1st Advantage MortgageThe median Kaufman County household earns $89,485, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Kaufman County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Who lives in Kaufman County
- What Kaufman County households earn
- How Kaufman County residents earn a living
- Where Kaufman County households live
- Kaufman County at the extremes
- Counties near Kaufman County
- Forney and the rest of Kaufman County
- Local borrowing considerations for Kaufman County
- A Kaufman County household budget, worked through
- Who lives in Kaufman County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Kaufman County
- Checklist for Kaufman County applicants
- Other Texas guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Kaufman County
Roughly 172,604 residents live in Kaufman County, Texas, 30th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Its 781 square miles average 221 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Kaufman County counts toward the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX include it. Of the 18 Census places inside Kaufman County, Forney leads by population with about 31,532; 15 of the 18 are incorporated.
What Kaufman County households earn
Median household income in Kaufman County: $89,485 (14% above Texas, $78,476). That places it 21st among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Kaufman County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.3% | -5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.9% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.2% | +8.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.7% | -2.8 pts |
Six-figure households (45%) outnumber those under $35,000 (16%) in Kaufman County. Census counts 9.7% of Kaufman County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.393 here. For a borrower in Kaufman 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.
How Kaufman County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward construction (11% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for Kaufman County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 18% of Kaufman County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 35% need 45 or more.
| Industry | Share of Kaufman County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.8% | -1.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.6% | 0.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +0.7 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Where Kaufman County households live
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,554 in Kaufman County versus $1,403 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 58% in Kaufman County, 52% statewide. With a median value of $320,900, a typical Kaufman County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 78%, renters 22%. Half the housing stock was built before 2005. Nationally, Kaufman County's $1,554 rent is 77% above the middle county.
| Cost | Kaufman County | Texas figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,554/mo | $1,403/mo | 11% higher |
| Median home value | $320,900 | $283,800 | 13% higher |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | +15.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 52% | +6.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 29% | +5.0 pts |
| Vacant units | 6% | 9% | -3.6 pts |
Because most Kaufman County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Kaufman County at the extremes
Out of every Texas county, Kaufman County is most unusual on these measures.
- The share of commutes over 45 minutes: 35% in Kaufman County. Only 5 of 253 Texas counties are higher. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- Few Texas counties match Kaufman County on the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 58% here, 52% for the state, ranking 10th highest of 249. Rent pressure leaves little room; stress-test any payment.
- Few Texas counties match Kaufman County on the housing vacancy rate: 6% here, 9% for the state, ranking 12th lowest of 254. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
Counties near Kaufman County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Rockwall County leads the group on income ($127,981), Henderson County trails ($65,179), and Kaufman County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaufman County | - | $89,485 | $1,554/mo | 78% |
| Rockwall County, TX | 22 mi | $127,981 | $1,992/mo | 83% |
| Van Zandt County, TX | 26 mi | $69,475 | $1,066/mo | 81% |
| Dallas County, TX | 31 mi | $76,547 | $1,565/mo | 51% |
| Rains County, TX | 34 mi | $65,413 | $989/mo | 83% |
| Ellis County, TX | 34 mi | $99,595 | $1,594/mo | 76% |
| Henderson County, TX | 37 mi | $65,179 | $1,048/mo | 78% |
Forney and the rest of Kaufman County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 18. Roughly 32% of Kaufman County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Talty has the highest median household income on the list ($154,732) and Seven Points the lowest ($39,934), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Kemp ($1,036) and steepest in Heartland ($2,333). Live in one of these Kaufman County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forney | city | 31,532 | $104,112 | $1,828 | 14 mi |
| Terrell | city | 20,366 | $65,842 | $1,232 | 9 mi |
| Seagoville | city | 19,352 | $66,743 | $1,381 | 15 mi |
| Heartland | CDP | 10,607 | $92,996 | $2,333 | 11 mi |
| Travis Ranch | CDP | 9,025 | $83,801 | $2,252 | 18 mi |
| Kaufman | city | 8,538 | $62,931 | $1,364 | 2 mi |
| Crandall | city | 4,763 | $88,997 | $1,333 | 9 mi |
| Talty | town | 2,881 | $154,732 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Combine | city | 2,785 | $94,756 | $1,741 | 13 mi |
| Elmo | CDP | 1,379 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Kemp | city | 1,302 | $55,833 | $1,036 | 12 mi |
| Oak Ridge | town | 1,192 | $97,188 | $1,304 | 2 mi |
| Seven Points | city | 1,167 | $39,934 | $1,079 | 18 mi |
| Scurry | town | 702 | $84,732 | $1,232 | 8 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Kaufman County
A few patterns in the Kaufman County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Kaufman County. For the 15% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 35% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Kaufman County budgets.
- 45% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Kaufman County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Renters under pressure. When 58% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Kaufman County household budget, worked through
Kaufman County's $89,485 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,457 before taxes
- 21% goes to median rent ($1,554)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,685 total minus rent leaves $1,131
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,653 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Kaufman County, in numbers
26% of Kaufman County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 15.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Kaufman County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.5% | -7.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | -4.1 pts | -3.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.1% | -2.4 pts | -2.3 pts |
| No health insurance | 15.0% | -2.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
| Work from home | 12.5% | -1.9 pts | +3.8 pts |
| Median age | 33.8 | -1.8 yrs | -7.7 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 13.6% | -0.4 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 0.0 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Minutes to work | Kaufman County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.9% |
| 60+ min | 19.7% |
Licensing and complaints for Kaufman County
Consumer lenders serving Kaufman County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. For consumer-credit complaints, Texas residents can also contact the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response.
Checklist for Kaufman County applicants
Steps that save money for Kaufman County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Kaufman County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Other Texas guides
Next step up from Kaufman County:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Kaufman County?
$89,485 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 21st of 254 in the state.
Can a Kaufman County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,554 median rent and $7,457 median monthly income, rent alone uses 21%; add other debts before a new payment.
Can Kaufman County owners borrow against a $320,900 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live in a small Kaufman County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Forney, Terrell, Seagoville, Heartland, Travis Ranch and 13 more.
Are Kaufman 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.