1st Advantage MortgageIn Baylor County, Texas, the typical household earns $45,370 a year and the typical rent is $581. 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
- A quick profile of Baylor County
- Employment and commuting in Baylor County
- What Baylor County households earn
- Housing costs in Baylor County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Baylor County
- Who lives in Baylor County, in numbers
- Reading the Baylor County data as a borrower
- What a median Baylor County budget can carry
- Checklist for Baylor County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Baylor County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Baylor County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Baylor County's population at 3,485; only 210 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 867 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Baylor County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Seymour, with about 2,623 residents, or 75% of the county. With so few households sampled, Baylor County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Employment and commuting in Baylor County
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Baylor County residents work in education and health care and 16% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (16% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Baylor County. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Only 7.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Baylor County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +5.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.8% | +13.5 pts |
| Construction | 11.1% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.6% | +0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Baylor County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Baylor County households earn
At $45,370, the typical Baylor County household income is 31% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 237 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Baylor County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.9% | +14.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +7.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.1% | -15.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -6.3 pts |
About 36% of households earn under $35,000, while 17% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 21.8%, 8 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.466 here. A household earning below the $45,370 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Baylor County
Renters in Baylor County pay a median of $581 a month, 59% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 43% of Baylor County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $103,100, about 2.3 times the median household income. 66% of Baylor County households own their home and 34% rent.
| Measure | Baylor County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $581/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $103,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 30% | 9% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Archer County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Foard County, is 42 miles off. Archer County leads the group on income ($72,159), Wilbarger County trails ($54,102), and Baylor County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor County | - | $45,370 | $581/mo | 66% |
| Archer County, TX | 30 mi | $72,159 | $770/mo | 84% |
| Knox County, TX | 30 mi | $56,667 | $521/mo | 77% |
| Throckmorton County, TX | 31 mi | $59,216 | $878/mo | 68% |
| Wilbarger County, TX | 32 mi | $54,102 | $932/mo | 67% |
| Wichita County, TX | 38 mi | $63,524 | $1,006/mo | 61% |
| Foard County, TX | 42 mi | $61,563 | $572/mo | 76% |
Towns and communities in Baylor County
Seymour is the only Census place mainly inside Baylor County, with about 2,623 of the county's 3,485 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour | city | 2,623 | $40,212 | $530 | 3 mi |
Who lives in Baylor County, in numbers
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. 20.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Baylor County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 20.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.8% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Baylor County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 66.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 12.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Reading the Baylor County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Baylor County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 21% of Baylor County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Fixed incomes. Baylor County's median age is 48.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Free help first. 22% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
What a median Baylor County budget can carry
Here is the Baylor County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Baylor County: $3,781
- Rent at the median, $581, takes 15% of that
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,045 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Baylor County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Baylor County applicants
A short checklist for Baylor County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Baylor County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Baylor County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Baylor County
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Baylor County a high-income county?
Its $45,370 median ranks 238th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Baylor County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $581 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Baylor County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Seymour.
Is the fit check different in Baylor County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Baylor County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.