McLennan County, TX at a glance
Median household income
$66,643$5,554 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in McLennan County, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in McLennan County, TX? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $850 | $10,200 | $34,000 | 15.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $996 | $11,952 | $39,840 | 17.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,240 | $14,880 | $49,600 | 22.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,599 | $19,188 | $63,960 | 28.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,644 | $19,728 | $65,760 | 29.6% |
Rent in McLennan County, TX, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in McLennan County, TX
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $66,643 a year ($5,554 a month before tax).
What $66,643 leaves after Texas taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Texas tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Texas
Living in McLennan County, TX: common questions
What is the median household income in McLennan County, TX?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in McLennan County, TX is $66,643 per year (approximately $5,554 per month).
What is the average rent in McLennan County, TX?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $850 for a studio, $996 for one bedroom, $1,240 for two, $1,599 for three and $1,644 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is McLennan County, TX expensive to live in?
Prices there run 7.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 92.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in McLennan County, TX?
To keep a $1,240 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $49,600 a year, or $4,133 a month. That is 74% of what the typical household in McLennan County, TX earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in McLennan County, TX?
On the local median income of $66,643 ($5,554 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,777 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,666 for everything else and $1,111 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,240 takes 45% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in McLennan County, TX?
Homes in Texas paid 15.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $143. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.