1st Advantage MortgageIn Hamilton County, Texas, the typical household earns $58,219 a year and the typical rent is $885. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Hamilton County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Population and place: Hamilton County
- Work, industries and travel time in Hamilton County
- What it costs to live in Hamilton County
- What stands out in Hamilton County
- Income in Hamilton County compared with Texas
- Hamilton County and the counties next door
- Hamilton and the rest of Hamilton County
- More Hamilton County figures
- Before borrowing in Hamilton County
- Debt-to-income, Hamilton County edition
- Verifying a lender from Hamilton County
- Before you sign
- Beyond Hamilton County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Hamilton County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hamilton County's population at 8,406; only 174 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 10.1 residents per square mile across 836 square miles of land. Metro status: none; Hamilton County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Of the 4 Census places inside Hamilton County, Hamilton leads by population with about 2,934; 3 of the 4 are incorporated. Because Hamilton County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Work, industries and travel time in Hamilton County
Education and health care (25%), arts, lodging and food service (11%) and construction (11%) lead Hamilton County's job mix. Relative to Texas (2%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 6 points bigger in Hamilton County (8%). 5.4% of Hamilton County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Hamilton County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | +3.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.2% | +5.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | 0.0 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 Hamilton County
Renters in Hamilton County pay a median of $885 a month, 37% below the Texas figure of $1,403. About 6 in 10 Hamilton County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Hamilton County homes are worth $147,700 at the median, a 2.5-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 79%.
| Housing | Hamilton County | Texas statewide | Hamilton County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 29% | 9% | +19.3 pts |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | +16.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 52% | +6.5 pts |
| Median home value | $147,700 | $283,800 | 48% lower |
| Median gross rent | $885/mo | $1,403/mo | 37% lower |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 29% | -3.5 pts |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% | 6.4% | +1.3 pts |
With 79% of Hamilton County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk. 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?
What stands out in Hamilton County
- Hamilton County ranks 9th highest of 249 Texas counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 58%, against 52% statewide. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
- Hamilton County ranks 37th highest of 254 Texas counties for the housing vacancy rate: 29%, against 9% statewide. High vacancy often reflects seasonal or second homes.
Income in Hamilton County compared with Texas
The median household income in Hamilton County is $58,219; statewide it is $78,476, so Hamilton County runs 26% below Texas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 188th of 254.
| Income band | Share in Hamilton County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.3% | +12.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.5% | -1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -6.7 pts |
34% under $35,000 and 28% at $100,000 or more: that is the Hamilton County income split. 16.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Hamilton County median.
Hamilton County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 29 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Lampasas County leads the group on income ($81,736), Comanche County trails ($59,635), and Hamilton County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton County | - | $58,219 | $885/mo | 79% |
| Coryell County, TX | 29 mi | $71,301 | $1,186/mo | 59% |
| Comanche County, TX | 31 mi | $59,635 | $855/mo | 80% |
| Bosque County, TX | 31 mi | $68,914 | $928/mo | 76% |
| Mills County, TX | 32 mi | $67,620 | $708/mo | 80% |
| Lampasas County, TX | 36 mi | $81,736 | $1,059/mo | 80% |
| Erath County, TX | 37 mi | $65,115 | $1,146/mo | 63% |
Hamilton and the rest of Hamilton County
Places, by size: the top 4 of 4. Roughly 38% of Hamilton County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Hico has the highest median household income on the list ($67,500) and Hamilton the lowest ($43,780), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Hamilton County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | city | 2,934 | $43,780 | $888 | 1 mi |
| Hico | city | 1,771 | $67,500 | $767 | 20 mi |
| Evant | town | 535 | $44,779 | $716 | 16 mi |
| Carlton | CDP | 10 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
More Hamilton County figures
In Hamilton County, 27% of adults have at least a four-year degree (34% in Texas). About 14% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Hamilton County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | +7.9 yrs | +2.0 yrs |
| Work from home | 7.0% | -7.4 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.8% | -7.0 pts | +4.6 pts |
| No health insurance | 13.5% | -3.6 pts | +5.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | -2.9 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | +2.7 pts | +3.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | -1.2 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | +0.2 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Before borrowing in Hamilton County
Hamilton County-specific points to check:
- Medical bills. 14% of Hamilton County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Rent at $885. With 58% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income, Hamilton County edition
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hamilton County's medians:
- Start: $4,852 gross per month ($58,219 / 12)
- Median rent: $885, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $813: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,183 total minus rent leaves $1,298
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Hamilton County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Verifying a lender from Hamilton County
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Nationally, Hamilton County residents can file with the CFPB. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Hamilton County borrowers:
- Price the Hamilton County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Hamilton County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Beyond Hamilton County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamilton County a high-income county?
Its $58,219 median ranks 188th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Can a Hamilton County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $885 median rent and $4,852 median monthly income, rent alone uses 18%; add other debts before a new payment.
Should Hamilton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Hamilton County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Hamilton County?
By population: Hamilton, Hico, Evant, Carlton. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Can Hamilton County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Texas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.