Borrowing in Dickens County, TX: a county-level guide

Dickens County by the numbers

Roughly 1,747 residents live in Dickens County, Texas, 236th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 902 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dickens County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Dickens County, Spur leads by population with about 779; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Dickens County figure on this page as a rough guide.

Income in Dickens County compared with Texas

At $49,335, the typical Dickens County household income is 25% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 227th of 254.

Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.0% of Dickens County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Dickens County median.

Work, industries and travel time in Dickens County

The biggest employer of Dickens County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (12%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 12% locally and 2% for Texas. The survey's unemployment rate for Dickens County averages 9.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.

Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dickens County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.

Rent, home values and ownership in Dickens County

A typical Dickens County rental runs $758 a month including utilities, which is 46% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 64% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $65,300, about 1.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Half the housing stock was built before 1962.

In an owner-heavy county like Dickens County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.

Cities, towns and CDPs in Dickens County

Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 54% of Dickens County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.

Neighboring counties at a glance

The six counties whose centers lie closest to Dickens County's, from 29 to 43 miles away. Kent County leads the group on income ($72,889), Garza County trails ($46,314), and Dickens County out-earns 2 of the six.

More Dickens County figures

18% of Dickens County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 12.0% of residents have no health coverage.

Before borrowing in Dickens County

Where the Dickens County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:

• Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
• Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
• Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
• Tight rental budgets. With 64% of Dickens County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.

What a median Dickens County budget can carry

Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dickens County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.

• Median income divided by twelve: $4,111 before taxes
• Housing at the median rent of $758 uses 18%
• With a 36% ceiling, about $722 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
• Under a 43% cap, $1,768 total minus rent leaves $1,010

If your rent is above $758, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.

Checklist for Dickens County applicants

Quick steps for Dickens County:

• Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Dickens County.
• Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
• Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
• Ask a Dickens County credit union about member loans.

Licensing and complaints for Dickens County

Dickens County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.

Related local guides

For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.

• Texas state guide