1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cameron County household earns $52,601, and 25% 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
- Cameron County by the numbers
- How much Cameron County households make
- The Cameron County job picture
- Cameron County housing compared with Texas
- How Cameron County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Cameron County
- A Cameron County household budget, worked through
- Cameron County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Cameron County
- Licensing and complaints for Cameron County
- A Cameron County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Cameron County
- Frequently asked questions
Cameron County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cameron County's population at 426,120; only 12 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. It covers 892 square miles of land, or about 478 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metropolitan area. Brownsville is the biggest of its 53 Census places, at roughly 189,177 people (44% of the county total).
How much Cameron County households make
At $52,601, the typical Cameron County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Cameron County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.6% | +13.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.9% | -7.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -8.5 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. 24.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). None of these numbers decides a Cameron County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Cameron County job picture
Education and health care employs 31% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 31% locally and 22% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.9% in Cameron County. 8% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. 6.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Cameron County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.9% | +9.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.3% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.3% | -2.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cameron County housing compared with Texas
Renters in Cameron County pay a median of $912 a month, 35% below the Texas figure of $1,403. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. With a median value of $136,500, a typical Cameron County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 65% of homes. The median year built is 1992.
| Measure | Cameron County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $912/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $136,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
How Cameron County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 27 to 93 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Cameron County; Kleberg County is highest at $61,292 and Starr County lowest at $37,639.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron County | - | $52,601 | $912/mo | 65% |
| Willacy County, TX | 27 mi | $54,180 | $809/mo | 75% |
| Hidalgo County, TX | 48 mi | $54,338 | $957/mo | 67% |
| Kenedy County, TX | 55 mi | $38,882 | n/a | 53% |
| Brooks County, TX | 79 mi | $47,764 | $719/mo | 53% |
| Starr County, TX | 84 mi | $37,639 | $726/mo | 70% |
| Kleberg County, TX | 93 mi | $61,292 | $1,043/mo | 53% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Cameron County
The table lists the 14 largest of 53 Census places in Cameron County, by population. Together all 53 hold about 363,914 people, so roughly 15% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $135,685 at the median in Bayview, $18,675 in Palmer. Rent is cheapest in La Paloma ($666) and steepest in Bayview ($2,250). Live in one of these Cameron County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | city | 189,177 | $52,130 | $923 | 8 mi |
| Harlingen | city | 72,087 | $53,645 | $928 | 15 mi |
| San Benito | city | 24,709 | $43,639 | $839 | 10 mi |
| Los Fresnos | city | 8,291 | $61,938 | $989 | 2 mi |
| La Feria | city | 6,891 | $45,081 | $1,037 | 22 mi |
| Cameron Park | CDP | 5,955 | $36,089 | $760 | 9 mi |
| Primera | town | 5,344 | $80,116 | $1,293 | 19 mi |
| Port Isabel | city | 5,111 | $32,222 | $748 | 15 mi |
| Laureles | CDP | 4,224 | $34,771 | $873 | 1 mi |
| Laguna Vista | town | 3,673 | $63,632 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Santa Rosa | town | 3,215 | $36,780 | $919 | 24 mi |
| Combes | town | 3,178 | $45,504 | $782 | 18 mi |
| South Padre Island | town | 2,891 | $70,472 | $1,521 | 19 mi |
| Rancho Viejo | town | 2,849 | $90,714 | $1,392 | 7 mi |
A Cameron County household budget, worked through
Cameron County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $52,601 a year is $4,383 of gross monthly income
- 21% goes to median rent ($912)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $973 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cameron County's.
Cameron County households compared
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. 25.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Cameron County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 27.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 25.8% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Cameron County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Cameron County
What the Cameron County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 26% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 25% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 50% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Licensing and complaints for Cameron County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Cameron County, check 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.
A Cameron County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Cameron County
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cameron County a high-income county?
Its $52,601 median ranks 215th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Cameron County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $912 a month; 50% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Cameron County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 53 Census places: Brownsville, Harlingen, San Benito, Los Fresnos, La Feria.
Can Cameron County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Texas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Cameron 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.