1st Advantage MortgageHenderson County households have a median income of $65,179 and median rent of $1,048 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Henderson County
- What Henderson County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Henderson County
- What it costs to live in Henderson County
- Henderson County and the counties next door
- Places inside Henderson County
- More Henderson County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Henderson County
- Room for a loan payment in Henderson County
- Who licenses lenders for Henderson County residents
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Henderson County
Roughly 84,862 residents live in Henderson County, Texas, 48th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 874 square miles of land, or about 97 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Henderson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 20 Census places inside Henderson County, Athens leads by population with about 13,200; 19 of the 20 are incorporated.
What Henderson County households earn
Half of Henderson County households take in less than $65,179 a year and half take in more, 17% below the Texas median of $78,476. That places it 126th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Band | Henderson County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Henderson County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.7% of Henderson County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. None of these numbers decides a Henderson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Henderson County
The biggest employer of Henderson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (10%). The survey's unemployment rate for Henderson County averages 4.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Henderson County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -3.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
What it costs to live in Henderson County
A typical Henderson County rental runs $1,048 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Texas. By the Census definition, 54% of Henderson County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $211,300, about 3.2 times the median household income. 78% of Henderson County households own their home and 22% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Housing | Henderson County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,048/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $211,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Henderson County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Henderson County and the counties next door
Van Zandt County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Freestone County, is 39 miles off. Kaufman County leads the group on income ($89,485), Freestone County trails ($59,960), and Henderson County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County | - | $65,179 | $1,048/mo | 78% |
| Van Zandt County, TX | 24 mi | $69,475 | $1,066/mo | 81% |
| Anderson County, TX | 28 mi | $62,068 | $1,041/mo | 72% |
| Smith County, TX | 36 mi | $74,192 | $1,238/mo | 69% |
| Kaufman County, TX | 37 mi | $89,485 | $1,554/mo | 78% |
| Navarro County, TX | 38 mi | $63,111 | $1,076/mo | 69% |
| Freestone County, TX | 39 mi | $59,960 | $853/mo | 75% |
Places inside Henderson County
The table lists the 14 largest of 20 Census places in Henderson County, by population. Together all 20 hold about 42,767 people, so roughly 50% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,573 in Chandler to $72,500 in Sunrise Shores. Rent is cheapest in Berryville ($594) and steepest in Tool ($1,386). No Henderson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 20.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | city | 13,200 | $67,984 | $1,112 | 1 mi |
| Gun Barrel City | city | 6,570 | $71,310 | $960 | 18 mi |
| Mabank | town | 5,187 | $54,889 | $994 | 19 mi |
| Chandler | city | 3,518 | $49,573 | $895 | 23 mi |
| Tool | city | 2,367 | $71,333 | $1,386 | 19 mi |
| Malakoff | city | 2,045 | $56,719 | $834 | 10 mi |
| Brownsboro | city | 1,658 | $62,250 | $1,246 | 15 mi |
| Payne Springs | town | 1,201 | $63,145 | $1,158 | 14 mi |
| Berryville | town | 1,184 | $68,194 | $594 | 24 mi |
| Eustace | city | 1,039 | $68,250 | $1,007 | 11 mi |
| Log Cabin | city | 998 | $53,438 | $1,076 | 10 mi |
| Trinidad | city | 806 | $50,333 | $727 | 15 mi |
| Sunrise Shores | CDP | 607 | $72,500 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Murchison | city | 568 | $56,908 | $1,097 | 7 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
More Henderson County figures
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 16.7%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| People and households | Henderson County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Henderson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 14.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Henderson County
A few patterns in the Henderson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 17% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Henderson County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 26% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Tight rental budgets. With 54% of Henderson County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Room for a loan payment in Henderson County
Here is the Henderson County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Henderson County: $5,432
- Median rent: $1,048, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $853 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,444 total minus rent leaves $1,396
Two-income households and single earners in Henderson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Henderson County residents
Henderson County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Henderson County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Henderson County household make?
About $65,179 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the Texas median.
What do renters pay in Henderson County?
$1,048 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I own my home in Henderson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Athens?
Yes, along with the other 19 Census places in Henderson County, such as Gun Barrel City, Mabank, Chandler.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Henderson County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.