1st Advantage MortgageHill County households have a median income of $64,591 and median rent of $946 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Hill County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Hill County
- What Hill County households earn
- Hill County housing compared with Texas
- Places inside Hill County
- Hill County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Hill County median
- People and households in Hill County
- Local borrowing considerations for Hill County
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- More guides for Hill County
- Frequently asked questions
Hill County at a glance
Roughly 37,328 residents live in Hill County, Texas, 84th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 959 square miles, that works out to roughly 38.9 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (14 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Hillsboro, with about 8,506 residents, or 23% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Hill County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 12%. Construction stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 28% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Hill County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 12.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.5% | +1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What Hill County households earn
Half of Hill County households take in less than $64,591 a year and half take in more, 18% below the Texas median of $78,476. In the state ranking that is 130th of 254.
| Yearly household income | Hill County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.2% | +3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -6.8 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. Census counts 14.7% of Hill County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. For a borrower in Hill County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Hill County housing compared with Texas
Renters in Hill County pay a median of $946 a month, 33% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 53% of Hill County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $179,200, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Measure | Hill County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $946/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $179,200 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Hill 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.
Places inside Hill County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Hill County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 16,726 people, so roughly 55% of residents live outside any named place. Itasca has the highest median household income on the list ($77,227) and Whitney the lowest ($48,571), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro | city | 8,506 | $56,083 | $980 | 2 mi |
| Itasca | city | 2,073 | $77,227 | $785 | 12 mi |
| Whitney | town | 2,050 | $48,571 | $809 | 11 mi |
| Hubbard | city | 1,327 | $50,859 | $868 | 22 mi |
| Abbott | city | 470 | $103,214 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Mount Calm | city | 439 | $49,934 | $1,143 | 21 mi |
| Blum | town | 336 | $53,750 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Carl's Corner | town | 298 | $81,250 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Malone | town | 280 | $31,083 | $850 | 15 mi |
| Covington | city | 274 | $43,977 | $1,031 | 16 mi |
| Bynum | town | 236 | $83,750 | $933 | 8 mi |
| Penelope | town | 235 | $60,000 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Mertens | town | 123 | $43,000 | $630 | 15 mi |
| Aquilla | city | 79 | $36,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
Hill County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 41 miles). Ellis County leads the group on income ($99,595), Navarro County trails ($63,111), and Hill County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill County | - | $64,591 | $946/mo | 78% |
| McLennan County, TX | 30 mi | $66,643 | $1,173/mo | 62% |
| Bosque County, TX | 30 mi | $68,914 | $928/mo | 76% |
| Johnson County, TX | 31 mi | $84,859 | $1,398/mo | 75% |
| Ellis County, TX | 32 mi | $99,595 | $1,594/mo | 76% |
| Navarro County, TX | 39 mi | $63,111 | $1,076/mo | 69% |
| Somervell County, TX | 41 mi | $79,825 | $773/mo | 80% |
Budget math at the Hill County median
Hill County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $64,591 a year is $5,383 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $946, takes 18% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,207 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Hill County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Hill County
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 18.6%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Hill County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.3% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Hill County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 16.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Hill County
A few patterns in the Hill County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Hill County. For the 19% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 28% of Hill County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Hill County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hill County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Hill County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
More guides for Hill County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Hill County household make?
About $64,591 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 18% below the Texas median.
Is Hill County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $946 against $1,403 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Hill County?
By population: Hillsboro, Itasca, Whitney, Hubbard, Abbott. The county has 14 Census places in all.
Can Hill 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.
Is there a Hill County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.