1st Advantage MortgageIn Caldwell County, Texas, the typical household earns $69,758 a year and the typical rent is $1,173. 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
- Caldwell County, TX: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Caldwell County
- Caldwell County's most unusual numbers
- Income in Caldwell County compared with Texas
- Renting and owning in Caldwell County
- Caldwell County and the counties next door
- Census places in Caldwell County
- Debt-to-income at Caldwell County's medians
- Who lives in Caldwell County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Caldwell County
- Who licenses lenders for Caldwell County residents
- Steps before you apply in Caldwell County
- Other Texas guides
- Frequently asked questions
Caldwell County, TX: the basics
Caldwell County is home to about 48,669 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 73rd most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Its 545 square miles average 89 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro area: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (OMB, 2023). Lockhart is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 15,326 people (31% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Caldwell County
Education and health care (19%), construction (15%) and professional and administrative services (12%) lead Caldwell County's job mix. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward construction (15% against 9%). 3.4% of Caldwell County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are common here: 31% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Caldwell County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.8% | -2.8 pts |
| Construction | 14.7% | +6.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.6% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.5% | -0.1 pts |
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.
Caldwell County's most unusual numbers
The 3 Caldwell County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Texas, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Texas counties match Caldwell County on the housing vacancy rate: 5% here, 9% for the state, ranking 8th lowest of 254. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
- Few Texas counties match Caldwell County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 31% here, 17% for the state, ranking 15th highest of 253. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- On the share of mobile homes, Caldwell County sits near the top of Texas at 24.5%, 24th highest of 254. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
Income in Caldwell County compared with Texas
$69,758 is the median household income for Caldwell County, set against $78,476 for Texas.
| Band | Caldwell County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.4% | +9.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -5.6 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 13.2% of Caldwell County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. None of these numbers decides a Caldwell County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Caldwell County
$1,173 a month is the median gross rent in Caldwell County, 16% below the state. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 46% in Caldwell County, 52% statewide. Median value $240,500; median income $69,758; ratio 3.4. Homeowners 75%, renters 25%. Median construction year: 1991.
| Home costs | Caldwell County | Texas | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,173/mo | $1,403/mo | 16% lower |
| Median home value | $240,500 | $283,800 | 15% lower |
| Owners | 75% | 63% | +12.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | -5.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 29% | -0.3 pts |
| Mobile homes | 24.5% | 6.4% | +18.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 5% | 9% | -4.0 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Caldwell County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Caldwell County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Guadalupe County at 26 miles out to Comal County at 38. Richest neighbor: Comal County, $101,889. Poorest: Gonzales County, $58,672. Caldwell County: $69,758.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County | - | $69,758 | $1,173/mo | 75% |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 26 mi | $92,375 | $1,517/mo | 78% |
| Bastrop County, TX | 27 mi | $86,226 | $1,410/mo | 76% |
| Gonzales County, TX | 27 mi | $58,672 | $840/mo | 66% |
| Travis County, TX | 28 mi | $99,611 | $1,744/mo | 52% |
| Hays County, TX | 29 mi | $89,097 | $1,495/mo | 64% |
| Comal County, TX | 38 mi | $101,889 | $1,603/mo | 77% |
Census places in Caldwell County
Places, by size: the top 5 of 5. Roughly 48% of Caldwell County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Incomes vary by place: $92,238 at the median in Uhland, $54,818 in Luling. Lockhart and every other Caldwell County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockhart | city | 15,326 | $68,400 | $1,152 | 5 mi |
| Luling | city | 5,531 | $54,818 | $1,021 | 10 mi |
| Uhland | city | 2,520 | $92,238 | $1,583 | 13 mi |
| Martindale | city | 1,072 | $77,500 | $1,331 | 13 mi |
| Niederwald | city | 1,029 | $78,438 | $1,716 | 14 mi |
Debt-to-income at Caldwell County's medians
Here is the Caldwell County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,813 a month: gross income for a household at the Caldwell County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,173 uses 20%
- $1,152: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Caldwell County, in numbers
19% of Caldwell County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. Health coverage gaps: 21.4% of Caldwell County residents are uninsured.
| Residents | Caldwell County | Difference from Texas | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | -14.5 pts | -2.8 pts |
| Work from home | 9.9% | -4.4 pts | +1.3 pts |
| No health insurance | 21.4% | +4.3 pts | +13.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 18.0% | +4.0 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 38.4 | +2.8 yrs | -3.1 yrs |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | -1.9 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | -1.9 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | -0.6 pts | 0.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Caldwell County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 19.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Caldwell County
What the Caldwell County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Care without coverage. About 10,438 Caldwell County residents lack insurance; check charity care before a loan (how).
- Car trouble. For Caldwell County drivers (31% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Mobile homes in Caldwell County. At 25% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Renters under pressure. When 46% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who licenses lenders for Caldwell County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Caldwell County, check the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. If a Caldwell County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Caldwell County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Caldwell County credit union about member loans.
Other Texas guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is $69,758 a good income in Caldwell County?
It is the county median, so half of Caldwell County households earn more and half less; 30% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in Caldwell County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,173 a month; 46% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Caldwell County?
By population: Lockhart, Luling, Uhland, Martindale, Niederwald. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Caldwell County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Caldwell County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.