Briscoe County, TX: income, rent and loan options

Briscoe County at a glance

Briscoe County is home to about 1,301 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 241st most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Land area is 900 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Briscoe County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (2 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Silverton, with about 498 residents, or 38% of the county. Because Briscoe County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.

Briscoe County housing compared with Texas

$631 a month is the median gross rent in Briscoe County, 55% below the state. By the Census definition, 36% of Briscoe County renters are cost-burdened. Briscoe County homes are worth $90,300 at the median, a 2.0-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 83%.

At a $90,300 median value, many Briscoe County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).

How much Briscoe County households make

$45,417 is the median household income for Briscoe County, set against $78,476 for Texas.

39% under $35,000 and 22% at $100,000 or more: that is the Briscoe County income split. 16.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). For a borrower in Briscoe 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.

Briscoe County's most unusual numbers

Out of every Texas county, Briscoe County is most unusual on these measures.

• Few Texas counties match Briscoe County on households without a vehicle: 1.4% here, 5.4% for the state, ranking 10th lowest of 253. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
• On the ACS unemployment rate, Briscoe County sits near the bottom of Texas at 1.0%, 11th lowest of 247. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
• Population: 1,301 in Briscoe County. Only 13 of 254 Texas counties are lower. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.

Employment and commuting in Briscoe County

Transportation, warehousing and utilities (18%), agriculture, forestry and mining (15%) and education and health care (14%) lead Briscoe County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 15% locally and 2% for Texas. 1.0% of Briscoe County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 22%; under 15 minutes: 45%. 1.4% of households have no vehicle.

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.

Briscoe County communities by population

Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Briscoe County residents live in one of the 2. No Briscoe County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.

Regional comparison for Briscoe County

The six counties whose centers lie closest to Briscoe County's, from 31 to 40 miles away. Income ranges from $36,165 in Swisher County to $72,750 in Armstrong County; 5 of these neighbors top Briscoe County's median.

Who lives in Briscoe County, in numbers

College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 19.8%, against 17.1% for Texas.

Borrowing situations common in Briscoe County

Where the Briscoe County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:

• Health costs. With 20% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
• Vehicle repairs. 22% of Briscoe County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
• Retirement budgets. In a county with a 49.2 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.

Room for a loan payment in Briscoe County

How much room does a median Briscoe County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.

• $3,785 a month: gross income for a household at the Briscoe County median
• Rent at the median, $631, takes 17% of that
• Under a 43% cap, $1,627 total minus rent leaves $996

Homeowners in Briscoe County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.

Checking a lender's license in Texas

Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Briscoe County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Nationally, Briscoe County residents can file with the CFPB. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.

Four steps for Briscoe County borrowers

Quick steps for Briscoe County:

• Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
• Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
• Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
• Ask a Briscoe County credit union about member loans.

Related local guides

The Texas guide covers the whole state.

• Texas state guide