1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jackson County household earns $65,414, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Jackson County
- Jobs and commutes in Jackson County
- What Jackson County households earn
- Renting and owning in Jackson County
- Towns and communities in Jackson County
- The counties around Jackson County
- A Jackson County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Jackson County
- Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Checklist for Jackson County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Jackson County
With an estimated 15,152 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jackson County ranks 138th of 254 in Texas for population. Spread over 829 square miles, that works out to roughly 18.3 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Jackson County, Edna leads by population with about 6,027; 3 of the 5 are incorporated.
Jobs and commutes in Jackson County
The biggest employer of Jackson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Manufacturing stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Jackson County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Jackson County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.5% | +8.9 pts |
| Construction | 13.3% | +4.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.6% | +8.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.2% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.5% | -4.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Jackson County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Jackson County households earn
Jackson County households have a median income of $65,414 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 123rd of 254 in Texas.
| Band | Jackson County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +4.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.1% | +2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -7.5 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 14.1% of Jackson County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.433 here. For a borrower in Jackson 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.
Renting and owning in Jackson County
A typical Jackson County rental runs $1,065 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. With a median value of $203,900, a typical Jackson County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 71%.
| Cost | Jackson County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,065/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $203,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
Towns and communities in Jackson County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Jackson County residents live in one of the 5. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edna | city | 6,027 | $59,600 | $1,055 | 4 mi |
| Ganado | city | 1,534 | $57,315 | $1,070 | 7 mi |
| Vanderbilt | CDP | 440 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Lolita | CDP | 217 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| La Ward | city | 178 | n/a | $972 | 11 mi |
The counties around Jackson County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 44 miles). Income ranges from $58,628 in Matagorda County to $79,959 in Calhoun County; 4 of these neighbors top Jackson County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | - | $65,414 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
| Victoria County, TX | 26 mi | $70,896 | $1,157/mo | 65% |
| Wharton County, TX | 31 mi | $66,924 | $1,046/mo | 72% |
| Lavaca County, TX | 36 mi | $63,240 | $910/mo | 78% |
| Calhoun County, TX | 36 mi | $79,959 | $891/mo | 77% |
| Matagorda County, TX | 38 mi | $58,628 | $999/mo | 68% |
| Colorado County, TX | 44 mi | $66,377 | $926/mo | 80% |
A Jackson County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jackson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Jackson County: $5,451
- Housing at the median rent of $1,065 uses 20%
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,279 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Jackson County's.
People and households in Jackson County
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. About 17% go without health insurance.
| Jackson County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.6% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.8% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Jackson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Jackson County
Where the Jackson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Jackson County. For the 17% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Jackson County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Jackson County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Jackson County applicants
Quick steps for Jackson County:
- Price the Jackson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Jackson County earn?
The median is $65,414; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Jackson County?
$1,065 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I own my home in Jackson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 71% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Jackson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Edna, Ganado, Vanderbilt, Lolita, La Ward.
Is the fit check different in Jackson County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.