1st Advantage MortgageIn Grayson County, Texas, the typical household earns $72,182 a year and the typical rent is $1,310. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Grayson County
- How Grayson County residents earn a living
- How much Grayson County households make
- What it costs to live in Grayson County
- Grayson County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Grayson County
- Debt-to-income at Grayson County's medians
- Before borrowing in Grayson County
- Who lives in Grayson County, in numbers
- Texas rules that apply in Grayson County
- Four steps for Grayson County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Grayson County
Grayson County is home to about 143,337 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 35th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. It covers 933 square miles of land, or about 154 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Sherman-Denison, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 17 Census places inside Grayson County, Sherman leads by population with about 46,397; 15 of the 17 are incorporated.
How Grayson County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 20% of employed Grayson County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Manufacturing stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Grayson County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.0% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.6% | -3.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Grayson County households make
Grayson County households have a median income of $72,182 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 70th of 254 in Texas.
| Income band | Share in Grayson County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.7% | -0.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -4.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 34% of Grayson County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.2%, 3 points lower than the state's 13.8%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Grayson County
A typical Grayson County rental runs $1,310 a month including utilities, which is 7% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. With a median value of $248,400, a typical Grayson County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 67% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Housing | Grayson County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,310/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $248,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Grayson County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Marshall County at 28 miles out to Denton County at 39. Income ranges from $57,225 in Bryan County to $121,600 in Collin County; 4 of these neighbors top Grayson County's median. Some neighbors are in Oklahoma. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Grayson County resident follows Texas rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayson County | - | $72,182 | $1,310/mo | 67% |
| Marshall County, OK | 28 mi | $57,245 | $824/mo | 78% |
| Collin County, TX | 30 mi | $121,600 | $1,859/mo | 65% |
| Cooke County, TX | 31 mi | $73,932 | $1,047/mo | 72% |
| Fannin County, TX | 33 mi | $72,295 | $1,035/mo | 79% |
| Bryan County, OK | 33 mi | $57,225 | $960/mo | 64% |
| Denton County, TX | 39 mi | $111,498 | $1,728/mo | 65% |
The communities that make up Grayson County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 72% of Grayson County residents live in one of the 17. Incomes vary by place: $120,000 at the median in Gunter, $51,108 in Howe. No Grayson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 17.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherman | city | 46,397 | $58,859 | $1,324 | 3 mi |
| Denison | city | 25,778 | $67,365 | $1,309 | 11 mi |
| Van Alstyne | city | 5,952 | $102,469 | $1,345 | 15 mi |
| Whitesboro | city | 4,173 | $70,134 | $1,305 | 13 mi |
| Howe | town | 3,689 | $51,108 | $1,217 | 9 mi |
| Pottsboro | town | 2,691 | $69,439 | $1,283 | 10 mi |
| Bells | town | 2,497 | $92,075 | $981 | 15 mi |
| Gunter | city | 2,398 | $120,000 | $1,636 | 17 mi |
| Collinsville | town | 2,060 | $60,417 | $1,127 | 14 mi |
| Preston | CDP | 1,747 | $65,069 | $1,289 | 17 mi |
| Southmayd | city | 1,413 | $86,250 | $1,715 | 2 mi |
| Tioga | town | 1,322 | $86,250 | $1,762 | 17 mi |
| Sherwood Shores | CDP | 830 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Tom Bean | city | 799 | $88,824 | $1,581 | 13 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Debt-to-income at Grayson County's medians
How much room does a median Grayson County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Grayson County: $6,015
- Less median rent of $1,310, which is 22% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $855 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Grayson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Grayson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Grayson County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Grayson County. For the 16% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Who lives in Grayson County, in numbers
24% of Grayson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 15.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Grayson County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Grayson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
Texas rules that apply in Grayson County
Grayson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Four steps for Grayson County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Grayson County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Grayson County?
$72,182 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 70th of 254 in the state.
Is Grayson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,310 against $1,403 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Grayson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sherman, Denison, Van Alstyne, Whitesboro, Howe and 12 more.
Are Grayson 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Grayson County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.