1st Advantage MortgageIn Dawson County, Texas, the typical household earns $54,360 a year and the typical rent is $777. 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
- Dawson County by the numbers
- The Dawson County job picture
- What Dawson County households earn
- What it costs to live in Dawson County
- Towns and communities in Dawson County
- Dawson County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Dawson County's medians
- People and households in Dawson County
- Reading the Dawson County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Dawson County
- Four steps for Dawson County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dawson County by the numbers
With an estimated 12,134 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Dawson County ranks 153rd of 254 in Texas for population. It covers 900 square miles of land, or about 13 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Lamesa is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 8,393 people (69% of the county total).
The Dawson County job picture
The biggest employer of Dawson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (20%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 20% locally and 2% for Texas. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 68% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Dawson County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 19.6% | +17.4 pts |
| Construction | 11.1% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.0% | +1.3 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
What Dawson County households earn
At $54,360, the typical Dawson County household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 204th of 254.
| Household income | Dawson County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.5% | +17.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.1% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.1% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -7.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Dawson County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. 19.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.503 here. For a borrower in Dawson 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 Dawson County
Renters in Dawson County pay a median of $777 a month, 45% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 50% of Dawson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $103,400, a typical Dawson County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. 71% of Dawson County households own their home and 29% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1963.
| Cost | Dawson County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $777/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $103,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 9% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Dawson County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Dawson County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 8,982 residents, leaving about 26% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Dawson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamesa | city | 8,393 | $49,007 | $813 | 1 mi |
| Ackerly | city | 384 | $66,094 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Welch | CDP | 205 | $48,750 | $725 | 17 mi |
| Los Ybanez | city | 0 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
Dawson County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Dawson County's, from 30 to 42 miles away. Income ranges from $44,100 in Terry County to $93,734 in Martin County; 5 of these neighbors top Dawson County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County | - | $54,360 | $777/mo | 71% |
| Borden County, TX | 30 mi | $65,625 | n/a | 66% |
| Martin County, TX | 30 mi | $93,734 | $971/mo | 78% |
| Lynn County, TX | 31 mi | $73,679 | $927/mo | 77% |
| Terry County, TX | 37 mi | $44,100 | $817/mo | 67% |
| Gaines County, TX | 40 mi | $74,132 | $789/mo | 75% |
| Howard County, TX | 42 mi | $69,649 | $1,034/mo | 70% |
Debt-to-income at Dawson County's medians
Here is the Dawson County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,530 a month: gross income for a household at the Dawson County median
- Rent at the median, $777, takes 17% of that
- $808: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,038 total minus rent leaves $1,262
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Dawson County's.
People and households in Dawson County
Degree holders: 13% of adults over 25. 22.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Dawson County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.7% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 27.9% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 22.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Dawson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 12.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 13.6% |
Reading the Dawson County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Dawson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Dawson County. For the 22% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Dawson County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Licensing and complaints for Dawson County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Dawson County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Dawson County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dawson County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Dawson County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dawson County household make?
About $54,360 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the Texas median.
How does Dawson County rent compare with Texas?
$777 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 45% below.
Should Dawson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Dawson County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Dawson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lamesa, Ackerly, Welch, Los Ybanez.
Can Dawson 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.