Angelina County, TX Insulation Payback
Angelina County, TX: what topping up your attic actually costs
Angelina County, Texas is zone 2 under DOE's climate map (Hot-Humid), which means summers that stay hot and humid while winters barely register on the energy bill. An uninsulated attic there should be built up to R-49. Topping up a typical 1,000-square-foot attic from bare joists (R-2) to R-49 runs an estimated $2,820, and saves about $926 a year in heating and cooling — a payback around 3 years. The math clears comfortably within a normal ownership horizon.
Heating vs. cooling in Angelina County
The estimated savings split roughly $523/year heating, $402/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Angelina County's savings potential beats roughly 11 of them. Within zone 2 specifically, it ranks 26th of 233 counties by estimated savings. Texas averages $1,035/year across the counties tracked here; Angelina County comes in 11% lower.
The climate data behind this
The heating and cooling degree days behind this estimate — 1,973 HDD and 2,524 CDD (base 65°F, 1991-2020 normals) — come from LUFKIN ANGELINA CO AP, TX US, the nearest NOAA station with published normals, 8.5 miles from Angelina County's center. Combined heating and cooling load puts Angelina County in the 11th percentile of this 3,162-county dataset. Angelina County falls in DOE's moisture regime A (humid), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
The smaller top-up scenario
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $125/year saved — roughly 13 years to break even. This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Next steps for a Angelina County attic
Get more than one quote before committing. Attic access and any needed air sealing move the price around, and most contractors won't take a job below roughly $600 regardless of size - worth asking upfront given Angelina County's estimated $926/year on the line.
Nothing here is a guess
Every figure on this page traces to DOE/IECC climate zones and NOAA degree-day normals, documented in the methodology guide. The guide to what R-value actually means explains why R-49 is the target here specifically.