1st Advantage MortgageIn Brooks County, Texas, the typical household earns $47,764 a year and the typical rent is $719. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Texas license first.
On this page
- Brooks County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Brooks County
- What Brooks County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Brooks County
- Brooks County towns compared
- Counties near Brooks County
- Who lives in Brooks County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Brooks County borrowers
- What a median Brooks County budget can carry
- Four steps for Brooks County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Brooks County residents
- More guides for Brooks County
- Frequently asked questions
Brooks County by the numbers
Roughly 6,943 residents live in Brooks County, Texas, 185th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 943 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 7 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Brooks County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (1 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Falfurrias, with about 4,646 residents, or 67% of the county. Because Brooks County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Renting and owning in Brooks County
A typical Brooks County rental runs $719 a month including utilities, which is 49% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 27% of renter households here. Home values center on $81,000, or 1.7 years of median income. 53% of Brooks County households own their home and 47% rent. Median construction year: 1970.
| Measure | Brooks County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $719/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $81,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 53% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 50% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 23% | 9% | n/a |
With renters making up 47% of households, many Brooks County borrowers have no home equity to fall back on, so the cheapest written offer on an unsecured loan matters more.
What Brooks County households earn
Half of Brooks County households take in less than $47,764 a year and half take in more, 39% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Household income | Brooks County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.7% | +16.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 30.2% | -9.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -7.9 pts |
Some 38% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 19.4%, 6 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Brooks County
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 16%. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (10% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 19.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 24.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Brooks County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.0% | +6.3 pts |
| Construction | 15.6% | +7.1 pts |
| Public administration | 9.7% | +5.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.7% | +7.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -1.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Brooks County towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 72% of Brooks County residents live in one of the 5. No Brooks County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falfurrias | city | 4,646 | $49,167 | $719 | 14 mi |
| Airport Road Addition | CDP | 174 | $215,871 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Encino | CDP | 127 | $86,125 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Cantu Addition | CDP | 32 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Flowella | CDP | 9 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Brooks County
Distances run center to center, from Jim Hogg County at 33 miles out to Duval County at 48. Income ranges from $37,639 in Starr County to $61,292 in Kleberg County; 3 of these neighbors top Brooks County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks County | - | $47,764 | $719/mo | 53% |
| Jim Hogg County, TX | 33 mi | $42,211 | $824/mo | 56% |
| Kenedy County, TX | 40 mi | $38,882 | n/a | 53% |
| Kleberg County, TX | 44 mi | $61,292 | $1,043/mo | 53% |
| Hidalgo County, TX | 44 mi | $54,338 | $957/mo | 67% |
| Starr County, TX | 48 mi | $37,639 | $726/mo | 70% |
| Duval County, TX | 48 mi | $49,038 | $741/mo | 70% |
Who lives in Brooks County, in numbers
17% of Brooks County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 21.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Brooks County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 21.4% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 24.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 19.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Brooks County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
What the numbers mean for Brooks County borrowers
What the Brooks County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 21% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
What a median Brooks County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Brooks County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $47,764 a year is $3,980 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $719 uses 18%
- At 35%, room after rent is $674 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,072 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Brooks County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Four steps for Brooks County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Brooks County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Brooks County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Brooks County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Brooks County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Brooks County earn?
The median is $47,764; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 38% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Brooks County rent compare with Texas?
$719 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 49% below.
I live in a small Brooks County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Falfurrias, Airport Road Addition, Encino, Cantu Addition, Flowella.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Brooks County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Brooks County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.