1st Advantage MortgageThe median Blanco County household earns $92,425, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Blanco County
- The Blanco County job picture
- How much Blanco County households make
- What it costs to live in Blanco County
- Counties near Blanco County
- Blanco County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Blanco County
- Local borrowing considerations for Blanco County
- More Blanco County figures
- Checklist for Blanco County applicants
- Texas rules that apply in Blanco County
- More guides for Blanco County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Blanco County
With an estimated 12,446 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Blanco County ranks 152nd of 254 in Texas for population. Spread over 709 square miles, that works out to roughly 17.5 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Blanco County, Blanco leads by population with about 2,175; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
The Blanco County job picture
The biggest employer of Blanco County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 16% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (14%). Construction stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 25% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. 2.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Blanco County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.0% | -5.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 14.4% | +5.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
How much Blanco County households make
Blanco County households have a median income of $92,425 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 19th of 254 in Texas.
| Households earning | Blanco County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.6% | -3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.0% | -1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.5% | +5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.9% | -0.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 44% of Blanco County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 8.4%, 5 points lower than the state's 13.8%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Blanco County median.
What it costs to live in Blanco County
Renters in Blanco County pay a median of $1,017 a month, 28% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 43% of Blanco County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $483,500, or 5.2 years of median income. 76% of Blanco County households own their home and 24% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1998.
| Home costs | Blanco County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,017/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $483,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Counties near Blanco County
Six nearby counties, 26 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Blanco County; Kendall County is highest at $114,962 and Llano County lowest at $67,530.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blanco County | - | $92,425 | $1,017/mo | 76% |
| Hays County, TX | 26 mi | $89,097 | $1,495/mo | 64% |
| Kendall County, TX | 29 mi | $114,962 | $1,606/mo | 79% |
| Comal County, TX | 32 mi | $101,889 | $1,603/mo | 77% |
| Gillespie County, TX | 33 mi | $76,162 | $1,340/mo | 75% |
| Llano County, TX | 35 mi | $67,530 | $998/mo | 77% |
| Burnet County, TX | 38 mi | $78,732 | $1,319/mo | 76% |
Blanco County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Blanco County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 4,177 people, so roughly 66% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blanco | city | 2,175 | $70,682 | $1,014 | 12 mi |
| Johnson City | city | 1,921 | $48,622 | $1,002 | 1 mi |
| Round Mountain | town | 81 | $74,911 | $1,688 | 9 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Blanco County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Blanco County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Blanco County: $7,702
- 13% goes to median rent ($1,017)
- At 43%, room after rent is $2,295 a month
If your rent is above $1,017, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Blanco County
A few patterns in the Blanco County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 25% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Blanco County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Older households. A 51.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
More Blanco County figures
35% of Blanco County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Blanco County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.4% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Blanco County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.0% |
| 60+ min | 12.4% |
Checklist for Blanco County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Blanco County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Texas rules that apply in Blanco County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Blanco County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. 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. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Blanco County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blanco County a high-income county?
Its $92,425 median ranks 19th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Blanco County rent compare with Texas?
$1,017 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 28% below.
I own my home in Blanco County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Blanco County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Blanco, Johnson City, Round Mountain.
Are Blanco 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.