1st Advantage MortgageThe median King County household earns $46,645, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- King County by the numbers
- The King County job picture
- Household income in King County
- Housing costs in King County
- The communities that make up King County
- King County and the counties next door
- What a median King County budget can carry
- Reading the King County data as a borrower
- More King County figures
- Lender oversight for King County
- Four steps for King County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
King County by the numbers
King County is home to about 211 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 252nd most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Spread over 911 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.2 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, King County is not part of any metropolitan area. Guthrie, with about 156 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every King County figure on this page as a rough guide.
The King County job picture
The biggest employer of King County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 33% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (31%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 31% locally and 2% for Texas. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.3% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | King County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.0% | +11.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 31.0% | +28.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.0% | +1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 13.0% | +8.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 4.0% | -7.0 pts |
| Information | 3.0% | +1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in King County
At $46,645, the typical King County household income is 29% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 235th of 254.
| Income band | Share in King County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.6% | +9.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.6% | +9.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.0% | -8.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.7% | -9.8 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. 23.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.477 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in King 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.
Housing costs in King County
With a median value of $52,100, a typical King County house costs 1.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 59%.
| Cost | King County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $52,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 63% | 75% |
| Mobile homes | 27.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 41% | 9% | n/a |
The communities that make up King County
Just one Census place, Guthrie, lies mainly within King County; it holds about 156 people. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guthrie | CDP | 156 | $45,855 | n/a | 5 mi |
King County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 30 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $49,335 in Dickens County to $72,889 in Kent County; all six of these neighbors top King County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King County | - | $46,645 | n/a | 59% |
| Knox County, TX | 30 mi | $56,667 | $521/mo | 77% |
| Stonewall County, TX | 30 mi | $56,875 | $613/mo | 85% |
| Dickens County, TX | 31 mi | $49,335 | $758/mo | 80% |
| Cottle County, TX | 33 mi | $59,063 | $264/mo | 83% |
| Foard County, TX | 34 mi | $61,563 | $572/mo | 76% |
| Kent County, TX | 42 mi | $72,889 | $675/mo | 79% |
What a median King County budget can carry
How much room does a median King County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $3,887 gross per month ($46,645 / 12)
- King County has no reliable median rent in the survey, so use your own housing cost; 36% of $3,887 is $1,399
Two-income households and single earners in King County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the King County data as a borrower
Based on the King County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 27% of King County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fixed incomes. King County's median age is 49.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Assistance before credit. With a 24% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any King County loan.
More King County figures
39% of King County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 7.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | King County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.1% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
Lender oversight for King County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with King County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Four steps for King County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- 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 King County a high-income county?
Its $46,645 median ranks 235th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What are the biggest places in King County?
By population: Guthrie. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Are King 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 do I complain to about a lender in King County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.