1st Advantage MortgageThe median Howard County household earns $69,649, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. For a Howard County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Texas license.
On this page
- Howard County in brief
- Where Howard County households live
- Jobs and commutes in Howard County
- Earnings across Howard County households
- Howard County next to its neighbors
- The communities that make up Howard County
- More Howard County figures
- Before borrowing in Howard County
- Debt-to-income, Howard County edition
- Texas lender licensing
- Steps before you apply in Howard County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Howard County in brief
Roughly 32,290 residents live in Howard County, Texas, 89th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Howard County spans 901 square miles; with 32,290 people, that is 35.8 per square mile. Howard County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Big Spring is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 23,975 people (74% of the county total).
Where Howard County households live
$1,034 a month is the median gross rent in Howard County, 26% below the state. By the Census definition, 51% of Howard County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $155,600, about 2.2 times the median household income. Homeowners 70%, renters 30%. Median construction year: 1966.
| Home costs | Howard County | Texas | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 21% | 29% | -7.5 pts |
| Owners | 70% | 63% | +6.9 pts |
| Median home value | $155,600 | $283,800 | 45% lower |
| Median gross rent | $1,034/mo | $1,403/mo | 26% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | -0.9 pts |
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?
Jobs and commutes in Howard County
Education and health care (27%), agriculture, forestry and mining (12%) and transportation, warehousing and utilities (10%) lead Howard County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 12% locally and 2% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Howard County. 53% of Howard County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 17% need 45 or more. No car: 6.3% of Howard County households.
| Where residents work | Howard County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +5.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.5% | +9.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.4% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.2% | -1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 8.8% | +4.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Earnings across Howard County households
The median household income in Howard County is $69,649; statewide it is $78,476, so Howard County runs 11% below Texas as a whole. That places it 88th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Howard County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.6% | +3.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.0% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.3% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Howard County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Poverty rate, Howard County: 13.8%; Texas: 13.8%. None of these numbers decides a Howard County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Howard County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Mitchell County at 30 miles out to Dawson County at 42. Glasscock County leads the group on income ($101,250), Dawson County trails ($54,360), and Howard County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | - | $69,649 | $1,034/mo | 70% |
| Mitchell County, TX | 30 mi | $60,550 | $524/mo | 79% |
| Borden County, TX | 30 mi | $65,625 | n/a | 66% |
| Glasscock County, TX | 30 mi | $101,250 | $648/mo | 68% |
| Martin County, TX | 31 mi | $93,734 | $971/mo | 78% |
| Sterling County, TX | 39 mi | $64,954 | $952/mo | 78% |
| Dawson County, TX | 42 mi | $54,360 | $777/mo | 71% |
The communities that make up Howard County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 80% of Howard County residents live in one of the 4. Coahoma has the highest median household income on the list ($68,828) and Sand Springs the lowest ($48,457), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Howard County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Spring | city | 23,975 | $67,581 | $1,050 | 5 mi |
| Coahoma | town | 749 | $68,828 | $1,171 | 8 mi |
| Sand Springs | CDP | 682 | $48,457 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Forsan | city | 371 | $92,950 | $524 | 14 mi |
More Howard County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. Uninsured, Howard County: 13.6%; Texas: 17.1%.
| People and households | Howard County | Compared with Texas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | +1.1 yrs | -4.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.7% | -18.1 pts | -6.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 18.9% | +4.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.6% | -3.6 pts | +5.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | +0.8 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Work from home | 3.0% | -11.3 pts | -5.6 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 0.0 pts | +0.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | +0.1 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 53.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Before borrowing in Howard County
A few patterns in the Howard County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 14% of Howard County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Debt-to-income, Howard County edition
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Howard County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,804 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,034, takes 18% of that
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,055 left for all other debt payments
A household below the $69,649 median has less room than this, often none.
Texas lender licensing
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Howard County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Howard County
Steps that save money for Howard County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Howard County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
No city in Howard County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Howard County a high-income county?
Its $69,649 median ranks 88th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Howard County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,034 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is Forsan covered?
Yes. Forsan is one of 4 Census places in Howard County, and this guide covers all of them.
Are Howard County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Howard County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.