Oldham County, TX Insulation Payback
Oldham County, TX: what topping up your attic actually costs
DOE classifies Oldham County as climate zone 4, mixed-dry — big seasonal swings - a dry hot summer, then a real winter cold snap. Its recommended attic R-value for bare joists is R-60. Going from R-2 to the recommended R-60 costs roughly $3,480 installed for a typical attic (about 1,000 sq ft), and pays for itself in about 2.6 years at an estimated $1,337/year saved. That's about as fast as attic paybacks get.
The breakdown behind the number
The estimated savings split roughly $1,079/year heating, $258/year cooling. Out of every 100 US counties tracked here, Oldham County's savings potential beats roughly 41 of them. Within zone 4 specifically, it ranks 511th of 825 counties by estimated savings. Texas averages $1,035/year across the counties tracked here; Oldham County comes in 29% higher.
Where these numbers come from
NOAA's BOYS RCH, TX US station, 21.2 miles from Oldham County, supplies the 4,034 HDD and 1,609 CDD this estimate runs on. By total degree days, Oldham County sits at the 43th percentile nationally. Oldham County falls in DOE's moisture regime B (dry), a detail that affects vapor-barrier recommendations more than the R-value target itself.
If the attic isn't bare
A shallower starting point changes the math: with R-11 already down, only the gap to R-49 needs filling, at roughly $2,280 for an estimated $195/year saved (~11.7-year payback). This one is a genuine toss-up, not a clear yes.
Quotes and materials for this job
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 Oldham County's estimated $1,337/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-60 is the target here specifically.