1st Advantage MortgageThe median Brown County household earns $57,470, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Brown County, TX: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Brown County
- Household income in Brown County
- Brown County housing compared with Texas
- Places inside Brown County
- How Brown County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Brown County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Brown County
- More Brown County figures
- A Brown County borrower's checklist
- Texas rules that apply in Brown County
- More guides for Brown County
- Frequently asked questions
Brown County, TX: the basics
Roughly 38,347 residents live in Brown County, Texas, 82nd by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 944 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 41 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Brown County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (4 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Brownwood, with about 18,777 residents, or 49% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Brown County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Brown County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Brown County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Sector | Brown County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% | +5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Brown County
Brown County households have a median income of $57,470 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 193rd of 254 in Texas.
| Household income | Brown County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.5% | +10.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.4% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -8.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Brown County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. 15.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). A household earning below the $57,470 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Brown County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $919 in Brown County versus $1,403 statewide. By the Census definition, 57% of Brown County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,900, about 2.8 times the median household income. 68% of Brown County households own their home and 32% rent. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Brown County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $919/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $158,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 9% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Places inside Brown County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Brown County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 26,681 residents, leaving about 30% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,098 in Bangs to $70,000 in Lake Brownwood. Median rent ranges from $745 in Bangs to $1,227 in Early. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownwood | city | 18,777 | $48,981 | $882 | 4 mi |
| Early | city | 3,143 | $67,346 | $1,227 | 4 mi |
| Bangs | city | 1,633 | $48,098 | $745 | 8 mi |
| Lake Brownwood | CDP | 1,544 | $70,000 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Thunderbird Bay | CDP | 702 | $48,350 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Blanket | town | 434 | $40,750 | $1,287 | 13 mi |
| Zephyr | CDP | 244 | $47,917 | $850 | 14 mi |
| May | CDP | 204 | $90,625 | $950 | 16 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Brown County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 23 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Brown County; Callahan County is highest at $72,436 and Coleman County lowest at $49,159.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown County | - | $57,470 | $919/mo | 68% |
| Coleman County, TX | 23 mi | $49,159 | $653/mo | 77% |
| Comanche County, TX | 29 mi | $59,635 | $855/mo | 80% |
| Mills County, TX | 30 mi | $67,620 | $708/mo | 80% |
| Eastland County, TX | 40 mi | $53,549 | $866/mo | 72% |
| Callahan County, TX | 43 mi | $72,436 | $817/mo | 81% |
| San Saba County, TX | 43 mi | $55,819 | $958/mo | 72% |
Debt-to-income at Brown County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Brown County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,789 before taxes
- Median rent: $919, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,140 a month
If your rent is above $919, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Brown County
A few patterns in the Brown County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
More Brown County figures
20% of Brown County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Brown County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Brown County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
A Brown County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Brown County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Texas rules that apply in Brown County
Consumer lenders serving Brown County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Brown County
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brown County a high-income county?
Its $57,470 median ranks 193rd of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Brown County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $919 a month; 57% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Brown County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Brownwood, Early, Bangs, Lake Brownwood, Thunderbird Bay and 3 more.
Will a Brown County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Brown 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.