 | Robstown | $109,944 | $895/mo | 9.8% | 10,236 |
| 3 | Plainview | $117,813 | $947/mo | 9.6% | 19,711 |
| 4 | Sweetwater | $118,581 | $1,525/mo | 15.4% | 10,385 |
| 5 | Port Arthur | $124,744 | $1,195/mo | 11.5% | 55,828 |
| 6 | Mercedes | $136,507 | $817/mo | 7.2% | 16,733 |
| 7 | Big Spring | $140,456 | $1,451/mo | 12.4% | 23,975 |
| 8 | Kingsville | $141,978 | $1,506/mo | 12.7% | 24,994 |
| 9 | Snyder | $142,030 | $1,300/mo | 11.0% | 11,241 |
| 10 | Levelland | $142,866 | $1,000/mo | 8.4% | 12,466 |
Fastest rent growth
Year-over-year change in Zillow's observed rent index. Rising rents lift future cash flow, but verify the driver (jobs and population, not a one-year blip).
| # | City | Rent Growth YoY | Median Rent | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abilene | 31.5% | $1,988/mo | $223,852 |
| 2 | Portland | 9.1% | $1,582/mo | $269,720 |
| 3 | Kingsville | 9.0% | $1,506/mo | $141,978 |
| 4 | Channelview | 8.8% | $1,801/mo | $208,901 |
| 5 | Benbrook | 8.5% | $1,250/mo | $314,107 |
| 6 | Wichita Falls | 8.4% | $1,312/mo | $174,273 |
| 7 | Big Spring | 7.8% | $1,451/mo | $140,456 |
| 8 | Amarillo | 7.8% | $1,304/mo | $209,627 |
| 9 | Cleburne | 7.6% | $1,403/mo | $267,725 |
| 10 | Canyon | 7.2% | $1,231/mo | $299,519 |
Texas fundamentals for landlords
The state-level numbers that shape every deal here: what taxes and law take out of the rent check, and whether demand is growing.
Annual tax as a share of home value (Tax Foundation). Comes straight out of cash flow.
Top marginal state rate (Tax Foundation), the rate your rental profit is taxed at in-state.
Composite of rent control, eviction timeline, deposit caps, and notice rules in state statute.
Census ACS. People moving in = housing demand; sustained decline is the risk flag.
BLS, latest month. Tenant quality and vacancy risk track the job market.
Census BPS, latest year. Heavy new supply competes with your unit at renewal time.
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Affects insurance, tenant pool, and appreciation.
FEMA declarations, a proxy for insurance cost and climate exposure.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best rental market in Texas for cash flow?
By rent-to-price ratio, Sweetwater leads Texas at 15.4%, with a median rent of $1,525/mo against a $118,581 median home value (Zillow, September 2026).
Does Texas pass the 1% rule?
At state medians of $1,475 rent on a $296,423 home, monthly rent is 0.50% of the purchase price, so the median Texas deal falls short of the 1% screen. Individual cities can still clear it. See the table above.
Is Texas landlord-friendly?
Texas scores 82/100 on our landlord-friendliness composite (rent control status, eviction timeline, deposit caps, notice requirements), friendlier to owners than 86% of states.
How high are property taxes in Texas?
The effective property tax rate is 1.80% of home value per year (Tax Foundation). On the median $296,423 home, that is roughly $5,336 a year off your cash flow.
Compare with similar states
Louisiana · West Virginia · Mississippi · Florida · Oklahoma
About this data: compiled by RehabRange from Zillow Research (ZHVI home values, ZORI rents), U.S. Census Bureau (ACS population and income, Building Permits Survey), Bureau of Labor Statistics (unemployment), FBI Crime Data Explorer, FEMA, and Tax Foundation. Last updated September 2026.
RehabRange is built by Mitchell Haughton, a practicing eastern-Connecticut real estate investor. These are the same screens he runs before walking a property. How we rank markets