1st Advantage MortgageIn Calhoun County, Texas, the typical household earns $79,959 a year and the typical rent is $891. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Calhoun County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Calhoun County
- Work, industries and travel time in Calhoun County
- Where Calhoun County differs from the rest of Texas
- Earnings across Calhoun County households
- The counties around Calhoun County
- Census places in Calhoun County
- What the numbers mean for Calhoun County borrowers
- Budget math at the Calhoun County median
- Calhoun County demographics against Texas
- Steps before you apply in Calhoun County
- Texas lender licensing
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Calhoun County
With an estimated 19,868 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Calhoun County ranks 124th of 254 in Texas for population. Density: about 39.2 residents per square mile across 507 square miles of land. No metropolitan area includes Calhoun County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 6 Census places inside Calhoun County, Port Lavaca leads by population with about 11,358; 3 of the 6 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Calhoun County
Half of Calhoun County renters pay more than $891 a month and half pay less; the Texas midpoint is $1,403. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 56% in Calhoun County, 52% statewide. Home values center on $171,200, or 2.1 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills. Against the median U.S. county, Calhoun County rent is 2% above.
| Cost | Calhoun County | Texas figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $891/mo | $1,403/mo | 36% lower |
| Median home value | $171,200 | $283,800 | 40% lower |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | +14.7 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 52% | +4.4 pts |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 29% | -13.6 pts |
| Vacant units | 20% | 9% | +10.6 pts |
At a $171,200 median value, many Calhoun County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured). 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?
Work, industries and travel time in Calhoun County
Education and health care (25%), manufacturing (22%) and professional and administrative services (9%) lead Calhoun County's job mix. Relative to Texas (9%), manufacturing is 13 points bigger in Calhoun County (22%). Unemployment in Calhoun County, ACS five-year: 7.4%; Texas: 5.3%. About 82% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Calhoun County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.5% | +13.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -3.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.4 pts |
Self-employed in Calhoun County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
Where Calhoun County differs from the rest of Texas
Where Calhoun County lands at the extremes of Texas's county rankings:
- The uninsured rate: 6.8% in Calhoun County. Only 4 of 253 Texas counties are lower. Lower uninsured rates still leave deductibles; check what a plan covers first.
- Few Texas counties match Calhoun County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 56% here, 52% for the state, ranking 16th highest of 249. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- Few Texas counties match Calhoun County on the poverty rate: 7.7% here, 13.8% for the state, ranking 24th lowest of 254. Even here, a fee-first loan offer is a scam.
Earnings across Calhoun County households
Median household income in Calhoun County: $79,959 (2% above Texas, $78,476).
| Households earning | Calhoun County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.1% | -4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.5% | +7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.9% | +2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -5.0 pts |
17% under $35,000 and 36% at $100,000 or more: that is the Calhoun County income split. Poverty rate, Calhoun County: 7.7%; Texas: 13.8%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The counties around Calhoun County
Aransas County is closest, 32 miles from center to center; the sixth, Goliad County, is 54 miles off. Victoria County leads the group on income ($70,896), Matagorda County trails ($58,628), and Calhoun County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun County | - | $79,959 | $891/mo | 77% |
| Aransas County, TX | 32 mi | $69,466 | $1,128/mo | 77% |
| Victoria County, TX | 34 mi | $70,896 | $1,157/mo | 65% |
| Jackson County, TX | 36 mi | $65,414 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
| Refugio County, TX | 36 mi | $60,181 | $795/mo | 77% |
| Matagorda County, TX | 42 mi | $58,628 | $999/mo | 68% |
| Goliad County, TX | 54 mi | $59,359 | $754/mo | 87% |
Census places in Calhoun County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Calhoun County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 13,708 people, so roughly 31% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $46,938, Port O'Connor over Seadrift. From Port Lavaca to the smallest crossroads, Calhoun County residents share this guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Lavaca | city | 11,358 | $70,123 | $849 | 13 mi |
| Seadrift | city | 1,239 | $48,655 | $1,341 | 9 mi |
| Port O'Connor | CDP | 620 | $95,593 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Point Comfort | city | 304 | $142,500 | $1,175 | 16 mi |
| Magnolia Beach | CDP | 97 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
| Alamo Beach | CDP | 90 | $92,917 | n/a | 9 mi |
What the numbers mean for Calhoun County borrowers
A few patterns in the Calhoun County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Calhoun County rent burden. 56% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Budget math at the Calhoun County median
How much room does a median Calhoun County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,663 before taxes
- Median rent: $891, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $2,399 total minus rent leaves $1,508
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,974 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $79,959 median has less room than this, often none.
Calhoun County demographics against Texas
In Calhoun County, 20% of adults have at least a four-year degree (34% in Texas). About 7% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Calhoun County | Gap to Texas | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | +5.8 yrs | -0.1 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | -13.8 pts | -2.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.6% | +0.6 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | -10.3 pts | -1.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | -0.3 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Work from home | 4.9% | -9.5 pts | -3.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 7.7% | -6.1 pts | -5.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.4% | +2.1 pts | +3.0 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Calhoun County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.8% |
Steps before you apply in Calhoun County
Quick steps for Calhoun County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Calhoun County credit union about member loans.
Texas lender licensing
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Calhoun County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
Next step up from Calhoun County:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Calhoun County rank on income in Texas?
37th of 254, with a median of $79,959. The state median is $78,476.
How does Calhoun County rent compare with Texas?
$891 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 36% below.
I live near Port Lavaca. Which guide is mine?
This one. Port Lavaca and the rest of Calhoun County have no separate city guide.
Will a Calhoun County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Calhoun County?
Look it up with the Texas Department of Banking, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.