Camp County, TX Insulation Payback
Camp County, TX: what topping up your attic actually costs
DOE classifies Camp County as climate zone 3, hot-humid — humid heat for much of the year, with cooling running far more than heating ever does. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-49. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-49 costs roughly $2,820 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2.6 years at an estimated $1,073/year saved. That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
Where the savings come from
The estimated savings split roughly $717/year heating, $357/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Camp County's savings potential beats roughly 22 of them. Within zone 3 specifically, it ranks 304th of 690 counties by estimated savings. Texas averages $1,035/year across the counties tracked here; Camp County comes in 4% higher.
Where these numbers come from
NOAA's MT PLEASANT, TX US station, 13.5 miles from Camp County, supplies the 2,702 HDD and 2,237 CDD this estimate runs on. By total degree days, Camp County sits at the 24th percentile nationally. Camp 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 $145/year saved — roughly 11.2 years to break even. This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Next steps for a Camp County attic
Actual quotes will vary by attic access, existing debris, and whether the job needs air sealing first. Treat the $2,820 figure above as a planning number for Camp County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
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.