1st Advantage Mortgage17% of Duval County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $49,038 (ACS 2020-24). 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
- Getting oriented in Duval County
- Where Duval County differs from the rest of Texas
- What it costs to live in Duval County
- Work, industries and travel time in Duval County
- How much Duval County households make
- The communities that make up Duval County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income, Duval County edition
- Before borrowing in Duval County
- More Duval County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Checklist for Duval County applicants
- Beyond Duval County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Duval County
With an estimated 9,742 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Duval County ranks 165th of 254 in Texas for population. Its 1,793 square miles average 5 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Duval County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Freer, about 2,253 residents (23% of Duval County); 4 Census places in all. Census margins of error grow as populations shrink; for a county of 9,742, read each figure as a range.
Where Duval County differs from the rest of Texas
Ranked against the other 253 county-level areas in Texas, these are the Duval County figures furthest from the middle.
- Duval County ranks 5th highest of 254 Texas counties for the poverty rate: 33.3%, against 13.8% statewide. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Duval County sits near the top of Texas at 11.0%, 5th highest of 247. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, Duval County sits near the bottom of Texas at 7%, 2nd lowest of 253. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
What it costs to live in Duval County
A typical Duval County rental runs $741 a month including utilities, which is 47% below Texas. By the Census definition, 33% of Duval County renters are cost-burdened. Duval County homes are worth $89,400 at the median, a 1.8-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 70%. Half the housing stock was built before 1980. Against the median U.S. county, Duval County rent is 16% below.
| Measure | Duval County | Texas | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $741/mo | $1,403/mo | 47% lower |
| Median home value | $89,400 | $283,800 | 68% lower |
| Owners | 70% | 63% | +7.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 52% | -18.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 29% | -10.0 pts |
| Mobile homes | 12.9% | 6.4% | +6.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 31% | 9% | +21.6 pts |
Work, industries and travel time in Duval County
Education and health care (38%), agriculture, forestry and mining (21%) and retail trade (8%) lead Duval County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 21% locally and 2% for Texas. 11.0% of Duval County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are common here: 28% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Duval County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 38.3% | +16.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.6% | +18.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.6% | -3.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -2.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.8% | -0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Duval County households make
The median household income in Duval County is $49,038; statewide it is $78,476, so Duval County runs 38% below Texas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 230th of 254.
| Band | Duval County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.9% | +17.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.1% | -12.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -9.4 pts |
Some 39% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. Duval County counts about 3,241 residents below the poverty line, 33.3% of the population. Gini index for Duval County: 0.459. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The communities that make up Duval County
Places, by size: the top 4 of 4. Roughly 61% of Duval County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Live in one of these Duval County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freer | city | 2,253 | $64,145 | $739 | 16 mi |
| Benavides | city | 1,470 | $45,216 | $867 | 8 mi |
| Realitos | CDP | 32 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Concepcion | CDP | 16 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 52 miles). Income ranges from $42,211 in Jim Hogg County to $63,058 in Webb County; 3 of these neighbors top Duval County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duval County | - | $49,038 | $741/mo | 70% |
| Jim Wells County, TX | 25 mi | $51,896 | $938/mo | 68% |
| Jim Hogg County, TX | 46 mi | $42,211 | $824/mo | 56% |
| Brooks County, TX | 48 mi | $47,764 | $719/mo | 53% |
| McMullen County, TX | 49 mi | $43,875 | $758/mo | 78% |
| Live Oak County, TX | 52 mi | $57,150 | $924/mo | 71% |
| Webb County, TX | 52 mi | $63,058 | $1,027/mo | 65% |
Debt-to-income, Duval County edition
Here is the Duval County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $4,086 gross per month ($49,038 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $741 uses 18%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,016 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Duval County's.
Before borrowing in Duval County
What the Duval County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 22% of Duval County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Car trouble. For Duval County drivers (28% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Manufactured housing (13%). Duval County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- Before borrowing. At 33.3% poverty, Duval County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
More Duval County figures
Bachelor's degree or higher: 7% of Duval County adults. Health coverage gaps: 22.2% of Duval County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Duval County | Gap to Texas | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | -2.0 yrs | -7.9 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 6.8% | -27.0 pts | -15.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 23.5% | +9.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 22.2% | +5.1 pts | +14.4 pts |
| No vehicle | 10.8% | +5.3 pts | +5.4 pts |
| Work from home | 8.4% | -6.0 pts | -0.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 33.3% | +19.5 pts | +20.1 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 11.0% | +5.7 pts | +6.6 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.8% |
| 60+ min | 13.3% |
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Consumer lenders serving Duval County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Checklist for Duval County applicants
Steps that save money for Duval County residents:
- Price the Duval County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Beyond Duval County
Next step up from Duval County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Duval County household make?
About $49,038 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 38% below the Texas median.
What is the median rent in Duval County, TX?
$741 a month, utilities included, or $8,892 a year.
Can Duval County owners borrow against a $89,400 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
How many towns are in Duval County?
The Census Bureau counts 4 places mainly in the county, led by Freer, Benavides, Realitos, Concepcion.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Duval County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.