1st Advantage MortgageHale County households have a median income of $51,897 and median rent of $836 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Hale County
- How much Hale County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Hale County
- What it costs to live in Hale County
- How Hale County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Hale County
- Debt-to-income at Hale County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Hale County
- More Hale County figures
- Texas rules that apply in Hale County
- A Hale County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Hale County
Roughly 32,131 residents live in Hale County, Texas, 90th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,005 square miles, that works out to roughly 32.0 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Hale County is not part of any metropolitan area. Plainview is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 19,711 people (61% of the county total).
How much Hale County households make
At $51,897, the typical Hale County household income is 21% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 218 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Band | Hale County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.0% | +11.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.0% | +7.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.6% | -10.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -9.0 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. 20.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.459 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $51,897 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Hale County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Hale County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Hale County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.5% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Hale County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.5% | +6.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.8% | -1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.6% | -2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Hale County
Renters in Hale County pay a median of $836 a month, 40% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 45% of Hale County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $116,500, or 2.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 61%. Median construction year: 1969.
| Home costs | Hale County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $836/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $116,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 29% | n/a |
How Hale County compares with nearby counties
Floyd County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Crosby County, is 44 miles off. Lubbock County leads the group on income ($64,155), Swisher County trails ($36,165), and Hale County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hale County | - | $51,897 | $836/mo | 61% |
| Floyd County, TX | 30 mi | $58,462 | $676/mo | 73% |
| Lamb County, TX | 30 mi | $60,760 | $968/mo | 74% |
| Lubbock County, TX | 32 mi | $64,155 | $1,178/mo | 56% |
| Swisher County, TX | 32 mi | $36,165 | $783/mo | 66% |
| Castro County, TX | 41 mi | $56,776 | $896/mo | 64% |
| Crosby County, TX | 44 mi | $52,188 | $684/mo | 69% |
Towns and communities in Hale County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 77% of Hale County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $44,768 in Plainview to $57,083 in Hale Center. Rent is cheapest in Hale Center ($594) and steepest in Seth Ward ($863). None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plainview | city | 19,711 | $44,768 | $851 | 10 mi |
| Seth Ward | CDP | 2,205 | $53,990 | $863 | 13 mi |
| Hale Center | city | 2,037 | $57,083 | $594 | 1 mi |
| Petersburg | city | 699 | $51,250 | $642 | 19 mi |
| Edmonson | town | 120 | $65,000 | n/a | 15 mi |
Debt-to-income at Hale County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Hale County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,325 a month: gross income for a household at the Hale County median
- Housing at the median rent of $836 uses 19%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $894 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Hale County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Hale County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Hale County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 21% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Assistance before credit. With a 21% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Hale County loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 45% of Hale County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
More Hale County figures
15% of Hale County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 21% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Hale County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 25.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 21.0% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Texas rules that apply in Hale County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hale County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
A Hale County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hale County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Hale County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hale County household make?
About $51,897 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 34% below the Texas median.
How much is rent in Hale County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $836 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Hale County?
By population: Plainview, Seth Ward, Hale Center, Petersburg, Edmonson. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Hale County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hale County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.