1st Advantage MortgageAbout 88% of Jeff Davis County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $59,286. 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
- Who lives in Jeff Davis County
- How much Jeff Davis County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Jeff Davis County
- What it costs to live in Jeff Davis County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Jeff Davis County
- What a median Jeff Davis County budget can carry
- Jeff Davis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Jeff Davis County
- Licensing and complaints for Jeff Davis County
- Four steps for Jeff Davis County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Jeff Davis County
Jeff Davis County is home to about 1,865 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 234th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Spread over 2,265 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.8 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jeff Davis County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Fort Davis is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 879 people (47% of the county total). Because Jeff Davis County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How much Jeff Davis County households make
Jeff Davis County households have a median income of $59,286 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 175th of 254 in Texas.
| Household income | Jeff Davis County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.4% | +21.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 21.6% | -17.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.7% | -0.8 pts |
Some 42% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 23.9% of Jeff Davis County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. For a borrower in Jeff Davis 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Jeff Davis County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Jeff Davis County residents work in education and health care and 16% in agriculture, forestry and mining. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 16% locally and 2% for Texas. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. Households without a car make up 2.5% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Jeff Davis County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.5% | +13.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 13.8% | +7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | -1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.8% | +2.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
What it costs to live in Jeff Davis County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,241 in Jeff Davis County versus $1,403 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 48% spend half or more. With a median value of $226,200, a typical Jeff Davis County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 88% of Jeff Davis County households own their home and 12% rent. Median construction year: 1991.
| Home costs | Jeff Davis County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,241/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $226,200 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 88% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 37% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Neighboring counties at a glance
Presidio County is closest, 43 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ward County, is 89 miles off. Income ranges from $43,802 in Presidio County to $72,750 in Pecos County; 3 of these neighbors top Jeff Davis County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Davis County | - | $59,286 | $1,241/mo | 88% |
| Presidio County, TX | 43 mi | $43,802 | $448/mo | 77% |
| Reeves County, TX | 55 mi | $64,297 | $981/mo | 74% |
| Culberson County, TX | 60 mi | $58,777 | $1,043/mo | 70% |
| Brewster County, TX | 80 mi | $56,212 | $839/mo | 62% |
| Pecos County, TX | 88 mi | $72,750 | $918/mo | 72% |
| Ward County, TX | 89 mi | $65,952 | $1,118/mo | 79% |
The communities that make up Jeff Davis County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Jeff Davis County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 948 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Jeff Davis County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Davis | CDP | 879 | n/a | $1,282 | 18 mi |
| Valentine | town | 69 | $33,398 | n/a | 18 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Jeff Davis County budget can carry
How much room does a median Jeff Davis County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,940 a month: gross income for a household at the Jeff Davis County median
- Less median rent of $1,241, which is 25% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $1,779 total minus rent leaves $538
If your rent is above $1,241, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Jeff Davis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 36% of the adult population. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Jeff Davis County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 35.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Jeff Davis County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Jeff Davis County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 15% of Jeff Davis County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Jeff Davis County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fixed incomes. Jeff Davis County's median age is 58.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Assistance before credit. With a 24% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Jeff Davis County loan.
Licensing and complaints for Jeff Davis County
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Jeff Davis County borrowers
Steps that save money for Jeff Davis County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Jeff Davis County earn?
The median is $59,286; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 42% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Jeff Davis County rent compare with Texas?
$1,241 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 12% below.
Should Jeff Davis County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 88% of Jeff Davis County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Jeff Davis County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fort Davis, Valentine.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Jeff Davis County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.