1st Advantage MortgageIn Brazoria County, Texas, the typical household earns $97,993 a year and the typical rent is $1,454. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Brazoria County, and confirm each one's Texas license.
On this page
- A quick profile of Brazoria County
- What stands out in Brazoria County
- The $97,993 median and what sits around it
- The Brazoria County housing market in figures
- The Brazoria County job picture
- Brazoria County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Brazoria County
- Who lives in Brazoria County, in numbers
- Reading the Brazoria County data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income, Brazoria County edition
- Steps before you apply in Brazoria County
- Lender oversight for Brazoria County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Brazoria County
Roughly 391,255 residents live in Brazoria County, Texas, 14th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Density: about 287.0 residents per square mile across 1,363 square miles of land. Brazoria County counts toward the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX include it. Largest place: Alvin, about 28,333 residents (7% of Brazoria County); 26 Census places in all.
What stands out in Brazoria County
Out of every Texas county, Brazoria County is most unusual on these measures.
- Few Texas counties match Brazoria County on median household income: $97,993 here, $78,476 for the state, ranking 13th highest of 254. Higher local incomes do not change lender rules; your documented income is what counts.
- The share of households earning $100,000 or more: 49% in Brazoria County. Only 12 of 254 Texas counties are higher. Big incomes invite big loans; borrow only what you need.
- Population: 391,255 in Brazoria County. Only 13 of 254 Texas counties are higher. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
- The poverty rate: 7.4% in Brazoria County. Only 17 of 254 Texas counties are lower. A low poverty rate does not mean every budget has room; test the payment.
The $97,993 median and what sits around it
Brazoria County households have a median income of $97,993 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 13th of 254 in Texas.
| Yearly household income | Brazoria County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.7% | -6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.1% | -3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.7% | +6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 16.5% | +4.0 pts |
About 15% of households earn under $35,000, while 49% clear $100,000. Census counts 7.4% of Brazoria County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Gini index for Brazoria County: 0.419. None of these numbers decides a Brazoria County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Brazoria County housing market in figures
A typical Brazoria County rental runs $1,454 a month including utilities, which is 4% above Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. With a median value of $301,600, a typical Brazoria County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. In Brazoria County, 74% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1996.
| Measure | Brazoria County | Texas | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 74% | 63% | +11.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | -2.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 8.9% | 6.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | -2.0 pts |
| Median home value | $301,600 | $283,800 | 6% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,454/mo | $1,403/mo | 4% higher |
Brazoria County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
The Brazoria County job picture
Top Brazoria County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 26%; second, manufacturing, 13%. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 22%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.7% in Brazoria County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 24%; under 15 minutes: 20%. No car: 3.1% of Brazoria County households.
| Sector | Brazoria County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +4.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.8% | +4.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -2.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Brazoria County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 32 to 59 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Brazoria County's $97,993 median trails 2 of the six and beats 4; the range runs $58,628 (Matagorda County) to $114,041 (Fort Bend County).
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazoria County | - | $97,993 | $1,454/mo | 74% |
| Fort Bend County, TX | 32 mi | $114,041 | $1,807/mo | 77% |
| Galveston County, TX | 33 mi | $86,105 | $1,404/mo | 68% |
| Matagorda County, TX | 44 mi | $58,628 | $999/mo | 68% |
| Harris County, TX | 48 mi | $74,983 | $1,401/mo | 55% |
| Wharton County, TX | 49 mi | $66,924 | $1,046/mo | 72% |
| Chambers County, TX | 59 mi | $109,804 | $1,609/mo | 82% |
The communities that make up Brazoria County
26 Census places fall mainly inside Brazoria County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 155,211 residents, leaving about 60% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $144,092 at the median in Iowa Colony, $43,490 in West Columbia. Median rent ranges from $725 in Oyster Creek to $2,360 in Iowa Colony. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Brazoria County community.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alvin | city | 28,333 | $71,477 | $1,215 | 22 mi |
| Lake Jackson | city | 27,974 | $90,938 | $1,478 | 8 mi |
| Angleton | city | 19,972 | $86,712 | $1,141 | 0 mi |
| Manvel | city | 14,758 | $118,808 | $2,209 | 22 mi |
| Iowa Colony | village | 12,891 | $144,092 | $2,360 | 19 mi |
| Clute | city | 10,715 | $70,208 | $1,130 | 10 mi |
| Freeport | city | 10,621 | $61,134 | $1,176 | 16 mi |
| Richwood | city | 4,791 | $88,380 | $1,250 | 7 mi |
| West Columbia | city | 3,621 | $43,490 | $964 | 13 mi |
| Sweeny | city | 3,591 | $73,457 | $1,203 | 18 mi |
| Brazoria | city | 2,880 | $79,635 | $1,049 | 12 mi |
| Wild Peach Village | CDP | 2,502 | $67,250 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Jones Creek | village | 2,343 | $72,847 | $1,086 | 13 mi |
| Danbury | city | 2,161 | $92,159 | $1,425 | 7 mi |
Who lives in Brazoria County, in numbers
Degree holders: 33% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 12.7%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Measure | Brazoria County | Gap to Texas | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | -6.4 pts | -5.8 pts |
| No health insurance | 12.7% | -4.4 pts | +4.9 pts |
| Work from home | 10.8% | -3.5 pts | +2.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | -3.2 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | -2.3 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Median age | 36.7 | +1.1 yrs | -4.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 33.1% | -0.7 pts | +11.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | -0.6 pts | +0.3 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.8% |
| 60+ min | 11.0% |
Reading the Brazoria County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Brazoria County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 13% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Car trouble. For Brazoria County drivers (24% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 49% of Brazoria County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income, Brazoria County edition
Brazoria County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,166 before taxes
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,454)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,940 total minus rent leaves $1,486
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,057 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,454, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Brazoria County
Quick steps for Brazoria County:
- Price the Brazoria County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Brazoria County-area credit union.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Lender oversight for Brazoria County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Brazoria County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. For consumer-credit complaints, Texas residents can also contact the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Brazoria County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Brazoria County household make?
About $97,993 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% above the Texas median.
What is the median rent in Brazoria County, TX?
$1,454 a month, utilities included, or $17,448 a year.
Should Brazoria County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Brazoria County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
How many towns are in Brazoria County?
The Census Bureau counts 26 places mainly in the county, led by Alvin, Lake Jackson, Angleton, Manvel, Iowa Colony.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Brazoria County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.