1st Advantage MortgageIn Bowie County, Texas, the typical household earns $59,803 a year and the typical rent is $988. 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 Bowie County
- What Bowie County households earn
- How Bowie County residents earn a living
- Bowie County housing compared with Texas
- Bowie County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Bowie County
- Bowie County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Bowie County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Bowie County's medians
- A Bowie County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Bowie County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Bowie County
With an estimated 92,115 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bowie County ranks 44th of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 885 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 104 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Texarkana, TX-AR metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (10 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Texarkana, with about 35,992 residents, or 39% of the county.
What Bowie County households earn
Half of Bowie County households take in less than $59,803 a year and half take in more, 24% below the Texas median of $78,476. In the state ranking that is 170th of 254.
| Band | Bowie County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.4% | -6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -6.0 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 16.2%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Bowie County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Bowie County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Public administration stands out: 7% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Bowie County averages 4.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Where residents work | Bowie County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -5.6 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Bowie County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $988 in Bowie County versus $1,403 statewide. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $173,000, a typical Bowie County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 63%. Median construction year: 1984.
| Measure | Bowie County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $988/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $173,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 9% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Bowie County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Bowie County's, from 21 to 38 miles away. Morris County leads the group on income ($58,645), Red River County trails ($48,491), and Bowie County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Arkansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Bowie County resident follows Texas rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowie County | - | $59,803 | $988/mo | 63% |
| Little River County, AR | 21 mi | $53,344 | $697/mo | 80% |
| Cass County, TX | 25 mi | $53,813 | $852/mo | 77% |
| Morris County, TX | 29 mi | $58,645 | $859/mo | 74% |
| Miller County, AR | 32 mi | $48,836 | $892/mo | 64% |
| Titus County, TX | 35 mi | $58,425 | $907/mo | 71% |
| Red River County, TX | 38 mi | $48,491 | $1,044/mo | 71% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Bowie County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Bowie County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 58,345 people, so roughly 37% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,555 in Hooks to $136,250 in Red Lick. Rent is cheapest in Maud ($786) and steepest in Red Lick ($1,714). No Bowie County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texarkana | city | 35,992 | $50,573 | $1,010 | 19 mi |
| Wake Village | city | 5,867 | $71,574 | $989 | 17 mi |
| New Boston | city | 4,571 | $63,937 | $850 | 1 mi |
| Nash | city | 4,032 | $50,592 | $919 | 17 mi |
| Hooks | city | 2,299 | $43,555 | $1,011 | 8 mi |
| De Kalb | city | 1,976 | $50,104 | $891 | 12 mi |
| Red Lick | city | 1,333 | $136,250 | $1,714 | 15 mi |
| Maud | city | 988 | $60,441 | $786 | 9 mi |
| Redwater | city | 747 | $49,167 | $883 | 11 mi |
| Leary | city | 540 | $58,750 | $904 | 12 mi |
Bowie County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Bowie County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.6% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.4% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.6% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
What the numbers mean for Bowie County borrowers
Based on the Bowie County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Bowie County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Debt-to-income at Bowie County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Bowie County's medians:
- $4,984 a month: gross income for a household at the Bowie County median
- Housing at the median rent of $988 uses 20%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,155 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Bowie County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
A Bowie County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Bowie County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Bowie County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Bowie County earn?
The median is $59,803; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 31% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Bowie County rent compare with Texas?
$988 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 30% below.
Which towns does the Bowie County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Texarkana, Wake Village, New Boston, Nash, Hooks.
Are Bowie 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Bowie 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.