1st Advantage MortgageCass County households have a median income of $53,813 and median rent of $852 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Cass County at a glance
- Cass County housing compared with Texas
- Income in Cass County compared with Texas
- How Cass County residents earn a living
- Places inside Cass County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cass County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Cass County
- Debt-to-income at Cass County's medians
- Who licenses lenders for Cass County residents
- Steps before you apply in Cass County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Cass County at a glance
Roughly 28,568 residents live in Cass County, Texas, 97th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 937 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 30 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Cass County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 10 Census places inside Cass County, Atlanta leads by population with about 5,439; 8 of the 10 are incorporated.
Cass County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $852 in Cass County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $146,400, about 2.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median year built is 1980.
| Housing | Cass County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $852/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $146,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Income in Cass County compared with Texas
Half of Cass County households take in less than $53,813 a year and half take in more, 31% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Household income | Cass County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.8% | +12.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.5% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -8.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Cass County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.5%, 4 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.469 here. None of these numbers decides a Cass County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Cass County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Cass County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 25% locally and 22% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.4% in Cass County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Cass County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.5% | +3.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Other services | 7.6% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Cass County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Cass County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Cass County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 10,716 people, so roughly 62% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $60,259 at the median in Atlanta, $43,457 in Queen City. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | city | 5,439 | $60,259 | $924 | 11 mi |
| Linden | city | 1,932 | $43,661 | $580 | 5 mi |
| Queen City | city | 1,390 | $43,457 | $774 | 13 mi |
| McLeod | CDP | 520 | n/a | $733 | 19 mi |
| Douglassville | town | 372 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Avinger | town | 351 | $37,500 | $875 | 17 mi |
| Bloomburg | town | 330 | $73,750 | $850 | 18 mi |
| Marietta | town | 277 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Bivins | CDP | 87 | $38,349 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Domino | town | 18 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 37 miles). Income ranges from $48,836 in Miller County to $59,803 in Bowie County; 4 of these neighbors top Cass County's median. The list crosses into Arkansas, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cass County | - | $53,813 | $852/mo | 77% |
| Marion County, TX | 20 mi | $49,672 | $911/mo | 78% |
| Morris County, TX | 22 mi | $58,645 | $859/mo | 74% |
| Bowie County, TX | 25 mi | $59,803 | $988/mo | 63% |
| Miller County, AR | 30 mi | $48,836 | $892/mo | 64% |
| Titus County, TX | 36 mi | $58,425 | $907/mo | 71% |
| Camp County, TX | 37 mi | $58,843 | $801/mo | 77% |
Cass County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Cass County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Cass County
Based on the Cass County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 14% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Cass County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of Cass County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Debt-to-income at Cass County's medians
Here is the Cass County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $53,813 a year is $4,484 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $852 uses 19%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $762 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,076 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $852, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Cass County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Cass 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. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Cass County
Quick steps for Cass County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Cass County?
$53,813 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 209th of 254 in the state.
What do renters pay in Cass County?
$852 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Does this page cover Atlanta?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Cass County, such as Linden, Queen City, McLeod.
Is the fit check different in Cass County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Cass County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.