1st Advantage MortgageThe median Knox County household earns $56,667, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Texas license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Knox County
- Household income in Knox County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Knox County
- Employment and commuting in Knox County
- Knox County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Knox County
- A Knox County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Knox County
- People and households in Knox County
- Checklist for Knox County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Knox County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Knox County
With an estimated 3,307 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Knox County ranks 215th of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 851 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Knox County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Munday, with about 1,407 residents, or 43% of the county. With so few households sampled, Knox County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Household income in Knox County
Half of Knox County households take in less than $56,667 a year and half take in more, 28% below the Texas median of $78,476. In the state ranking that is 199th of 254.
| Yearly household income | Knox County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.6% | +8.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.6% | +8.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.7% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.1% | -10.4 pts |
Some 30% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 15.7%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.404 here. For a borrower in Knox 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Knox County
Renters in Knox County pay a median of $521 a month, 63% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 19% of Knox County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $77,300, a typical Knox County house costs 1.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 77% of Knox County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Measure | Knox County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $521/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $77,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 19% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Knox 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.
Employment and commuting in Knox County
The biggest employer of Knox County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (16%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (16% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. 7.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Knox County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +8.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.8% | +13.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +0.5 pts |
| Public administration | 5.7% | +1.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Knox County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 25 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Knox County; Foard County is highest at $61,563 and Baylor County lowest at $45,370.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County | - | $56,667 | $521/mo | 77% |
| Foard County, TX | 25 mi | $61,563 | $572/mo | 76% |
| King County, TX | 30 mi | $46,645 | n/a | 59% |
| Baylor County, TX | 30 mi | $45,370 | $581/mo | 66% |
| Haskell County, TX | 30 mi | $60,653 | $782/mo | 74% |
| Stonewall County, TX | 42 mi | $56,875 | $613/mo | 85% |
| Throckmorton County, TX | 43 mi | $59,216 | $878/mo | 68% |
Places inside Knox County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Knox County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 2,778 residents, leaving about 16% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Knox County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Munday | city | 1,407 | $56,406 | $481 | 13 mi |
| Knox City | town | 974 | $42,344 | $579 | 14 mi |
| Benjamin | city | 266 | $52,708 | $527 | 4 mi |
| Goree | city | 131 | $53,333 | n/a | 16 mi |
A Knox County household budget, worked through
Here is the Knox County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,722 a month: gross income for a household at the Knox County median
- Less median rent of $521, which is 11% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,132 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,604 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Knox County's.
Before borrowing in Knox County
Where the Knox County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 18% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
People and households in Knox County
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. 17.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Knox County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.5% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Checklist for Knox County applicants
Steps that save money for Knox County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Knox County-area credit union.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Knox County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Knox 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. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Knox County household make?
About $56,667 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% below the Texas median.
What do renters pay in Knox County?
$521 a month at the median, about 11% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Knox County?
By population: Munday, Knox City, Benjamin, Goree. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Knox County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Knox County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.