1st Advantage MortgageIn Freestone County, Texas, the typical household earns $59,960 a year and the typical rent is $853. 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
- Getting oriented in Freestone County
- Freestone County housing compared with Texas
- Income in Freestone County compared with Texas
- Jobs and commutes in Freestone County
- How Freestone County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Freestone County
- Freestone County households compared
- Reading the Freestone County data as a borrower
- What a median Freestone County budget can carry
- Lender oversight for Freestone County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Freestone County
Roughly 20,049 residents live in Freestone County, Texas, 122nd by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 878 square miles of land, or about 23 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Freestone County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Freestone County, Teague leads by population with about 3,476; 5 of the 5 are incorporated.
Freestone County housing compared with Texas
Renters in Freestone County pay a median of $853 a month, 39% below the Texas figure of $1,403. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $168,000, a typical Freestone County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 75% of Freestone County households own their home and 25% rent. Median construction year: 1987.
| Cost | Freestone County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $853/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Freestone 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.
Income in Freestone County compared with Texas
Half of Freestone County households take in less than $59,960 a year and half take in more, 24% below the Texas median of $78,476. Only 167 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Freestone County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.8% | +7.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.0% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -5.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Freestone County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.3%, 1 point lower than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.447 here. A household earning below the $59,960 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Freestone County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Freestone County residents work in education and health care and 11% in transportation, warehousing and utilities. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 2.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Freestone County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +4.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.6% | +3.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -3.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.6% | +6.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.4% | -3.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | -1.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
How Freestone County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 50 miles). Henderson County leads the group on income ($65,179), Houston County trails ($56,531), and Freestone County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freestone County | - | $59,960 | $853/mo | 75% |
| Limestone County, TX | 28 mi | $60,573 | $905/mo | 72% |
| Leon County, TX | 29 mi | $61,449 | $907/mo | 77% |
| Anderson County, TX | 30 mi | $62,068 | $1,041/mo | 72% |
| Navarro County, TX | 31 mi | $63,111 | $1,076/mo | 69% |
| Henderson County, TX | 39 mi | $65,179 | $1,048/mo | 78% |
| Houston County, TX | 50 mi | $56,531 | $887/mo | 71% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Freestone County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Freestone County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 8,195 people, so roughly 59% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $37,396 in Oakwood to $61,433 in Teague. Rent is cheapest in Teague ($637) and steepest in Fairfield ($994). No Freestone County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teague | city | 3,476 | $61,433 | $637 | 9 mi |
| Fairfield | city | 2,924 | $47,250 | $994 | 2 mi |
| Wortham | town | 1,160 | $46,316 | $850 | 20 mi |
| Oakwood | town | 570 | $37,396 | $680 | 19 mi |
| Kirvin | town | 65 | $89,000 | n/a | 12 mi |
Freestone County households compared
17% of Freestone County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 12.6%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Residents | Freestone County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Freestone County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Reading the Freestone County data as a borrower
Based on the Freestone County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 24% of Freestone County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
What a median Freestone County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Freestone County's medians:
- Start: $4,997 gross per month ($59,960 / 12)
- 17% goes to median rent ($853)
- $1,146: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Freestone County's.
Lender oversight for Freestone County
Consumer lenders serving Freestone 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. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Freestone County household make?
About $59,960 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 24% below the Texas median.
How does Freestone County rent compare with Texas?
$853 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 39% below.
Should Freestone County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Freestone County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Freestone County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Teague, Fairfield, Wortham, Oakwood, Kirvin.
Are Freestone County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.