1st Advantage MortgageFayette County households have a median income of $75,854 and median rent of $988 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Fayette County at a glance
- What Fayette County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Fayette County
- Renting and owning in Fayette County
- Towns and communities in Fayette County
- Regional comparison for Fayette County
- Who lives in Fayette County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Fayette County borrowers
- Budget math at the Fayette County median
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Checklist for Fayette County applicants
- More guides for Fayette County
- Frequently asked questions
Fayette County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Fayette County's population at 25,042; only 100 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 950 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 26 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Fayette County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Fayette County, La Grange leads by population with about 4,452; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
What Fayette County households earn
Fayette County households have a median income of $75,854 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 47th of 254 in Texas.
| Households earning | Fayette County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.6% | +1.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | -1.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -3.2 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 8.6%, 5 points lower than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.479 here. None of these numbers decides a Fayette County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Fayette County
By the Census industry count, 18% of employed Fayette County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.3% in Fayette County. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Fayette County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.0% | -3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.2% | +6.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.9% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 7.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.1% | +0.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Renting and owning in Fayette County
Renters in Fayette County pay a median of $988 a month, 30% below the Texas figure of $1,403. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $293,900, about 3.9 times the median household income. 79% of Fayette County households own their home and 21% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Fayette County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $988/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $293,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 29% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Fayette 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.
Towns and communities in Fayette County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 39% of Fayette County residents live in one of the 7. Flatonia has the highest median household income on the list ($61,010) and Schulenburg the lowest ($51,294), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $691 in Flatonia to $957 in Schulenburg. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Grange | city | 4,452 | $53,547 | $929 | 4 mi |
| Schulenburg | city | 2,768 | $51,294 | $957 | 14 mi |
| Flatonia | town | 1,830 | $61,010 | $691 | 17 mi |
| Fayetteville | city | 335 | $73,250 | $981 | 15 mi |
| Carmine | city | 173 | $47,292 | $1,750 | 23 mi |
| Plum | CDP | 138 | $51,991 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Round Top | town | 105 | $150,000 | n/a | 19 mi |
Regional comparison for Fayette County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Fayette County's, from 28 to 39 miles away. Bastrop County leads the group on income ($86,226), Lavaca County trails ($63,240), and Fayette County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | - | $75,854 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Bastrop County, TX | 28 mi | $86,226 | $1,410/mo | 76% |
| Lee County, TX | 31 mi | $76,371 | $1,067/mo | 78% |
| Colorado County, TX | 31 mi | $66,377 | $926/mo | 80% |
| Lavaca County, TX | 34 mi | $63,240 | $910/mo | 78% |
| Washington County, TX | 38 mi | $77,825 | $1,165/mo | 70% |
| Austin County, TX | 39 mi | $75,789 | $1,137/mo | 77% |
Who lives in Fayette County, in numbers
27% of Fayette County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 9.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Fayette County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.5% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Fayette County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
What the numbers mean for Fayette County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Fayette County borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 13% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Retirees. At a median age of 48.2, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Budget math at the Fayette County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Fayette County's medians:
- $6,321 a month: gross income for a household at the Fayette County median
- Median rent: $988, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,288 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,730 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Fayette County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Fayette County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Fayette County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Fayette County:
- Price the Fayette County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Fayette County
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Fayette County?
$75,854 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 47th of 254 in the state.
How much is rent in Fayette County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $988 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover La Grange?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Fayette County, such as Schulenburg, Flatonia, Fayetteville.
Can Fayette 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.
Where can someone in Fayette County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.