Cost of Living in Quitman, Texas
Quitman by the numbers
Median home value
$192,100± $13,779
32% below Texas ($283,800)
Median rent
$1,154/mo± $149
18% below Texas ($1,403)
Median household income
$64,493/yr± $5,797
18% below Texas ($78,476)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. ± is the 90% margin of error.
Quitman offers affordable small-town living as the seat of Wood County, set in the lake-and-timber country of Northeast Texas. Housing costs run low, everyday expenses are modest, and Texas's lack of a state income tax helps every household.
Here's a realistic look at what it costs to live in Quitman.
Housing
Housing is Quitman's biggest affordability advantage. As a small county seat in the wooded country of Wood County, it offers modest in-town homes, established houses near the courthouse square, and properties with land or lake access at prices below those in Tyler and well below the Dallas suburbs. Buyers seeking a quiet setting, a little acreage, and an affordable monthly payment find good value here, with several lakes nearby as a bonus.
The trade-off is a smaller market with fewer listings than busier towns, and waterfront property on Lake Fork or Lake Quitman can command a premium. But for those who want small-town affordability with lake recreation at hand, Quitman delivers. As across Texas, property taxes apply, though modest home values keep the amounts manageable.
Everyday Costs
Beyond housing, Quitman's everyday expenses are generally modest, typical of small-town East Texas. Groceries, services, and routine costs are reasonable, and as a county seat Quitman has more day-to-day amenities than many towns its size — banks, a hospital, a library, and local shops handle most needs.
For larger shopping trips, Mineola is about ten miles south, and Tyler — a regional hub roughly an hour away — adds the full range of stores, restaurants, and services. That access keeps more options within reach while preserving Quitman's small-town affordability, and the area's lakes draw visitor spending that helps support local businesses.
Taxes and the Bottom Line
Texas has no state income tax, a meaningful benefit for working families and retirees alike. The state relies on property and sales taxes instead, so Quitman homeowners should budget for property taxes — though modest local home values keep the dollar amounts manageable, and county-seat services and schools benefit from the local tax base.
The overall picture: Quitman is an affordable place to live, with low housing costs, reasonable everyday expenses, county-seat conveniences, and no state income tax, all near some of the best fishing lakes in Texas. For buyers who value affordability, the outdoors, and small-town life with real amenities close by, it's a solid value in Wood County.
FAQ: Cost of Living in Quitman
Yes. Quitman is an affordable small town, with low housing costs as a rural Wood County seat, reasonable everyday expenses, and no state income tax in Texas. As a county seat it also has more amenities — banks, a hospital, and a library — than many towns its size, plus several fishing lakes nearby.
Home prices in Quitman run below those in Tyler and well below those in the Dallas area, reflecting its small-town character. Buyers can find modest homes and properties with land at affordable prices, though the market is smaller with fewer listings, and waterfront homes on Lake Fork or Lake Quitman can cost more.
Yes. Quitman's cost of living is low for the region, driven mainly by affordable housing, with modest everyday costs and no state income tax. As the Wood County seat, it offers small-town value with county amenities and excellent lake fishing close by.
As the seat of Wood County, Quitman has more amenities than many small towns — banks, a hospital, a library, and local shops around the historic courthouse square. Mineola is about ten miles south and Tyler is roughly an hour away for larger shopping.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Quitman in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Cost of Living in East Texas
What it costs to live in East Texas, using Census figures: home values and rents in Tyler, Jacksonville and Athens compared with Texas and the big metros, plus taxes, utilities, healthcare and driving.
Read Guide →East Texas Real Estate Guide
East Texas real estate by the numbers: Census home values for Tyler, Athens and Jacksonville, drive times, property-tax basics and what buyers should check.
Read Guide →Moving to East Texas: What You Need to Know
Thinking about moving to East Texas? A fact-checked guide to healthcare, schools, getting around, weather, and daily life in Tyler, Jacksonville, and the towns around them.
Read Guide →Retiring in East Texas: Why Retirees Love It Here
Retiring in East Texas: Tyler's trauma-designated hospitals, Texas 65+ school-tax exemptions, lake towns like Gun Barrel City and Hideaway, and sourced drive times and weather.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
Want Your Business Featured in Quitman?
People are searching for businesses like yours in Quitman. Get listed in our city guide and local directory so they can find you.