Motley County, TX Insulation Payback
Is attic insulation worth it in Motley County, TX?
DOE classifies Motley County as climate zone 3, hot-dry — scorching, dry summers where heat radiating straight through the roof does most of the damage. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is 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 $1,193 a year in heating and cooling — a payback around 2.4 years. Few home upgrades pay back that quickly.
Heating vs. cooling in Motley County
Heating accounts for about $889/year of that and cooling about $304/year — Motley County needs both. Nationally, Motley County ranks in the 30th percentile for insulation savings potential. Compared only against its own climate zone, Motley County places 107th out of 690. Against Texas's own average of $1,035/year, Motley County runs 15% above that.
Where these numbers come from
NOAA's MATADOR, TX US station, 2.5 miles from Motley County, supplies the 3,349 HDD and 1,910 CDD this estimate runs on. Combined heating and cooling load puts Motley County in the 33th percentile of this 3,162-county dataset. Its moisture regime is classified dry, which matters for whether the attic needs a vapor retarder as part of the job — worth asking a contractor about locally.
If the attic isn't bare
Already have a few inches up there? Topping R-11 up to R-38 runs about $1,620 for about $161/year saved — roughly 10.1 years to break even. Whether that is worth it depends on how long you plan to stay.
Next steps for a Motley 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 Motley County, not a bid - contractors typically charge a $600 minimum regardless of job size.
Motley County's numbers, sourced
The methodology guide lists exactly which DOE and NOAA sources feed Motley 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.