1st Advantage MortgageThe median Harrison County household earns $66,103, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Harrison County
- Paychecks and income spread in Harrison County
- Housing costs in Harrison County
- Employment and commuting in Harrison County
- How Harrison County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Harrison County
- More Harrison County figures
- Before borrowing in Harrison County
- Debt-to-income at Harrison County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Four steps for Harrison County borrowers
- More guides for Harrison County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Harrison County
Roughly 70,155 residents live in Harrison County, Texas, 53rd by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 900 square miles, that is close to 78 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Longview, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 6 Census places inside Harrison County, Marshall leads by population with about 23,825; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Harrison County
At $66,103, the typical Harrison County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 116th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Band | Harrison County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.8% | +7.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.3% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -7.0 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 15.6%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.461 here. None of these numbers decides a Harrison County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in Harrison County
Renters in Harrison County pay a median of $974 a month, 31% below the Texas figure of $1,403. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. With a median value of $180,400, a typical Harrison County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Harrison County households own their home and 23% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1984.
| Cost | Harrison County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $974/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $180,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.6% | 6.4% | n/a |
Because most Harrison County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Employment and commuting in Harrison County
The biggest employer of Harrison County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 26% locally and 22% for Texas. The survey's unemployment rate for Harrison County averages 5.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.8% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Harrison County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -4.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | -1.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Harrison County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Marion County at 17 miles out to Cass County at 37. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Harrison County; Gregg County is highest at $66,550 and Marion County lowest at $49,672. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County | - | $66,103 | $974/mo | 77% |
| Marion County, TX | 17 mi | $49,672 | $911/mo | 78% |
| Gregg County, TX | 26 mi | $66,550 | $1,102/mo | 60% |
| Panola County, TX | 27 mi | $64,894 | $834/mo | 80% |
| Caddo Parish, LA | 29 mi | $50,705 | $974/mo | 60% |
| Upshur County, TX | 35 mi | $66,208 | $995/mo | 81% |
| Cass County, TX | 37 mi | $53,813 | $852/mo | 77% |
Places inside Harrison County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Harrison County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 31,192 residents, leaving about 56% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Hallsville has the highest median household income on the list ($85,313) and Marshall the lowest ($55,089), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $928 in Waskom to $1,255 in Hallsville. None of the 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | city | 23,825 | $55,089 | $949 | 1 mi |
| Hallsville | city | 4,628 | $85,313 | $1,255 | 12 mi |
| Waskom | city | 2,084 | $55,781 | $928 | 19 mi |
| Scottsville | city | 297 | $36,818 | $1,200 | 8 mi |
| Nesbitt | town | 268 | $110,592 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Uncertain | city | 90 | $33,250 | n/a | 18 mi |
More Harrison County figures
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Harrison County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.7% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.1% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Harrison County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Before borrowing in Harrison County
Based on the Harrison County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Harrison County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Debt-to-income at Harrison County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Harrison County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Harrison County: $5,509
- Rent at the median, $974, takes 18% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,009 a month
- $1,395: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Harrison County's.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Harrison County borrowers answers to 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.
Four steps for Harrison County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Harrison County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Harrison County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Harrison County
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Harrison County earn?
The median is $66,103; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Harrison County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $974 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Harrison County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Marshall, Hallsville, Waskom, Scottsville, Nesbitt and 1 more.
Will a Harrison County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Harrison County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.