1st Advantage MortgageIn Comal County, Texas, the typical household earns $101,889 a year and the typical rent is $1,603. 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
- Who lives in Comal County
- Household income in Comal County
- The Comal County job picture
- Housing costs in Comal County
- Counties near Comal County
- Towns and communities in Comal County
- What a median Comal County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Comal County
- More Comal County figures
- Steps before you apply in Comal County
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Comal County
Comal County is home to about 183,826 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 27th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Packed into 560 square miles, that is close to 329 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). New Braunfels is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 104,643 people (57% of the county total).
Household income in Comal County
At $101,889, the typical Comal County household income is 55% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 9th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Comal County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.6% | -6.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.4% | -5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.3% | +5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.7% | +6.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 51% of Comal County households make $100,000 or more, and 15% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 6.5%, 7 points lower than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.450 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Comal County median.
The Comal County job picture
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 13%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Comal County. About 71% drive to work alone and 25% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 2.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Comal County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.2% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | -0.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Comal County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Comal County
Renters in Comal County pay a median of $1,603 a month, 14% above the Texas figure of $1,403. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. Home values center on $427,200, or 4.2 years of median income. 77% of Comal County households own their home and 23% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 2005.
| Comal County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,603/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $427,200 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 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). 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?
Counties near Comal County
Distances run center to center, from Hays County at 22 miles out to Caldwell County at 38. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Comal County; Kendall County is highest at $114,962 and Caldwell County lowest at $69,758.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comal County | - | $101,889 | $1,603/mo | 77% |
| Hays County, TX | 22 mi | $89,097 | $1,495/mo | 64% |
| Guadalupe County, TX | 24 mi | $92,375 | $1,517/mo | 78% |
| Kendall County, TX | 29 mi | $114,962 | $1,606/mo | 79% |
| Bexar County, TX | 30 mi | $72,341 | $1,354/mo | 59% |
| Blanco County, TX | 32 mi | $92,425 | $1,017/mo | 76% |
| Caldwell County, TX | 38 mi | $69,758 | $1,173/mo | 75% |
Towns and communities in Comal County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 81% of Comal County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $86,021 in New Braunfels to $177,353 in Garden Ridge. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Comal County community.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Braunfels | city | 104,643 | $86,021 | $1,654 | 12 mi |
| Canyon Lake | CDP | 33,883 | $97,301 | $1,327 | 4 mi |
| Bulverde | city | 6,486 | $112,188 | $1,794 | 11 mi |
| Garden Ridge | city | 4,332 | $177,353 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Spring Branch | city | 243 | $162,944 | $2,183 | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Comal County budget can carry
How much room does a median Comal County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $101,889 a year is $8,491 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $1,603, takes 19% of that
- Under a 40% cap, $3,396 total minus rent leaves $1,793
If your rent is above $1,603, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Comal County
Where the Comal County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Comal County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Commuter costs. 25% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 51% of Comal County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- 53% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Comal County figures
College graduates make up 43% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.5%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Comal County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 43.3% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Comal County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.5% |
Steps before you apply in Comal County
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.
- 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
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Comal County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of Comal County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Comal County a high-income county?
Its $101,889 median ranks 9th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Comal County?
$1,603 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Does this page cover New Braunfels?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Comal County, such as Canyon Lake, Bulverde, Garden Ridge.
Is the fit check different in Comal County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Comal County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.