1st Advantage MortgageIn Cottle County, Texas, the typical household earns $59,063 a year and the typical rent is $264. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Cottle County
- Employment and commuting in Cottle County
- Paychecks and income spread in Cottle County
- Renting and owning in Cottle County
- Towns and communities in Cottle County
- How Cottle County compares with nearby counties
- Who lives in Cottle County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Cottle County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Cottle County's medians
- A Cottle County borrower's checklist
- Texas rules that apply in Cottle County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cottle County
With an estimated 1,368 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cottle County ranks 240th of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 901 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 1 Census place inside Cottle County, Paducah leads by population with about 1,077. With so few households sampled, Cottle County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Employment and commuting in Cottle County
The biggest employer of Cottle County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (23%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 12.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 66% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 2.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Cottle County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.3% | +9.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 22.7% | +20.4 pts |
| Construction | 13.0% | +4.5 pts |
| Public administration | 6.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.2% | -2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 5.4% | -5.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Cottle County
Cottle County households have a median income of $59,063 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 177th of 254 in Texas.
| Household income | Cottle County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.6% | +17.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.7% | -14.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Cottle County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. 17.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.553 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $59,063 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Cottle County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $264 in Cottle County versus $1,403 statewide. 16% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $59,300, about 1.0 times the median household income. 83% of Cottle County households own their home and 17% rent. Median construction year: 1960.
| Cost | Cottle County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $264/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $59,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 83% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 16% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 53% | 29% | n/a |
Because most Cottle County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Towns and communities in Cottle County
Just one Census place, Paducah, lies mainly within Cottle County; it holds about 1,077 people. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paducah | town | 1,077 | $36,875 | $256 | 6 mi |
How Cottle County compares with nearby counties
Foard County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hardeman County, is 33 miles off. Income ranges from $46,645 in King County to $63,333 in Hardeman County; 3 of these neighbors top Cottle County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottle County | - | $59,063 | $264/mo | 83% |
| Foard County, TX | 28 mi | $61,563 | $572/mo | 76% |
| Motley County, TX | 30 mi | $61,154 | $675/mo | 77% |
| Childress County, TX | 30 mi | $58,654 | $913/mo | 71% |
| Hall County, TX | 30 mi | $48,459 | $529/mo | 74% |
| King County, TX | 33 mi | $46,645 | n/a | 59% |
| Hardeman County, TX | 33 mi | $63,333 | $684/mo | 74% |
Who lives in Cottle County, in numbers
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 11.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Cottle County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.2% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
What the numbers mean for Cottle County borrowers
Based on the Cottle County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Cottle County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Fixed incomes. Cottle County's median age is 46.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Cottle County's medians
How much room does a median Cottle County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,922 gross per month ($59,063 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $264, takes 5% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,705 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
A Cottle County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Cottle County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Cottle County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Texas rules that apply in Cottle County
Consumer lenders serving Cottle County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. 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
How much do households in Cottle County earn?
The median is $59,063; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 39% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Cottle County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $264 against $1,403 statewide, and 16% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Cottle County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of Cottle County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Cottle County?
By population: Paducah. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Are Cottle County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.