Moving to Texas: What Houston’s Home Prices Mean for Your Buying Power

The Texas and American flags wave proudly under a clear blue sky, symbolizing unity and pride over a sprawling suburban landscape.

Thinking about moving to Texas? You’re not alone. With its strong economy, diverse culture, and affordable housing, the Houston area is attracting homebuyers from across the country. One of the biggest draws is bang for your buck. Houston’s home prices are significantly lower than those in many coastal cities. We’ll also share how Alta Homes makes relocating easier with move-in ready options and transparent pricing, so you can take advantage of that Texas-sized buying power. 

Houston Home Prices in 2025: An Affordable Market

Houston’s housing market remains remarkably affordable in 2025. The median home price in the Houston area is in the low-to-mid $300,000s, a figure that has stayed relatively steady year-over-year. In fact, Houston’s median sale price is roughly 20% lower than the U.S. national average, underscoring its status as a budget-friendly big city. For context, the Houston Association of Realtors reported a median price around $335,000 earlier this year, with an average sale price (pulled higher by luxury sales) around $427,000. In simpler terms: Houston offers big-city living at a fraction of the cost of places like California or the Northeast. Home Prices in Conroe and Willis (Houston’s Surrounding Areas)

Beyond the city limits, Houston’s surrounding communities offer even more value. For example, Conroe, a fast-growing town just north of Houston, has a median home price around $355,000 as of mid-2025. This is on par with Houston or slightly higher, partly due to many new constructions and lakefront properties in the area. Zillow data shows the typical Conroe home value is about $321K (down ~1% from last year) with a median sale price around $361K. In short, a budget of around $350K can buy a newer or larger home in Conroe – often with a bigger lot or more modern features – that would cost much more in a bigger city.

Further up Interstate 45 is Willis, a smaller community near Lake Conroe that’s also attracting new development. Willis’s median home price is roughly in the high $200,000s to low $300,000s, depending on which data you use. 

That level of affordability means buyers can find brand-new, move-in ready houses without breaking the bank. In fact, a $300K budget in Willis might secure a spacious three- or four-bedroom home – something practically unheard of in high-cost cities.

These suburban markets of Conroe and Willis offer excellent value for those willing to live just outside Houston. You’ll still be within commuting distance of the city’s jobs and amenities, but you’ll get more home for the dollar. Larger floor plans, yard space, and even waterfront living (in the Lake Conroe area) become attainable on a moderate budget. This is a big reason why families and retirees from out of state look to places like Conroe and Willis: their dollars stretch further without sacrificing quality of life.

Houston vs. Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago: A Cost Comparison

How do Texas prices actually stack up against Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago? The difference is eye-opening. Let’s look at average home prices in 2025 for these major cities:

• Houston, TX: ~$330K median listing price (July 2025). Homes sell around the mid-$300s on average. (Houston is our baseline for affordability.)

• Los Angeles, CA: ~$1.1 million median sale price (as of July 2025). Los Angeles is roughly three times more expensive than Houston by this measure. In fact, L.A.’s median is 132% higher than the U.S. average, whereas Houston’s is below average, as noted. A typical home in Los Angeles – whether a bungalow in the Valley or a condo by the beach – often costs the same as 3–4 similar homes in Houston in 2025.

• New York City, NY: ~$800K for a typical home value in NYC. The median sale price citywide (all boroughs) sits around $775K, and the median listing price is about $829K. Real estate in New York is thus more than double Houston’s price point. In many Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods, $330K might not even buy a studio condo – whereas in Houston that’s a comfortable single-family home.

• Chicago, IL: ~$350K median listing price (mid-2025), and a median sale price around $362K. Chicago’s housing costs are closer to Houston’s, reflecting the Midwest’s relative affordability. Still, Chicago is slightly higher in median price, and factors like property taxes can make ownership there pricier. By moving to Houston, even someone from Chicago could find comparable or lower home prices and lower overall living costs (no state income tax in Texas, for example).

Alta Homes: Move-In Ready Options with Transparent Pricing

When relocating to Texas, working with the right homebuilder can make all the difference. Alta Homes prides itself on offering move-in ready new homes and a transparent, no-hassle pricing experience. In fact, transparency is one of Alta Homes’ core values – what other builders might call “upgrades,” Alta often includes as standard in the purchase price. This means when you buy an Alta home, you won’t be nickel-and-dimed for essential features. The price you see is the price out the door, with haggle-free, no-surprise pricing from contract to closing.

Alta Homes’ move-in ready philosophy is embodied in the “Alta Standard.” Each home comes with a Move-Ready Package that equips your house with the essentials for day-one comfort. For example, many Alta homes include a refrigerator, washer and dryer, window blinds, garage door opener, and even front and rear yard landscaping as part of the standard package.