1st Advantage MortgageBastrop County households have a median income of $86,226 and median rent of $1,410 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Bastrop County by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Bastrop County
- Household income in Bastrop County
- Renting and owning in Bastrop County
- The communities that make up Bastrop County
- Counties near Bastrop County
- Bastrop County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Bastrop County
- What a median Bastrop County budget can carry
- Checklist for Bastrop County applicants
- Texas rules that apply in Bastrop County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bastrop County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bastrop County's population at 106,582; only 41 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 888 square miles, that is close to 120 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metropolitan area. Of the 11 Census places inside Bastrop County, Elgin leads by population with about 11,563; 3 of the 11 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Bastrop County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Bastrop County residents work in education and health care and 14% in construction. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward construction (14% against 9%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.3% in Bastrop County. About 68% drive to work alone and 36% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.4% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Bastrop County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.0% | -2.6 pts |
| Construction | 13.8% | +5.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.8% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Bastrop County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Household income in Bastrop County
Half of Bastrop County households take in less than $86,226 a year and half take in more, 10% above the Texas median of $78,476. In the state ranking that is 26th of 254.
| Household income | Bastrop County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.0% | -4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | +1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.0% | +5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | -2.0 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 42% have six-figure incomes. 10.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). A household earning below the $86,226 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Bastrop County
A typical Bastrop County rental runs $1,410 a month including utilities. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $314,800, about 3.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Bastrop County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,410/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $314,800 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
Because most Bastrop 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.
The communities that make up Bastrop County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Bastrop County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 51,013 people, so roughly 52% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $107,946 at the median in Rosanky, $50,489 in McDade. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin | city | 11,563 | $91,114 | $1,440 | 18 mi |
| Bastrop | city | 11,156 | $81,551 | $1,443 | 1 mi |
| Camp Swift | CDP | 8,239 | $63,944 | $1,352 | 6 mi |
| Wyldwood | CDP | 4,934 | $88,399 | $1,337 | 10 mi |
| Cedar Creek | CDP | 4,440 | $73,864 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Smithville | city | 4,216 | $59,977 | $1,230 | 11 mi |
| Circle D-KC Estates | CDP | 3,135 | $93,958 | $1,286 | 6 mi |
| Rosanky | CDP | 1,695 | $107,946 | n/a | 10 mi |
| McDade | CDP | 1,070 | $50,489 | $1,208 | 13 mi |
| Red Rock | CDP | 436 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Paige | CDP | 129 | $133,309 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Bastrop County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 43 miles). Williamson County leads the group on income ($111,340), Caldwell County trails ($69,758), and Bastrop County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bastrop County | - | $86,226 | $1,410/mo | 76% |
| Travis County, TX | 25 mi | $99,611 | $1,744/mo | 52% |
| Lee County, TX | 25 mi | $76,371 | $1,067/mo | 78% |
| Caldwell County, TX | 27 mi | $69,758 | $1,173/mo | 75% |
| Fayette County, TX | 28 mi | $75,854 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Williamson County, TX | 42 mi | $111,340 | $1,796/mo | 66% |
| Hays County, TX | 43 mi | $89,097 | $1,495/mo | 64% |
Bastrop County households compared
25% of Bastrop County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 21.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Bastrop County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 21.8% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Bastrop County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.7% |
| 60+ min | 19.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Bastrop County
Where the Bastrop County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 22% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 36% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Bastrop County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 24% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 42% of Bastrop County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
What a median Bastrop County budget can carry
Here is the Bastrop County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $86,226 a year is $7,186 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,410, which is 20% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,177 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Bastrop County's.
Checklist for Bastrop County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bastrop County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Ask a Bastrop County credit union about member loans.
Texas rules that apply in Bastrop County
Consumer lenders serving Bastrop 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. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bastrop County a high-income county?
Its $86,226 median ranks 26th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Bastrop County rent compare with Texas?
$1,410 locally, close to the state figure.
Which towns does the Bastrop County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 11 Census places: Elgin, Bastrop, Camp Swift, Wyldwood, Cedar Creek.
Will a Bastrop County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Bastrop County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.