1st Advantage MortgageThe median Johnson County household earns $84,859, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Johnson County at a glance
- Income in Johnson County compared with Texas
- Johnson County housing compared with Texas
- Work, industries and travel time in Johnson County
- Johnson County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Johnson County
- Debt-to-income at Johnson County's medians
- Who lives in Johnson County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Johnson County
- Checklist for Johnson County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Johnson County at a glance
Johnson County is home to about 195,597 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 26th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Packed into 725 square miles, that is close to 270 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metropolitan area. Burleson is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 52,918 people (27% of the county total).
Income in Johnson County compared with Texas
At $84,859, the typical Johnson County household income is 29% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Johnson County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.5% | -3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.9% | +4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | -2.1 pts |
Some 18% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 41% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.0% of Johnson County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Johnson County median.
Johnson County housing compared with Texas
A typical Johnson County rental runs $1,398 a month including utilities. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. Home values center on $285,900, or 3.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. The median year built is 1997.
| Johnson County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,398/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $285,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | 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). 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?
Work, industries and travel time in Johnson County
The biggest employer of Johnson County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 14% locally and 11% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Johnson County. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 2.6% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Johnson County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | +2.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -5.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Johnson County and the counties next door
Somervell County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Bosque County, is 37 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Johnson County; Ellis County is highest at $99,595 and Hill County lowest at $64,591.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | - | $84,859 | $1,398/mo | 75% |
| Somervell County, TX | 26 mi | $79,825 | $773/mo | 80% |
| Hood County, TX | 27 mi | $88,160 | $1,428/mo | 81% |
| Tarrant County, TX | 27 mi | $84,207 | $1,547/mo | 59% |
| Hill County, TX | 31 mi | $64,591 | $946/mo | 78% |
| Ellis County, TX | 33 mi | $99,595 | $1,594/mo | 76% |
| Bosque County, TX | 37 mi | $68,914 | $928/mo | 76% |
Towns and communities in Johnson County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Johnson County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 146,291 people, so roughly 25% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $51,695 in Keene to $110,417 in Godley. Rent is cheapest in Alvarado ($788) and steepest in Cross Timber ($2,125). No Johnson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burleson | city | 52,918 | $93,928 | $1,685 | 10 mi |
| Cleburne | city | 34,344 | $70,656 | $1,322 | 3 mi |
| Crowley | city | 19,532 | $95,030 | $1,725 | 14 mi |
| Joshua | city | 8,550 | $68,117 | $1,361 | 6 mi |
| Venus | town | 6,745 | $106,023 | $1,888 | 16 mi |
| Keene | city | 6,691 | $51,695 | $969 | 3 mi |
| Alvarado | city | 6,307 | $80,523 | $788 | 9 mi |
| The Homesteads | CDP | 3,053 | $76,994 | $1,708 | 13 mi |
| Godley | city | 2,809 | $110,417 | $2,038 | 11 mi |
| Grandview | city | 2,176 | $77,000 | $828 | 13 mi |
| Rio Vista | city | 1,312 | $71,625 | $1,177 | 10 mi |
| Cross Timber | town | 875 | n/a | $2,125 | 7 mi |
| Briaroaks | city | 614 | $101,875 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Coyote Flats | city | 365 | $63,125 | $1,450 | 5 mi |
Debt-to-income at Johnson County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Johnson County's medians:
- Start: $7,072 gross per month ($84,859 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,398, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,077: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,784 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Johnson County's.
Who lives in Johnson County, in numbers
Degree holders: 25% of adults over 25. About 16% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Johnson County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.3% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.3% |
Before borrowing in Johnson County
A few patterns in the Johnson County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 16% of Johnson County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 24% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Johnson County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 41% of Johnson County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
Checklist for Johnson County applicants
A short checklist for Johnson County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Johnson County-area credit union.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Johnson County credit union about member loans.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Johnson County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Johnson County earn?
The median is $84,859; 41% earn $100,000 or more and 18% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Johnson County?
$1,398 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I own my home in Johnson County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Johnson County?
By population: Burleson, Cleburne, Crowley, Joshua, Venus. The county has 14 Census places in all.
Will a Johnson County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.