1st Advantage MortgageThe median Archer County household earns $72,159, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- 8,867 residents: Archer County basics
- Archer County's most unusual numbers
- What it costs to live in Archer County
- Labor force snapshot: Archer County
- The $72,159 median and what sits around it
- Census places in Archer County
- Regional comparison for Archer County
- Reading the Archer County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Archer County, in numbers
- A Archer County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Archer County applicants
- Texas rules that apply in Archer County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
8,867 residents: Archer County basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Archer County's population at 8,867; only 173 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 903 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 10 per square mile. Metro area: Wichita Falls, TX (OMB, 2023). Holliday is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 1,661 people (19% of the county total). Because Archer County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Archer County's most unusual numbers
The 4 Archer County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Texas, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Texas counties match Archer County on households without a vehicle: 1.4% here, 5.4% for the state, ranking 9th lowest of 253. Car ownership is close to universal, and so are repair bills.
- Homeownership: 84% in Archer County. Only 11 of 254 Texas counties are higher. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- Archer County ranks 33rd lowest of 249 Texas counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 28%, against 52% statewide. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
- Median gross rent: $770/mo in Archer County. Only 40 of 249 Texas counties are lower. Lower rent can leave more room for a payment.
What it costs to live in Archer County
A typical Archer County rental runs $770 a month including utilities, which is 45% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 28% of renter households here. Median value $189,100; median income $72,159; ratio 2.6. The ownership rate is 84%.
| Archer County | Texas | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 52% | -24.1 pts |
| Owners | 84% | 63% | +21.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $770/mo | $1,403/mo | 45% lower |
| Median home value | $189,100 | $283,800 | 33% lower |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | -0.7 pts |
With 84% of Archer County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Labor force snapshot: Archer County
Top Archer County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 25%; second, agriculture, forestry and mining, 10%. Relative to Texas (2%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 7 points bigger in Archer County (10%). The survey's unemployment rate for Archer County averages 3.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Sector | Archer County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.6% | +7.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.4% | +4.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Other services | 6.8% | +1.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The $72,159 median and what sits around it
$72,159 is the median household income for Archer County, set against $78,476 for Texas. That places it 71st among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Archer County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.9% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -3.3 pts |
On the low end, 20% of Archer County households report under $35,000; at the top, 38% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 9.2% of Archer County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. For a borrower in Archer County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Census places in Archer County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Archer County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 5,550 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Lakeside City ($113,636) and Archer City ($52,500) mark the top and bottom of Archer County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $531 in Archer City to $2,144 in Lakeside City. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holliday | city | 1,661 | $62,981 | $779 | 14 mi |
| Lakeside City | town | 1,234 | $113,636 | $2,144 | 17 mi |
| Archer City | city | 1,233 | $52,500 | $531 | 4 mi |
| Scotland | city | 629 | $70,521 | $986 | 13 mi |
| Windthorst | town | 537 | $65,179 | $1,031 | 15 mi |
| Megargel | town | 256 | $97,566 | n/a | 18 mi |
Regional comparison for Archer County
Wichita County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Throckmorton County, is 43 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Archer County; Clay County is highest at $80,114 and Baylor County lowest at $45,370.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archer County | - | $72,159 | $770/mo | 84% |
| Wichita County, TX | 26 mi | $63,524 | $1,006/mo | 61% |
| Clay County, TX | 30 mi | $80,114 | $811/mo | 84% |
| Baylor County, TX | 30 mi | $45,370 | $581/mo | 66% |
| Young County, TX | 32 mi | $68,010 | $862/mo | 74% |
| Jack County, TX | 40 mi | $68,079 | $960/mo | 72% |
| Throckmorton County, TX | 43 mi | $59,216 | $878/mo | 68% |
Reading the Archer County data as a borrower
What the Archer County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 14% uninsured. In Archer County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who lives in Archer County, in numbers
In Archer County, 25% of adults have at least a four-year degree (34% in Texas). The uninsured rate is 13.9%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Measure | Archer County | Gap to Texas | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.4% | -8.5 pts | +3.2 pts |
| Work from home | 6.4% | -8.0 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Median age | 42.8 | +7.2 yrs | +1.3 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | -6.0 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | -4.6 pts | -4.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 1.4% | -4.0 pts | -4.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 13.9% | -3.2 pts | +6.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | -2.2 pts | -1.4 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Archer County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 51.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
A Archer County household budget, worked through
DTI math using Archer County medians ($72,159 income, $770 rent):
- $6,013 a month: gross income for a household at the Archer County median
- Median rent: $770, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,335: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,936 a month
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Archer County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Checklist for Archer County applicants
Quick steps for Archer County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Texas rules that apply in Archer County
Consumer lenders serving Archer County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Texas page has statewide figures to set beside Archer County's.
Related local guides
Next step up from Archer County:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Archer County rank on income in Texas?
71st of 254, with a median of $72,159. The state median is $78,476.
What do renters pay in Archer County?
$770 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I live near Holliday. Which guide is mine?
This one. Holliday and the rest of Archer County have no separate city guide.
Are Archer County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Archer County?
Look it up with the Texas Department of Banking, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.