1st Advantage MortgageIn Erath County, Texas, the typical household earns $65,115 a year and the typical rent is $1,146. 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
- Erath County, TX: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Erath County
- What Erath County households earn
- Housing costs in Erath County
- Erath County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Erath County
- Erath County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Erath County
- Debt-to-income at Erath County's medians
- Who licenses lenders for Erath County residents
- Four steps for Erath County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Erath County, TX: the basics
Roughly 43,794 residents live in Erath County, Texas, 77th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,083 square miles of land, or about 40 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Erath County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Erath County, Stephenville leads by population with about 21,682; 2 of the 5 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Erath County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Erath County averages 5.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Erath County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.1% | +6.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Erath County households earn
The median household income in Erath County is $65,115; statewide it is $78,476, so Erath County runs 17% below Texas as a whole.
| Household income | Erath County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.3% | -5.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Erath County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 16.6%, 3 points higher than the state's 13.8%. For a borrower in Erath 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.
Housing costs in Erath County
Renters in Erath County pay a median of $1,146 a month, 18% below the Texas figure of $1,403. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 56% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $269,100, about 4.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 63%. Half the housing stock was built before 1991.
| Erath County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,146/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $269,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Erath County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 26 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $53,549 in Eastland County to $88,160 in Hood County; 3 of these neighbors top Erath County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erath County | - | $65,115 | $1,146/mo | 63% |
| Hood County, TX | 26 mi | $88,160 | $1,428/mo | 81% |
| Somervell County, TX | 26 mi | $79,825 | $773/mo | 80% |
| Comanche County, TX | 28 mi | $59,635 | $855/mo | 80% |
| Palo Pinto County, TX | 36 mi | $67,674 | $1,093/mo | 71% |
| Eastland County, TX | 36 mi | $53,549 | $866/mo | 72% |
| Hamilton County, TX | 37 mi | $58,219 | $885/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Erath County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Erath County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 25,767 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Erath County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephenville | city | 21,682 | $53,015 | $1,134 | 2 mi |
| Dublin | city | 3,419 | $53,030 | $833 | 12 mi |
| Lingleville | CDP | 272 | $91,143 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Huckabay | CDP | 212 | $85,682 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Bluff Dale | CDP | 182 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Erath County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 15.2%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Residents | Erath County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.2% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Erath County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 51.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.4% |
Before borrowing in Erath County
A few patterns in the Erath County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 15% of Erath County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income at Erath County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Erath County's medians:
- Start: $5,426 gross per month ($65,115 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,146, takes 21% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,024 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,146, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Erath County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Erath County resident can confirm its license with 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. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Erath County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Erath County a high-income county?
Its $65,115 median ranks 127th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Erath County?
$1,146 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
Which towns does the Erath County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Stephenville, Dublin, Lingleville, Huckabay, Bluff Dale.
Will a Erath County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Erath County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.