1st Advantage MortgageThe median Hall County household earns $48,459, and 16% 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
- Hall County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Hall County
- Household income in Hall County
- Renting and owning in Hall County
- Hall County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Hall County
- What a median Hall County budget can carry
- Hall County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Hall County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Hall County
- A Hall County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Hall County
- Frequently asked questions
Hall County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hall County's population at 2,820; only 224 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 883 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Memphis is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 2,174 people (77% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Hall County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Work, industries and travel time in Hall County
The biggest employer of Hall County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (19%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (19% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Hall County averages 9.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 77% drive to work alone and 6% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Hall County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.7% | +16.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.0% | +2.5 pts |
| Public administration | 10.6% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.7% | -1.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Household income in Hall County
The median household income in Hall County is $48,459; statewide it is $78,476, so Hall County runs 38% below Texas as a whole. Only 232 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Hall County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.4% | +18.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 10.2% | -16.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 16% of Hall County households make $100,000 or more, and 39% make less than $35,000. 16.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Hall County
Renters in Hall County pay a median of $529 a month, 62% below the Texas figure of $1,403. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 27% of renter households here. Home values center on $86,100, or 1.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 74%.
| Housing | Hall County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $529/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $86,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 33% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Hall County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hall County's, from 22 to 39 miles away. Income ranges from $45,417 in Briscoe County to $61,280 in Collingsworth County; 5 of these neighbors top Hall County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall County | - | $48,459 | $529/mo | 74% |
| Childress County, TX | 22 mi | $58,654 | $913/mo | 71% |
| Motley County, TX | 30 mi | $61,154 | $675/mo | 77% |
| Cottle County, TX | 30 mi | $59,063 | $264/mo | 83% |
| Briscoe County, TX | 36 mi | $45,417 | $631/mo | 83% |
| Donley County, TX | 37 mi | $58,750 | $780/mo | 75% |
| Collingsworth County, TX | 39 mi | $61,280 | $714/mo | 74% |
Towns and communities in Hall County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Hall County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 2,600 residents, leaving about 8% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | city | 2,174 | $47,639 | $491 | 19 mi |
| Turkey | city | 274 | $49,450 | $554 | 19 mi |
| Estelline | town | 90 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Lakeview | town | 62 | $46,875 | n/a | 17 mi |
What a median Hall County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hall County's medians:
- Start: $4,038 gross per month ($48,459 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $529, takes 13% of that
- $925: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Hall County households compared
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Hall County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 66.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
What the numbers mean for Hall County borrowers
Where the Hall County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Hall County. For the 16% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Hall County borrower sees (free reports).
Lender oversight for Hall County
Consumer lenders serving Hall 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. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
A Hall County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hall County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
More guides for Hall County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hall County household make?
About $48,459 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 38% below the Texas median.
Is Hall County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $529 against $1,403 statewide, and 27% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Hall County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Hall 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 Hall County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Memphis, Turkey, Estelline, Lakeview.
Will a Hall County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.