Housing affordability remains one of the most pressing challenges for North Texas residents, with new data from the National Association of Realtors showing that while mortgage payments may appear attainable on paper, many households still struggle to meet income requirements.
The typical monthly mortgage payment across the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area is $1,796, requiring a qualifying annual income of about $86,208. Early 2026 estimates show median individual incomes range from $50,000 to $66,000, while the median household income is approximately $87,000 — just enough to meet affordability thresholds.
The metro area includes about 1.77 million homeowners, representing 59.8% of households, and 1.2 million renters. The median age of homeowners is 54, compared to 39 for renters. Median household income for homeowners is $110,750, while renters report a median of $57,528…