1st Advantage MortgageKent County households have a median income of $72,889 and median rent of $675 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Kent County by the numbers
- What Kent County households earn
- What it costs to live in Kent County
- How Kent County residents earn a living
- Places inside Kent County
- Kent County next to its neighbors
- Room for a loan payment in Kent County
- Who lives in Kent County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Kent County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Checklist for Kent County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Kent County by the numbers
With an estimated 734 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Kent County ranks 249th of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 903 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Kent County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Jayton, with about 458 residents, or 62% of the county. Because Kent County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Kent County households earn
Kent County households have a median income of $72,889 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 60th of 254 in Texas.
| Households earning | Kent County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +7.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.1% | +8.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.2% | -7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -8.9 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. Census counts 9.9% of Kent 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 Kent County median.
What it costs to live in Kent County
A typical Kent County rental runs $675 a month including utilities, which is 52% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 24% of renter households here. Home values center on $122,200, or 1.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 79% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1973.
| Measure | Kent County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $675/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $122,200 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 24% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.2% | 6.4% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Kent County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How Kent County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 35% of working residents, the largest share; public administration is next with 17%. Education and health care stands out: 35% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Kent County averages 8.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 4.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Kent County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.8% | +13.2 pts |
| Public administration | 17.0% | +12.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.1% | -2.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.8% | +5.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.6% | -7.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Places inside Kent County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Kent County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayton | city | 458 | $72,652 | $833 | 12 mi |
| Girard | CDP | 20 | $14,286 | n/a | 14 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Kent County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Kent County's, from 30 to 42 miles away. Income ranges from $46,314 in Garza County to $65,533 in Fisher County; none of these neighbors top Kent County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | - | $72,889 | $675/mo | 79% |
| Dickens County, TX | 30 mi | $49,335 | $758/mo | 80% |
| Stonewall County, TX | 30 mi | $56,875 | $613/mo | 85% |
| Garza County, TX | 31 mi | $46,314 | $838/mo | 71% |
| Scurry County, TX | 32 mi | $60,039 | $1,020/mo | 77% |
| Fisher County, TX | 37 mi | $65,533 | $601/mo | 80% |
| Crosby County, TX | 42 mi | $52,188 | $684/mo | 69% |
Room for a loan payment in Kent County
Kent County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Kent County: $6,074
- Rent at the median, $675, takes 11% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $2,187 total minus rent leaves $1,512
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,937 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $675, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Kent County, in numbers
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. About 4% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Kent County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.3% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.2% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.8% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
What the numbers mean for Kent County borrowers
A few patterns in the Kent County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Older households. A 60.0 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Checking a lender's license in Texas
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Checklist for Kent County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Kent County earn?
The median is $72,889; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Kent County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $675 a month; 24% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Kent County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% of Kent County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Jayton?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Kent County, such as Girard.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Kent County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.