1st Advantage MortgageIn Bosque County, Texas, the typical household earns $68,914 a year and the typical rent is $928. 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
- A quick profile of Bosque County
- Bosque County housing compared with Texas
- How much Bosque County households make
- How Bosque County residents earn a living
- Bosque County towns compared
- Counties near Bosque County
- Room for a loan payment in Bosque County
- People and households in Bosque County
- Local borrowing considerations for Bosque County
- Who licenses lenders for Bosque County residents
- A Bosque County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Bosque County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bosque County's population at 18,687; only 126 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 983 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 19 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Waco, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 9 Census places inside Bosque County, Clifton leads by population with about 3,503; 6 of the 9 are incorporated.
Bosque County housing compared with Texas
A typical Bosque County rental runs $928 a month including utilities, which is 34% below Texas. By the Census definition, 38% of Bosque County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $200,900, about 2.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 76%. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Bosque County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $928/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 29% | n/a |
Because most Bosque 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.
How much Bosque County households make
Bosque County households have a median income of $68,914 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 94th of 254 in Texas.
| Yearly household income | Bosque County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.1% | +0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.9% | +9.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -4.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -5.7 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.3% of Bosque County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Bosque County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Bosque County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 14%. Construction stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Bosque County. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Only 2.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bosque County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 12.5% | +4.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.1% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -5.6 pts |
| Public administration | 5.6% | +1.5 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.
Bosque County towns compared
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Bosque County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 8,856 people, so roughly 53% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $31,667 in Walnut Springs to $65,625 in Meridian. Median rent ranges from $738 in Meridian to $1,055 in Clifton. No Bosque County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | city | 3,503 | $64,653 | $1,055 | 9 mi |
| Meridian | city | 1,638 | $65,625 | $738 | 2 mi |
| Laguna Park | CDP | 1,596 | $60,833 | $787 | 15 mi |
| Walnut Springs | city | 787 | $31,667 | $1,038 | 13 mi |
| Morgan | city | 525 | $52,500 | $930 | 8 mi |
| Cranfills Gap | city | 305 | $60,833 | $900 | 14 mi |
| Iredell | city | 294 | $54,250 | $1,214 | 15 mi |
| Kopperl | CDP | 123 | $105,000 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Mosheim | CDP | 85 | $49,659 | n/a | 19 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Counties near Bosque County
Somervell County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Johnson County, is 37 miles off. Income ranges from $58,219 in Hamilton County to $84,859 in Johnson County; 3 of these neighbors top Bosque County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosque County | - | $68,914 | $928/mo | 76% |
| Somervell County, TX | 23 mi | $79,825 | $773/mo | 80% |
| Hill County, TX | 30 mi | $64,591 | $946/mo | 78% |
| Hamilton County, TX | 31 mi | $58,219 | $885/mo | 79% |
| McLennan County, TX | 35 mi | $66,643 | $1,173/mo | 62% |
| Coryell County, TX | 36 mi | $71,301 | $1,186/mo | 59% |
| Johnson County, TX | 37 mi | $84,859 | $1,398/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in Bosque County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bosque County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,743 gross per month ($68,914 / 12)
- Median rent: $928, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,139: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,541 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Bosque County
20% of Bosque County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 17.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Bosque County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.4% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.3% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 13.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Bosque County
A few patterns in the Bosque County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 18% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Bosque County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Older households. A 46.2 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Who licenses lenders for Bosque County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Bosque County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
A Bosque County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Bosque County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bosque County a high-income county?
Its $68,914 median ranks 94th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Bosque County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $928 against $1,403 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Bosque County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Bosque County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Clifton?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Bosque County, such as Meridian, Laguna Park, Walnut Springs.
Does living in Bosque 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 Bosque County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.