1st Advantage MortgageIn Hardin County, Texas, the typical household earns $75,808 a year and the typical rent is $1,049. 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
- Hardin County, TX: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Hardin County
- Housing costs in Hardin County
- Employment and commuting in Hardin County
- Places inside Hardin County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- What a median Hardin County budget can carry
- People and households in Hardin County
- Reading the Hardin County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Hardin County, TX: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Hardin County's population at 57,642; only 60 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 891 square miles, that is close to 65 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Lumberton, with about 13,963 residents, or 24% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Hardin County
Hardin County households have a median income of $75,808 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 50th of 254 in Texas.
| Yearly household income | Hardin County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.3% | +0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -3.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Hardin County households make $100,000 or more, and 22% make less than $35,000. 12.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.420 here. A household earning below the $75,808 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Hardin County
A typical Hardin County rental runs $1,049 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. With a median value of $205,700, a typical Hardin County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Hardin County households own their home and 18% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1994.
| Cost | Hardin County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,049/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $205,700 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 29% | 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).
Employment and commuting in Hardin County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Hardin County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward manufacturing (14% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for Hardin County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 85% drive to work alone and 22% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Hardin County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 11.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -5.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Places inside Hardin County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 48% of Hardin County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $157,553 at the median in Pinewood Estates, $59,907 in Silsbee. Median rent ranges from $873 in Kountze to $1,286 in Sour Lake. None of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumberton | city | 13,963 | $107,623 | $1,067 | 12 mi |
| Silsbee | city | 6,842 | $59,907 | $1,011 | 13 mi |
| Kountze | city | 2,367 | $65,969 | $873 | 5 mi |
| Sour Lake | city | 2,130 | $73,241 | $1,286 | 13 mi |
| Pinewood Estates | CDP | 1,516 | $157,553 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wildwood | CDP | 584 | $64,366 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Rose Hill Acres | city | 324 | $81,875 | n/a | 15 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Hardin County's, from 29 to 41 miles away. Income ranges from $55,396 in Tyler County to $72,104 in Orange County; none of these neighbors top Hardin County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County | - | $75,808 | $1,049/mo | 82% |
| Liberty County, TX | 29 mi | $68,703 | $1,044/mo | 82% |
| Tyler County, TX | 30 mi | $55,396 | $1,049/mo | 81% |
| Orange County, TX | 33 mi | $72,104 | $1,100/mo | 75% |
| Jefferson County, TX | 36 mi | $60,026 | $1,117/mo | 63% |
| Jasper County, TX | 37 mi | $56,723 | $848/mo | 79% |
| Polk County, TX | 41 mi | $62,259 | $987/mo | 78% |
What a median Hardin County budget can carry
How much room does a median Hardin 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, Hardin County: $6,317
- Housing at the median rent of $1,049 uses 17%
- $1,225: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,667 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,049, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Hardin County
21% of Hardin County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 15.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Hardin County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Reading the Hardin County data as a borrower
Where the Hardin County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 16% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Long drives. With 22% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Hardin County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hardin County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Hardin County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Hardin County earn?
The median is $75,808; 38% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Hardin County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,049 against $1,403 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Hardin County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lumberton, Silsbee, Kountze, Sour Lake, Pinewood Estates and 2 more.
Can Hardin 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hardin 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.