1st Advantage MortgageThe median Borden County household earns $65,625, and 7% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- Borden County, TX: the basics
- Housing costs in Borden County
- How much Borden County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Borden County
- How Borden County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Borden County
- Who lives in Borden County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Borden County
- What a median Borden County budget can carry
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Borden County
- More guides for Borden County
- Frequently asked questions
Borden County, TX: the basics
With an estimated 713 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Borden County ranks 250th of 254 in Texas for population. Spread over 897 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.8 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Borden County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (0 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Gail, with about 243 residents, or 34% of the county. Because Borden County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Housing costs in Borden County
Home values center on $108,900, or 1.7 years of median income. 66% of Borden County households own their home and 34% rent. Median construction year: 1973.
| Cost | Borden County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 63% | 75% |
| Burdened owners | 7% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
How much Borden County households make
Half of Borden County households take in less than $65,625 a year and half take in more, 16% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Income band | Share in Borden County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.6% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.1% | -3.4 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. 7.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Borden County
The biggest employer of Borden County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 33% of workers, followed by education and health care (27%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 33% locally and 2% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 0.3% in Borden County. 3% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Households without a car make up 1.2% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Borden County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 32.6% | +30.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +5.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -6.2 pts |
| Other services | 6.4% | +1.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.0% | -2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Borden County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 42 miles). Income ranges from $46,314 in Garza County to $73,679 in Lynn County; 2 of these neighbors top Borden County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borden County | - | $65,625 | n/a | 66% |
| Dawson County, TX | 30 mi | $54,360 | $777/mo | 71% |
| Howard County, TX | 30 mi | $69,649 | $1,034/mo | 70% |
| Scurry County, TX | 31 mi | $60,039 | $1,020/mo | 77% |
| Garza County, TX | 32 mi | $46,314 | $838/mo | 71% |
| Lynn County, TX | 38 mi | $73,679 | $927/mo | 77% |
| Mitchell County, TX | 42 mi | $60,550 | $524/mo | 79% |
The communities that make up Borden County
Gail is the only Census place mainly inside Borden County, with about 243 of the county's 713 residents. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gail | CDP | 243 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Who lives in Borden County, in numbers
Degree holders: 37% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 2.7%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Residents | Borden County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 2.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Borden County
What the Borden County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
What a median Borden County budget can carry
How much room does a median Borden County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,469 a month: gross income for a household at the Borden County median
- Borden County has no reliable median rent in the survey, so use your own housing cost; 36% of $5,469 is $1,969
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Borden County borrowers:
- Price the Borden County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Borden County
Borden County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Borden County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Borden County earn?
The median is $65,625; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
I live in a small Borden County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Gail.
Does living in Borden 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 Borden County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Borden County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.