Is Gillespie County, TX good for real estate investing?

Gillespie County has an investment score of 33/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #773 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Gillespie?

The rent-to-price ratio in Gillespie County is 4.67% annually, which ranks in the 19th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Gillespie?

The median home price in Gillespie County is $519,258. This ranks #940 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Gillespie?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Gillespie County would generate negative cash flow of $1,409/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Gillespie County

TexasPopulation: 26,953

/100

Avoid

#773 of 1,000 counties

#215 in Texas (243 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated July 28, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$519,258

Median Home Price

127% above national median

$2,020/mo

Median Rent

39% above national median

4.67%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 81% nationally

-$1,409

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $2,020/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$389,443	-$729/mo	4.0%	-9.8%
Median typical MLS deal	$519,258	-$1,409/mo	3.0%	-14.2%
125% of median newer / premium	$649,072	-$2,090/mo	2.4%	-16.8%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$519,258

Down Payment (20%)$103,852

Loan Amount$415,406

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,020

Monthly P&I-$2,722

Est. Expenses (35%)-$707

Net Cash Flow-$1,409/mo

3.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-14.2%

Cash-on-Cash Return

4.67%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.0% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

33/100

Cash Flow(30%)

40/100

Based on 4.67% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

13/100

Based on -5.9% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

26/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (4.67%)
-Declining home values (-5.9% YoY)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,409/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

26,953

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield

Skip if

−You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
−You expect appreciation to carry the deal, but prices have declined year over year
−You rely on FHA-style financing: prices are stretched relative to local incomes

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
ShackelfordTX	44	$148,074	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
BanderaTX	44	$329,463	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
WillacyTX	42	$169,393	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
RealTX	38	$273,282	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
BlancoTX	36	$591,088	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
CurrentGillespieTX	33	$519,258	$2,020	4.67%	Avoid

The Bottom Line

AvoidGillespie may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Gillespie County in Texas scores 33/100, ranking #773 of 1,000 US counties (top 99%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $1409/month; the 4.67% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-1,409/mo

Cap Rate

3.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-14.2%

Related markets

Cheaper alternatives to Gillespie

Head-to-head comparisons

All counties in Texas →

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