Cass County, TX Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Cass County, TX?
Cass County, Texas is zone 3 under DOE's climate map (Hot-Humid), which means humid heat for much of the year, with cooling running far more than heating ever does. 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 $1,053 a year in heating and cooling — a payback around 2.7 years. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Where the savings come from
Heating accounts for about $678/year of that and cooling about $374/year — Cass County needs both. Nationally, Cass County ranks in the 21th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Cass County places 351st out of 690. Against Texas's own average of $1,035/year, Cass County runs 2% above that.
Cass County's actual weather, not a national average
NOAA's ATLANTA, TX US station, 11.4 miles from Cass County, supplies the 2,557 HDD and 2,348 CDD this estimate runs on. That combined heating-and-cooling load ranks Cass County 2443rd nationally by total degree days — the 23th percentile. Its moisture regime is classified humid, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
Already have some insulation?
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $142/year saved — roughly 11.4 years to break even. Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Getting it done in Cass County
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 Cass County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
Cass County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Cass County's numbers, and where the cost assumptions come from. See the DIY vs. contractor guide for whether a job this size is realistic to do yourself.