1st Advantage MortgageArmstrong County households have a median income of $72,750 and median rent of $1,021 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Texas license first.
On this page
- Armstrong County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Armstrong County
- What Armstrong County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Armstrong County
- How Armstrong County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Armstrong County
- A Armstrong County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Armstrong County
- Armstrong County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Licensing and complaints for Armstrong County
- Four steps for Armstrong County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Armstrong County by the numbers
Armstrong County is home to about 1,822 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 235th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Spread over 909 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.0 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Amarillo, TX metropolitan area. Claude is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 1,163 people (64% of the county total). Because Armstrong County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Jobs and commutes in Armstrong County
Education and health care employs 31% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward education and health care (31% against 22%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Armstrong County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.1% | +9.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.8% | +6.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -4.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Armstrong County households earn
At $72,750, the typical Armstrong County household income is 11% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 60 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Armstrong County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.4% | -6.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.8% | +8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 34.4% | +7.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.3% | -10.1 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 37% have six-figure incomes. 5.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.340 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Armstrong County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,021 in Armstrong County versus $1,403 statewide. By the Census definition, 11% of Armstrong County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $171,500, about 2.4 times the median household income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. The median home was built in 1965, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Armstrong County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,021/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $171,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 11% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 29% | n/a |
Because most Armstrong County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Armstrong County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 43 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Armstrong County; Carson County is highest at $85,231 and Swisher County lowest at $36,165.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong County | - | $72,750 | $1,021/mo | 80% |
| Carson County, TX | 30 mi | $85,231 | $956/mo | 79% |
| Randall County, TX | 31 mi | $83,864 | $1,170/mo | 68% |
| Donley County, TX | 31 mi | $58,750 | $780/mo | 75% |
| Briscoe County, TX | 32 mi | $45,417 | $631/mo | 83% |
| Swisher County, TX | 37 mi | $36,165 | $783/mo | 66% |
| Potter County, TX | 43 mi | $53,249 | $1,022/mo | 57% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Armstrong County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Armstrong County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 1,441 residents, leaving about 21% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | city | 1,163 | $77,813 | $1,039 | 10 mi |
| Washburn | CDP | 278 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Armstrong County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Armstrong County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $72,750 a year is $6,062 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,021, takes 17% of that
- $1,162: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Armstrong County
Where the Armstrong County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Armstrong County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. About 4% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Armstrong County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.6 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 0.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
Licensing and complaints for Armstrong County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Armstrong County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Armstrong County borrowers
Steps that save money for Armstrong County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Armstrong County household make?
About $72,750 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% below the Texas median.
Is Armstrong County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,021 against $1,403 statewide, and 11% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Armstrong County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Armstrong County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Claude?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Armstrong County, such as Washburn.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Armstrong County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.