ZIP 78656 vs ZIP 78622

78656 is one of 7 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Caldwell County, TX — 97% of its own area is in the county.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 4 of the 7 with a value.

78622 is one of 7 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Caldwell County, TX.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 5 of the 7 with a value.

In January 2009 the typical home in 78656 was worth $119,792.

Values peaked at $331,034 in July 2022. The latest reading is −23.2% from that peak.

As of August 2026: $254,252, −4.8% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $254,252. Put 20% down and borrow $203,402 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $1,408 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $78,058 a year, $6,505 a month. So the payment takes 21.7% of income — rated “affordable” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 10.2% in 2009.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in January 2009 (5.05%) the payment was $517.

In December 2020, with rates at 2.68%, it was $752.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $1,308 — +74% since December 2020, while the home's value moved +10%.

Reported values rose +112% since January 2009.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +58% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2009 home was worth $188,863. So the real change is +35%, not +112%.

78656: +112% since January 2009.

Caldwell County: +123% since January 2009.

Texas: +108% since January 2009 — 78656 ran ahead of it by 4 points.

Against 1,763 Texas ZIP codes, 78656 sits at the 66th percentile for affordability (price vs local income).

9th for appreciation (recent value growth); 83rd for rental yield (rent vs price).

Owning the typical home costs about $1,663 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $1,868 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 11.3. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

In February 2022 the typical home in 78622 was worth $294,101.

Values peaked at $310,659 in August 2022. The latest reading is −24.4% from that peak.

As of August 2026: $234,920, −4.8% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $234,920. Put 20% down and borrow $187,936 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $1,301 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $72,941 a year, $6,078 a month. So the payment takes 21.4% of income — rated “affordable” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 26.8% in 2022.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in February 2022 (3.76%) the payment was $1,091.

In February 2022, with rates at 3.76%, it was $1,091.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $1,209 — +11% since February 2022, while the home's value moved −20%.

Reported values rose −20% since February 2022.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +17% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2022 home was worth $345,407. So the real change is −32%, not −20%.

78622: −20% since February 2022.

Caldwell County: −10% since February 2022.

Texas: +3% since February 2022 — 78622 ran behind it by 23 points.

Against 1,763 Texas ZIP codes, 78622 sits at the 70th percentile for affordability (price vs local income).

9th for appreciation (recent value growth); 67th for rental yield (rent vs price).

Owning the typical home costs about $1,536 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $1,344 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 14.6. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

Picture the Listings Flow Ladder as a basin: new listings pour in from the faucet, the homes for sale are the water, and closed sales run out the drain. Coming in — new listings: about 35 a month (Redfin, 3-month rolling data through August 2026).

On the shelf — homes for sale at the end of the period: 150.

Going out — closed sales: about 24 a month.

The ladder: homes for sale ÷ monthly sales = 6.2 months of supply — above the 4–6 month balanced range. In the basin, that is the water level against the shaded balanced band.

The net reading: about 11 more homes came on than sold each month, so inventory is growing. The basin is filling.

Homes sold: about 24 a month in August 2026 (Redfin).

The 2015–2019 level for the same month was 0 — so sales ran at ∞% of it, and below it in 0 of the last 24 months.

Across Caldwell County, builders pulled permits for 443 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 99% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

Across Caldwell County, builders pulled permits for 443 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 99% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

This ZIP sits in Caldwell County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 1,607 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 990 moved out.

Net across those counties: +617 households. Beside it, homes for sale in this ZIP: 150 in June 2026.

Most arrivals came from Travis, TX (681 households); most departures went to Hays, TX (315).

This ZIP sits in Caldwell County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 1,607 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 990 moved out.

Net across those counties: +617 households.

Most arrivals came from Travis, TX (681 households); most departures went to Hays, TX (315).