1st Advantage MortgageIn Jasper County, Texas, the typical household earns $56,723 a year and the typical rent is $848. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Texas license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Jasper County
- What it costs to live in Jasper County
- What Jasper County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Jasper County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Jasper County
- Jasper County and the counties next door
- More Jasper County figures
- Reading the Jasper County data as a borrower
- A Jasper County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Jasper County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Jasper County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Jasper County
Roughly 32,727 residents live in Jasper County, Texas, 88th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 939 square miles of land, or about 35 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Jasper County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (3 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Jasper, with about 7,299 residents, or 22% of the county.
What it costs to live in Jasper County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $848 in Jasper County versus $1,403 statewide. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $136,400, or 2.4 years of median income. 79% of Jasper County households own their home and 21% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| Measure | Jasper County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $848/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $136,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 28.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jasper 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. 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?
What Jasper County households earn
At $56,723, the typical Jasper County household income is 14% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 197 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Band | Jasper County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.0% | +11.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.0% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.8% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -8.3 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 20.7% of Jasper County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Jasper County
The biggest employer of Jasper County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Education and health care stands out: 27% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Jasper County averages 13.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 21% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Jasper County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.8% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.6% | -5.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.6% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Jasper County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Jasper County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 14,036 residents, leaving about 57% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,083 in Kirbyville to $83,056 in Sam Rayburn. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper | city | 7,299 | $45,078 | $892 | 12 mi |
| Buna | CDP | 2,249 | $55,000 | $1,155 | 22 mi |
| Kirbyville | city | 2,032 | $43,083 | $597 | 10 mi |
| Sam Rayburn | CDP | 1,366 | $83,056 | $1,108 | 22 mi |
| Evadale | CDP | 949 | $53,750 | $687 | 30 mi |
| Browndell | city | 141 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
Jasper County and the counties next door
Newton County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Orange County, is 44 miles off. Hardin County leads the group on income ($75,808), Newton County trails ($42,618), and Jasper County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in Louisiana. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Jasper County resident follows Texas rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jasper County | - | $56,723 | $848/mo | 79% |
| Newton County, TX | 17 mi | $42,618 | $1,001/mo | 83% |
| Tyler County, TX | 21 mi | $55,396 | $1,049/mo | 81% |
| Hardin County, TX | 37 mi | $75,808 | $1,049/mo | 82% |
| Beauregard Parish, LA | 41 mi | $65,944 | $898/mo | 85% |
| Sabine County, TX | 42 mi | $66,585 | $844/mo | 86% |
| Orange County, TX | 44 mi | $72,104 | $1,100/mo | 75% |
More Jasper County figures
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. 18.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Jasper County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.8% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 13.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 14.5% |
Reading the Jasper County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Jasper County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 19% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 21% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Jasper County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 28% of Jasper County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
A Jasper County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jasper County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,727 before taxes
- Less median rent of $848, which is 18% of it
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,043 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $848, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Four steps for Jasper County borrowers
A short checklist for Jasper County borrowers:
- Price the Jasper County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Jasper County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Jasper County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Jasper County?
$56,723 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 198th of 254 in the state.
What do renters pay in Jasper County?
$848 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Should Jasper County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Jasper County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Jasper County?
By population: Jasper, Buna, Kirbyville, Sam Rayburn, Evadale. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Are Jasper 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.