1st Advantage MortgageIn Carson County, Texas, the typical household earns $85,231 a year and the typical rent is $956. 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
- A quick profile of Carson County
- Household income in Carson County
- What it costs to live in Carson County
- How Carson County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Carson County
- The counties around Carson County
- Budget math at the Carson County median
- What the numbers mean for Carson County borrowers
- Carson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Carson County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Carson County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Carson County's population at 5,801; only 191 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 920 square miles, that works out to roughly 6.3 residents per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Amarillo, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Panhandle, with about 2,505 residents, or 43% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Carson County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in Carson County
Half of Carson County households take in less than $85,231 a year and half take in more, 9% above the Texas median of $78,476. Only 27 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Band | Carson County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.7% | +1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.2% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.9% | +1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | -2.2 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 7.4% of Carson County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. For a borrower in Carson County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Carson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $956 in Carson County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. With a median value of $143,000, a typical Carson County house costs 1.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 79% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1959.
| Home costs | Carson County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $956/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $143,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 11% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Carson 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.
How Carson County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Carson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (10% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Carson County averages 1.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 85% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Carson County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.9% | +7.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +0.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Carson County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Carson County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 4,702 residents, leaving about 19% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $87,292 at the median in White Deer, $67,917 in Groom. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panhandle | town | 2,505 | $85,870 | $1,038 | 4 mi |
| White Deer | town | 1,191 | $87,292 | $866 | 10 mi |
| Groom | town | 549 | $67,917 | $1,094 | 20 mi |
| Skellytown | town | 457 | $55,625 | $850 | 15 mi |
The counties around Carson County
Hutchinson County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Moore County, is 42 miles off. Armstrong County leads the group on income ($72,750), Potter County trails ($53,249), and Carson County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carson County | - | $85,231 | $956/mo | 79% |
| Hutchinson County, TX | 30 mi | $67,228 | $932/mo | 83% |
| Potter County, TX | 30 mi | $53,249 | $1,022/mo | 57% |
| Armstrong County, TX | 30 mi | $72,750 | $1,021/mo | 80% |
| Gray County, TX | 31 mi | $59,614 | $933/mo | 76% |
| Roberts County, TX | 42 mi | $67,868 | $859/mo | 85% |
| Moore County, TX | 42 mi | $61,762 | $939/mo | 62% |
Budget math at the Carson County median
How much room does a median Carson 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: $7,103 before taxes
- 13% goes to median rent ($956)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,601 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,098 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $956, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Carson County borrowers
Where the Carson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Carson County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Carson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Carson County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.4% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.5% |
Four steps for Carson County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Carson County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Carson County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Carson County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carson County a high-income county?
Its $85,231 median ranks 28th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Carson County?
$956 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
Should Carson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Carson County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Carson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Panhandle, White Deer, Groom, Skellytown.
Will a Carson County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.