1st Advantage MortgageThe median Fort Bend County household earns $114,041, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Fort Bend County
- Paychecks and income spread in Fort Bend County
- Jobs and commutes in Fort Bend County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Fort Bend County
- Fort Bend County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Fort Bend County
- Budget math at the Fort Bend County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Fort Bend County
- Who lives in Fort Bend County, in numbers
- Checklist for Fort Bend County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Fort Bend County
- More guides for Fort Bend County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Fort Bend County
With an estimated 893,767 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Fort Bend County ranks 8th of 254 in Texas for population. Packed into 862 square miles, that is close to 1,037 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 25 places in the county (17 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Sugar Land, with about 110,016 residents, or 12% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Fort Bend County
At $114,041, the typical Fort Bend County household income is 74% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 3 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Fort Bend County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.4% | -9.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.7% | -7.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.9% | +7.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 22.0% | +9.5 pts |
About 12% of households earn under $35,000, while 56% clear $100,000. Census counts 7.6% of Fort Bend County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. For a borrower in Fort Bend 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.
Jobs and commutes in Fort Bend County
The biggest employer of Fort Bend County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (15%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward education and health care (24% against 22%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.1% in Fort Bend County. Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.2% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Top industries | Fort Bend County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.0% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.7% | -1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Fort Bend County
A typical Fort Bend County rental runs $1,807 a month including utilities, which is 29% above Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. Home values center on $374,500, or 3.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 2005.
| Fort Bend County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,807/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $374,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
Because most Fort Bend County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Fort Bend County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (32 to 45 miles). Income ranges from $66,377 in Colorado County to $97,993 in Brazoria County; none of these neighbors top Fort Bend County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bend County | - | $114,041 | $1,807/mo | 77% |
| Brazoria County, TX | 32 mi | $97,993 | $1,454/mo | 74% |
| Harris County, TX | 32 mi | $74,983 | $1,401/mo | 55% |
| Wharton County, TX | 32 mi | $66,924 | $1,046/mo | 72% |
| Waller County, TX | 36 mi | $80,397 | $1,169/mo | 72% |
| Austin County, TX | 39 mi | $75,789 | $1,137/mo | 77% |
| Colorado County, TX | 45 mi | $66,377 | $926/mo | 80% |
Places inside Fort Bend County
The table lists the 14 largest of 25 Census places in Fort Bend County, by population. Together all 25 hold about 456,749 people, so roughly 49% of residents live outside any named place. Fulshear has the highest median household income on the list ($187,035) and Fifth Street the lowest ($29,150), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Fairchilds ($995) and steepest in Sienna ($2,837). City guides exist for the linked Fort Bend County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Land | city | 110,016 | $136,217 | $1,957 | 9 mi |
| Missouri City | city | 76,558 | $94,390 | $1,931 | 14 mi |
| Rosenberg | city | 40,646 | $65,668 | $1,379 | 3 mi |
| Mission Bend | CDP | 36,586 | $67,282 | $1,747 | 13 mi |
| Fulshear | city | 34,868 | $187,035 | $1,952 | 13 mi |
| Sienna | CDP | 24,992 | $177,837 | $2,837 | 16 mi |
| Fresno | CDP | 24,560 | $91,264 | $2,028 | 18 mi |
| Pecan Grove | CDP | 24,272 | $131,937 | $1,507 | 7 mi |
| Cinco Ranch | CDP | 18,611 | $161,972 | $1,986 | 15 mi |
| Stafford | city | 17,401 | $87,432 | $1,519 | 14 mi |
| Richmond | city | 12,582 | $50,337 | $1,319 | 4 mi |
| Four Corners | CDP | 11,692 | $76,452 | $1,519 | 12 mi |
| Meadows Place | city | 4,689 | $90,057 | $1,600 | 14 mi |
| Weston Lakes | city | 4,217 | $145,394 | n/a | 13 mi |
Budget math at the Fort Bend County median
How much room does a median Fort Bend County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $114,041 a year is $9,503 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,807, which is 19% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $4,086 total minus rent leaves $2,279
If your rent is above $1,807, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Fort Bend County
A few patterns in the Fort Bend County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Fort Bend County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 27% of Fort Bend County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 56% of Fort Bend County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- 54% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Who lives in Fort Bend County, in numbers
50% of Fort Bend County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 11.7%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Fort Bend County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 50.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Fort Bend County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 13.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.5% |
Checklist for Fort Bend County applicants
Steps that save money for Fort Bend County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fort Bend County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Fort Bend County
Consumer lenders serving Fort Bend County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is 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. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
More guides for Fort Bend County
Guides that cover parts of Fort Bend County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Fort Bend County a high-income county?
Its $114,041 median ranks 4th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Fort Bend County rent compare with Texas?
$1,807 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 29% above.
Which towns does the Fort Bend County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 25 Census places: Sugar Land, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Mission Bend, Fulshear.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Fort Bend County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.
Is there a Fort Bend County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.