1st Advantage MortgageDenton County households have a median income of $111,498 and median rent of $1,728 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Denton County
- How Denton County residents earn a living
- Denton County housing compared with Texas
- Income in Denton County compared with Texas
- What stands out in Denton County
- The counties around Denton County
- The communities that make up Denton County
- $9,292 a month: the Denton County median budget
- Before borrowing in Denton County
- More Denton County figures
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Other Texas guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Denton County
Denton County is home to about 979,561 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 7th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Density: about 1,114.7 residents per square mile across 879 square miles of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Denton is the biggest of its 35 Census places, at roughly 152,866 people (16% of the county total).
How Denton County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Denton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (16%). Finance, insurance and real estate stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. 4.0% of Denton County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. About 66% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 3.5% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Denton County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.7% | +2.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 11.5% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.5 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Denton County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Denton County housing compared with Texas
Half of Denton County renters pay more than $1,728 a month and half pay less; the Texas midpoint is $1,403. By the Census definition, 51% of Denton County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $437,200, a typical Denton County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 65%. Median construction year: 2003. Nationally, Denton County's $1,728 rent is 97% above the middle county.
| Cost | Denton County | Texas figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,728/mo | $1,403/mo | 23% higher |
| Median home value | $437,200 | $283,800 | 54% higher |
| Owners | 65% | 63% | +2.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | -0.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | -2.1 pts |
51% of Denton County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
Income in Denton County compared with Texas
Denton County households have a median income of $111,498 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 5th of 254 in Texas.
| Households earning | Denton County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 11.6% | -9.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.9% | -6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.2% | +6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 22.2% | +9.8 pts |
About 12% of households earn under $35,000, while 55% clear $100,000. 7.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.436 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Denton County median.
What stands out in Denton County
The 4 Denton County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Texas, and what each means for a borrower:
- The share of mobile homes: 2.4% in Denton County. Only 5 of 254 Texas counties are lower. Site-built housing dominates, which matters for equity-based credit.
- On population, Denton County sits near the top of Texas at 979,561, 7th highest of 254. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
- Few Texas counties match Denton County on the share of households earning $100,000 or more: 55% here, 39% for the state, ranking 5th highest of 254. High earners still overpay when they skip comparing offers.
- Median household income: $111,498 in Denton County. Only 4 of 254 Texas counties are higher. A high county median can hide a wide spread, so budget from your own pay.
The counties around Denton County
Six nearby counties, 30 to 39 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Collin County leads the group on income ($121,600), Grayson County trails ($72,182), and Denton County out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denton County | - | $111,498 | $1,728/mo | 65% |
| Cooke County, TX | 30 mi | $73,932 | $1,047/mo | 72% |
| Wise County, TX | 31 mi | $93,421 | $1,299/mo | 81% |
| Collin County, TX | 31 mi | $121,600 | $1,859/mo | 65% |
| Tarrant County, TX | 32 mi | $84,207 | $1,547/mo | 59% |
| Dallas County, TX | 36 mi | $76,547 | $1,565/mo | 51% |
| Grayson County, TX | 39 mi | $72,182 | $1,310/mo | 67% |
The communities that make up Denton County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 35 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 67% of Denton County residents live in one of the 35. Trophy Club has the highest median household income on the list ($201,054) and Denton the lowest ($76,019), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $1,383 in Double Oak to $3,458 in Lantana. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Denton County community.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denton | city | 152,866 | $76,019 | $1,420 | 1 mi |
| Lewisville | city | 131,080 | $89,233 | $1,670 | 14 mi |
| Flower Mound | town | 78,389 | $161,235 | $2,231 | 12 mi |
| Little Elm | city | 54,820 | $119,219 | $1,953 | 12 mi |
| The Colony | city | 45,454 | $114,511 | $1,958 | 15 mi |
| Corinth | city | 23,385 | $120,580 | $1,891 | 5 mi |
| Highland Village | city | 16,101 | $159,828 | $2,429 | 9 mi |
| Trophy Club | town | 13,733 | $201,054 | $1,992 | 15 mi |
| Lantana | CDP | 12,766 | $199,489 | $3,458 | 8 mi |
| Roanoke | city | 10,286 | $97,295 | $1,783 | 15 mi |
| Sanger | city | 9,641 | $91,075 | $1,504 | 12 mi |
| Paloma Creek South | CDP | 8,860 | $121,747 | $2,664 | 11 mi |
| Providence Village | town | 8,721 | $110,430 | $2,413 | 10 mi |
| Northlake | town | 8,283 | $123,469 | $1,746 | 12 mi |
$9,292 a month: the Denton County median budget
DTI math using Denton County medians ($111,498 income, $1,728 rent):
- $9,292 a month: gross income for a household at the Denton County median
- Median rent: $1,728, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 43%, room after rent is $2,267 a month
If your rent is above $1,728, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Denton County
Denton County-specific points to check:
- Hospital bills in Denton County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Higher earners. 55% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
More Denton County figures
Bachelor's degree or higher: 49% of Denton County adults. The uninsured rate is 10.6%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| People and households | Denton County | Compared with Texas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 49.4% | +15.6 pts | +27.3 pts |
| Work from home | 23.5% | +9.1 pts | +14.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | -7.6 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 7.1% | -6.7 pts | -6.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | -6.5 pts | +2.8 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | -1.9 pts | -1.9 pts |
| Median age | 37.0 | +1.4 yrs | -4.5 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | -1.3 pts | -0.4 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Denton County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Denton County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Denton County, check the Texas Department of Banking. A second Texas office, the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, covers consumer credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Texas page has statewide figures to set beside Denton County's.
Other Texas guides
City guides inside Denton County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Denton County earn?
The median is $111,498; 55% earn $100,000 or more and 12% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Denton County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,728 against $1,403 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Denton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 35 Census places: Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Little Elm, The Colony.
Does living in Denton County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Denton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Denton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.