Elgin, TX
78621 · Elgin, TX has a HavenScore of 60 — downside-risk signals are quiet here, which steadies the score.
At the ZIP's typical value, the estimated monthly payment takes 28% of the local median income (Zillow, US Census ACS) and runs $245 a month more than the median rent (Zillow ZORI). The buyer/seller gauge leans firmly toward buyers, and has for 7 months. Typical values moved lower over the last 90 days (Zillow ZHVI).
Saved ZIPs on Haven get an email when the score moves 5+ points as monthly data lands, when the market gauge flips between buyers and sellers, when its valuation read moves against the model value, or when distress jumps in a week.
Zillow ZHVI peaked at $383,083 in Jul 2022; the latest value is -23.7% from that peak, 48 months on. Since January 2019 it is +32.5%. The sharpest 12-month move was -11.4%, ending Aug 2023.
Ranked #1,432 of 13,130 nationally · #793 of 6,756 mid-size ZIPs
Buyer view active — Leans harder on affordability and downside risk.
Score inputs below recompute for this view
Snapshot
Numbers at a glance, with a year of history under each
Place
What it is like to live here, and what could flood or burn
Bands are each source’s own · tick marks the national median ZIP · not blended into the score
Tract-level rolled up to ZIP · not a property-level rating · no future-year projection · refreshed annually (Dec 2025 release) · county tick = median of 8 scored ZIPs in Bastrop County
Everyday prices in the Austin metro run 2% below the US average (BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024).
Rents in the index run 20% above the US average.
$75,000 at US-average prices buys what $73,550 buys here.
Metro-level index, US = 100 · 2024 · the Austin metro, not this ZIP alone
What drives the score
Five pillars, each scored 0–100
Market signals
Tailwinds and headwinds right now
- Affordable vs. income3.3× income — below the national median
- Declining prices-6.8% year-over-year
- Heavy new construction17.8 permits per 1,000 residents — new supply incoming
- Potentially overvalued55% above historical price-to-income
- Widespread price cuts32% of listings cutting price
- Slow-moving market76 days on market — homes sitting longer
Market conditions
Buyer's Market
Buyers hold the leverage. Concessions and below-asking offers are common.
Cycle read. Softening: prices -6.8% over the trailing year, with the market leaning toward buyers.
The Zillow figure is a smoothed index of typical value, not a list price; the Redfin figures are closed sales for the month shown.
Momentum check
What's changed in the last 90 days
Trend
Where it's been
Forecast
Where it's heading
The HavenScore Forecast Model (v1) projects this ZIP’s median value at 3-, 6-, and 12-month horizons, with 80% prediction intervals; Pro adds 24- and 36-month horizons.
Monthly cost
What you'd owe each month
20% down · 30-yr fixed · 6.71% · tax 1.68%
Insurance uses the average homeowners premium insurers reported for this ZIP in 2022, $1,688 a year (Treasury Federal Insurance Office).
28%of the ZIP’s median income at the median value ($2,061/mo against $88,246 · Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, US Census ACS). Your own marker appears once you set an income or price in the calculator below.
Median home value ÷ median household income · Zillow ZHVI, US Census ACS · under 4× has historically been comfortable
Run the numbers
Your price, rate, down payment and income
Like for like: a 3-bedroom here rents for about $2,240 a month (HUD Small Area Fair Market Rent, FY2026) against a typical 3-bedroom value of $271k (Zillow ZHVI by bedroom) — a 9.9% gross rent yield.
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Comparable ZIPs
Same shape, lower entry
ZIPs the score groups near 78621 on Affordability and Growth — sorted by lowest median value. Each tile names what the lower price trades: commute (ACS), walkability band (EPA) and hazard rating (FEMA).
- Saves $241k
- Shorter commute (−9 min)
- More walkable
- Higher hazard risk
- Saves $234k
- Similar commute
- Similar walkability
- Similar hazard risk
- Saves $228k
- Shorter commute (−9 min)
- More walkable
- Similar hazard risk
- Saves $228k
- Shorter commute (−13 min)
- Similar walkability
- Lower hazard risk
Sources
Every number, traced
Every metric above is sourced from public datasets, normalized against the national ZIP distribution. Home values and rents refresh monthly; demographics refresh annually.
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