1st Advantage Mortgage30% of Jefferson County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $60,026 (ACS 2020-24). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Jefferson County by the numbers
- The $60,026 median and what sits around it
- Housing costs in Jefferson County
- What stands out in Jefferson County
- Where Jefferson County works
- Beaumont and the rest of Jefferson County
- The counties around Jefferson County
- People and households in Jefferson County
- $5,002 a month: the Jefferson County median budget
- Borrowing situations common in Jefferson County
- Who licenses lenders for Jefferson County residents
- A Jefferson County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jefferson County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Jefferson County's population at 253,878; only 21 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. It covers 877 square miles of land, or about 290 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Largest place: Beaumont, about 113,279 residents (45% of Jefferson County); 13 Census places in all.
The $60,026 median and what sits around it
At $60,026, the typical Jefferson County household income is 9% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 167th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Band | Jefferson County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.7% | +7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.0% | -3.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -5.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Jefferson County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. Jefferson County counts about 49,472 residents below the poverty line, 19.5% of the population. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.477 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Jefferson County median.
Housing costs in Jefferson County
$1,117 a month is the median gross rent in Jefferson County, 20% below the state. About 5 in 10 Jefferson County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $169,500, or 2.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 63%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Jefferson County | Texas statewide | Jefferson County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 14% | 9% | +4.4 pts |
| Median home value | $169,500 | $283,800 | 40% lower |
| Mobile homes | 3.4% | 6.4% | -3.0 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,117/mo | $1,403/mo | 20% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | +0.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | -0.7 pts |
| Owners | 63% | 63% | -0.1 pts |
53% of Jefferson County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
What stands out in Jefferson County
Ranked against the other 253 county-level areas in Texas, these are the Jefferson County figures furthest from the middle.
- Few Texas counties match Jefferson County on the share of mobile homes: 3.4% here, 6.4% for the state, ranking 14th lowest of 254. Few mobile homes means most owners have traditional equity options.
- Jefferson County ranks 21st highest of 253 Texas counties for households without a vehicle: 8.1%, against 5.4% statewide. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
- On population, Jefferson County sits near the top of Texas at 253,878, 22nd highest of 254. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
Where Jefferson County works
The biggest employer of Jefferson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by construction (12%). Construction stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. 6.3% of Jefferson County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 8.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Jefferson County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | +1.2 pts |
| Construction | 11.9% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +0.7 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Jefferson County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Beaumont and the rest of Jefferson County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Jefferson County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 229,055 residents, leaving about 10% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Hamshire ($102,800) and Port Arthur ($46,354) mark the top and bottom of Jefferson County's income range among larger places. None of the 13 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont | city | 113,279 | $56,997 | $1,121 | 16 mi |
| Port Arthur | city | 55,828 | $46,354 | $1,021 | 16 mi |
| Nederland | city | 18,381 | $77,570 | $1,400 | 12 mi |
| Groves | city | 16,976 | $73,710 | $1,286 | 15 mi |
| Port Neches | city | 13,664 | $81,637 | $1,095 | 13 mi |
| Central Gardens | CDP | 3,976 | $83,750 | $793 | 12 mi |
| Fannett | CDP | 1,654 | $90,962 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Hamshire | CDP | 1,388 | $102,800 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Beauxart Gardens | CDP | 1,276 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Bevil Oaks | city | 1,133 | $91,031 | n/a | 22 mi |
| China | city | 963 | $55,104 | $950 | 17 mi |
| Taylor Landing | city | 284 | $134,063 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Nome | city | 253 | $58,125 | n/a | 20 mi |
The counties around Jefferson County
Distances run center to center, from Orange County at 24 miles out to Cameron Parish at 59. All of the six report a higher median household income than Jefferson County; Chambers County is highest at $109,804 and Calcasieu Parish lowest at $67,564. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | - | $60,026 | $1,117/mo | 63% |
| Orange County, TX | 24 mi | $72,104 | $1,100/mo | 75% |
| Chambers County, TX | 33 mi | $109,804 | $1,609/mo | 82% |
| Hardin County, TX | 36 mi | $75,808 | $1,049/mo | 82% |
| Liberty County, TX | 47 mi | $68,703 | $1,044/mo | 82% |
| Calcasieu Parish, LA | 54 mi | $67,564 | $1,109/mo | 73% |
| Cameron Parish, LA | 59 mi | $75,278 | $1,688/mo | 95% |
People and households in Jefferson County
20% of Jefferson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 20.6%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Residents | Jefferson County | Difference from Texas | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.7% | -14.1 pts | -2.4 pts |
| Work from home | 3.4% | -11.0 pts | -5.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 19.5% | +5.7 pts | +6.3 pts |
| No health insurance | 20.6% | +3.4 pts | +12.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | +2.7 pts | +2.7 pts |
| Median age | 37.0 | +1.4 yrs | -4.5 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | +1.0 pts | +1.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.9% | +0.9 pts | n/a |
| One-way commute | Share of Jefferson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
$5,002 a month: the Jefferson County median budget
How much room does a median Jefferson County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,002 a month: gross income for a household at the Jefferson County median
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,117)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $684 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,034: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Jefferson County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Jefferson County
Where the Jefferson County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Jefferson County. For the 21% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Jefferson County loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 53% of Jefferson County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Who licenses lenders for Jefferson County residents
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. A second Texas office, the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, covers consumer credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. State-level detail for Jefferson County borrowers is in the Texas guide.
A Jefferson County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Jefferson County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is $60,026 a good income in Jefferson County?
It is the county median, so half of Jefferson County households earn more and half less; 30% earn $100,000 or more.
Can a Jefferson County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,117 median rent and $5,002 median monthly income, rent alone uses 22%; add other debts before a new payment.
Does this page cover Beaumont?
Yes, along with the other 12 Census places in Jefferson County, such as Port Arthur, Nederland, Groves.
Are Jefferson 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Jefferson County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.