1st Advantage MortgageBell County households have a median income of $68,865 and median rent of $1,224 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
- Getting oriented in Bell County
- Income in Bell County compared with Texas
- Employment and commuting in Bell County
- Renting and owning in Bell County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bell County
- Bell County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Bell County median
- What the numbers mean for Bell County borrowers
- People and households in Bell County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Bell County
Bell County is home to about 386,897 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. It covers 1,054 square miles of land, or about 367 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Killeen-Temple, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 12 places in the county (11 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Killeen, with about 158,159 residents, or 41% of the county.
Income in Bell County compared with Texas
The median household income in Bell County is $68,865; statewide it is $78,476, so Bell County runs 12% below Texas as a whole. Only 94 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Bell County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -6.1 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.5%, 1 point higher than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.453 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Bell County median.
Employment and commuting in Bell County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Bell County residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. Public administration stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Bell County averages 6.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bell County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.5% | -2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.0% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +3.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Bell County
A typical Bell County rental runs $1,224 a month including utilities, which is 13% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. Home values center on $241,000, or 3.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 57% of homes. The median year built is 1996.
| Housing | Bell County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,224/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $241,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bell County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Bell County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 328,238 people, so roughly 15% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $107,679 at the median in Salado, $55,625 in Rogers. No Bell County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 12.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen | city | 158,159 | $60,977 | $1,208 | 15 mi |
| Temple | city | 89,602 | $68,204 | $1,231 | 7 mi |
| Harker Heights | city | 34,128 | $81,190 | $1,146 | 10 mi |
| Belton | city | 24,356 | $59,130 | $1,252 | 1 mi |
| Nolanville | city | 6,690 | $72,480 | $1,174 | 8 mi |
| Morgan's Point Resort | city | 4,750 | $79,450 | $1,819 | 8 mi |
| Troy | city | 2,844 | $86,311 | $1,324 | 15 mi |
| Little River-Academy | city | 2,233 | $75,563 | $1,463 | 9 mi |
| Salado | village | 2,225 | $107,679 | $1,073 | 7 mi |
| Rogers | town | 1,303 | $55,625 | $802 | 17 mi |
| Holland | town | 1,299 | $62,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Pendleton | CDP | 649 | $58,092 | n/a | 14 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Bell County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 46 miles). Williamson County leads the group on income ($111,340), Falls County trails ($57,247), and Bell County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell County | - | $68,865 | $1,224/mo | 57% |
| Williamson County, TX | 28 mi | $111,340 | $1,796/mo | 66% |
| Coryell County, TX | 30 mi | $71,301 | $1,186/mo | 59% |
| Milam County, TX | 34 mi | $66,141 | $984/mo | 77% |
| Falls County, TX | 35 mi | $57,247 | $731/mo | 76% |
| McLennan County, TX | 39 mi | $66,643 | $1,173/mo | 62% |
| Burnet County, TX | 46 mi | $78,732 | $1,319/mo | 76% |
Budget math at the Bell County median
Bell County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $68,865 a year is $5,739 of gross monthly income
- 21% goes to median rent ($1,224)
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,072 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Bell County borrowers
Based on the Bell County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 14% of Bell County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
People and households in Bell County
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. 14.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Bell County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.0% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Bell County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Bell County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Bell County household make?
About $68,865 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 12% below the Texas median.
How much is rent in Bell County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,224 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Bell County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Killeen, Temple, Harker Heights, Belton, Nolanville and 7 more.
Does living in Bell County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Bell County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Bell County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.