1st Advantage MortgageGray County households have a median income of $59,614 and median rent of $933 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Gray County
- Income in Gray County compared with Texas
- Employment and commuting in Gray County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Gray County
- Counties near Gray County
- Towns and communities in Gray County
- Budget math at the Gray County median
- Gray County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Gray County borrowers
- Checklist for Gray County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Gray County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Gray County
With an estimated 21,045 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Gray County ranks 115th of 254 in Texas for population. It covers 926 square miles of land, or about 23 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Gray County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Pampa is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 16,659 people (79% of the county total).
Income in Gray County compared with Texas
Gray County households have a median income of $59,614 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 172nd of 254 in Texas.
| Yearly household income | Gray County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +9.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -6.4 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 15.7% of Gray County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.489 here. None of these numbers decides a Gray County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Gray County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Gray County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.6% in Gray County. About 85% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.1% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Gray County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.2% | +7.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Gray County
A typical Gray County rental runs $933 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $102,900, about 1.7 times the median household income. 76% of Gray County households own their home and 24% rent. The median home was built in 1961, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Gray County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $933/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $102,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Gray 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?
Counties near Gray County
Six nearby counties, 30 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $58,750 in Donley County to $85,231 in Carson County; 5 of these neighbors top Gray County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray County | - | $59,614 | $933/mo | 76% |
| Roberts County, TX | 30 mi | $67,868 | $859/mo | 85% |
| Carson County, TX | 31 mi | $85,231 | $956/mo | 79% |
| Donley County, TX | 31 mi | $58,750 | $780/mo | 75% |
| Wheeler County, TX | 32 mi | $60,167 | $970/mo | 76% |
| Hemphill County, TX | 41 mi | $61,563 | $836/mo | 71% |
| Collingsworth County, TX | 43 mi | $61,280 | $714/mo | 74% |
Towns and communities in Gray County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Gray County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 18,030 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. McLean has the highest median household income on the list ($63,000) and Lefors the lowest ($52,188), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Lefors ($892) and steepest in Pampa ($934). None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pampa | city | 16,659 | $56,626 | $934 | 13 mi |
| McLean | town | 799 | $63,000 | $933 | 17 mi |
| Lefors | town | 557 | $52,188 | $892 | 3 mi |
| Alanreed | CDP | 15 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Budget math at the Gray County median
How much room does a median Gray County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,968 gross per month ($59,614 / 12)
- Less median rent of $933, which is 19% of it
- $806: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,303 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Gray County households compared
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 17.7%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| People and households | Gray County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.3% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Gray County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 10.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
What the numbers mean for Gray County borrowers
A few patterns in the Gray County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Gray County. For the 18% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Gray County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in Gray County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Checklist for Gray County applicants
Quick steps for Gray County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Gray County residents
Consumer lenders serving Gray 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. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Gray County?
$59,614 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 172nd of 254 in the state.
What do renters pay in Gray County?
$933 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I own my home in Gray County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Gray County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Pampa, McLean, Lefors, Alanreed.
Will a Gray County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.