1st Advantage MortgageAbout 53% of Kenedy County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $38,882. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Kenedy County offer.
On this page
- Population and place: Kenedy County
- What it costs to live in Kenedy County
- Kenedy County industries and commutes
- What Kenedy County households earn
- Kenedy County against other Texas counties
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Kenedy County communities by population
- More Kenedy County figures
- A Kenedy County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Kenedy County
- Who licenses lenders for Kenedy County residents
- Checklist for Kenedy County applicants
- Beyond Kenedy County
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Kenedy County
Kenedy County is home to about 145 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 253rd most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Spread over 1,459 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Largest place: Sarita, about 92 residents (63% of Kenedy County); 1 Census place in all. At 145 people, Kenedy County is a small survey sample, so small differences in these figures may be noise.
What it costs to live in Kenedy County
In Kenedy County, 53% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Cost | Kenedy County | Texas figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant units | 57% | 9% | +47.3 pts |
| Owners | 53% | 63% | -9.9 pts |
No equity to borrow against is the norm for Kenedy County's 47% renters; a credit union share-secured loan is one lower-cost route.
Kenedy County industries and commutes
Top Kenedy County industry by residents employed: agriculture, forestry and mining, 34%; second, education and health care, 20%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 34% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. 21% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home. No car: 16.4% of Kenedy County households.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Kenedy County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 33.9% | +31.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 17.9% | +11.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.5% | +4.1 pts |
| Public administration | 5.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Other services | 3.6% | -1.3 pts |
Self-employed in Kenedy County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
What Kenedy County households earn
The median household income in Kenedy County is $38,882; statewide it is $78,476, so Kenedy County runs 50% below Texas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 250th of 254.
| Income band | Share in Kenedy County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.1% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.0% | -12.5 pts |
29% under $35,000 and 24% at $100,000 or more: that is the Kenedy County income split. Census counts 15.3% of Kenedy County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.424 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Kenedy County median.
Kenedy County against other Texas counties
The 3 Kenedy County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Texas, and what each means for a borrower:
- On population, Kenedy County sits near the bottom of Texas at 145, 2nd lowest of 254. In a small county, the nearest lender may not be the best; compare online offers too.
- Households without a vehicle: 16.4% in Kenedy County. Only 2 of 253 Texas counties are higher. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
- Kenedy County ranks the highest of 254 Texas counties for the housing vacancy rate: 57%, against 9% statewide. Many empty units can point to seasonal housing.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
Willacy County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Nueces County, is 59 miles off. Kenedy County's $38,882 median trails 6 of the six and beats 0; the range runs $47,764 (Brooks County) to $66,897 (Nueces County).
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenedy County | - | $38,882 | n/a | 53% |
| Willacy County, TX | 28 mi | $54,180 | $809/mo | 75% |
| Kleberg County, TX | 38 mi | $61,292 | $1,043/mo | 53% |
| Brooks County, TX | 40 mi | $47,764 | $719/mo | 53% |
| Hidalgo County, TX | 50 mi | $54,338 | $957/mo | 67% |
| Cameron County, TX | 55 mi | $52,601 | $912/mo | 65% |
| Nueces County, TX | 59 mi | $66,897 | $1,283/mo | 60% |
Kenedy County communities by population
Just one Census place, Sarita, lies mainly within Kenedy County; it holds about 92 people. Sarita and every other Kenedy County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarita | CDP | 92 | $39,079 | n/a | 26 mi |
More Kenedy County figures
In Kenedy County, 13% of adults have at least a four-year degree (34% in Texas). 24.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Kenedy County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 47.2% | +33.1 pts | n/a |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.0% | -20.8 pts | -9.1 pts |
| Median age | 54.8 | +19.2 yrs | +13.3 yrs |
| No vehicle | 16.4% | +10.9 pts | +10.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 24.8% | +7.7 pts | +17.0 pts |
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | +1.5 pts | +2.1 pts |
| Work from home | 14.3% | -0.1 pts | +5.6 pts |
A Kenedy County household budget, worked through
Kenedy County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,240 before taxes
- No published median rent here; at 36%, total debt including housing would top out near $1,166
A household below the $38,882 median has less room than this, often none.
Before borrowing in Kenedy County
Based on the Kenedy County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Care without coverage. About 36 Kenedy County residents lack insurance; check charity care before a loan (how).
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Kenedy County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Age 54.8 at the median. Many Kenedy County applicants document income with award letters; ask about early payoff.
Who licenses lenders for Kenedy County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Kenedy County, check the Texas Department of Banking. For consumer-credit complaints, Texas residents can also contact the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Nationally, Kenedy County residents can file with the CFPB. State-level detail for Kenedy County borrowers is in the Texas guide.
Checklist for Kenedy County applicants
Quick steps for Kenedy County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- 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.
Beyond Kenedy County
Next step up from Kenedy County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Kenedy County earn?
The median is $38,882; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
I live in a small Kenedy County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sarita.
Are Kenedy 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.
Where can someone in Kenedy County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.