1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lamar County household earns $61,880, and 19% 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
- Getting oriented in Lamar County
- What Lamar County households earn
- Lamar County housing compared with Texas
- The Lamar County job picture
- How Lamar County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Lamar County
- Who lives in Lamar County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Lamar County
- Budget math at the Lamar County median
- Licensing and complaints for Lamar County
- Steps before you apply in Lamar County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Lamar County
With an estimated 50,669 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lamar County ranks 72nd of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 907 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 56 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Paris is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 24,775 people (49% of the county total).
What Lamar County households earn
The median household income in Lamar County is $61,880; statewide it is $78,476, so Lamar County runs 21% below Texas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 145th of 254.
| Income band | Share in Lamar County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +10.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.8% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.1% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Lamar County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.0%, 5 points higher than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.472 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Lamar County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Lamar County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $949 in Lamar County versus $1,403 statewide. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% spend half or more. Home values center on $200,700, or 3.2 years of median income. 66% of Lamar County households own their home and 34% rent. Median construction year: 1987.
| Cost | Lamar County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $949/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $200,700 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
The Lamar County job picture
The biggest employer of Lamar County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 28% locally and 22% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.0% in Lamar County. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Lamar County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -5.1 pts |
| Other services | 6.1% | +1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How Lamar County compares with nearby counties
Delta County is closest, 20 miles from center to center; the sixth, Franklin County, is 40 miles off. Franklin County leads the group on income ($72,360), Choctaw County trails ($44,081), and Lamar County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in Oklahoma. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lamar County resident follows Texas rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | - | $61,880 | $949/mo | 66% |
| Delta County, TX | 20 mi | $66,575 | $945/mo | 83% |
| Choctaw County, OK | 25 mi | $44,081 | $690/mo | 66% |
| Red River County, TX | 30 mi | $48,491 | $1,044/mo | 71% |
| Fannin County, TX | 31 mi | $72,295 | $1,035/mo | 79% |
| Hopkins County, TX | 36 mi | $70,888 | $1,109/mo | 71% |
| Franklin County, TX | 40 mi | $72,360 | $936/mo | 82% |
The communities that make up Lamar County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Lamar County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 31,537 residents, leaving about 38% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $106,797 at the median in Powderly, $47,239 in Paris. Rent is cheapest in Reno ($889) and steepest in Paris ($971). No Lamar County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | city | 24,775 | $47,239 | $971 | 1 mi |
| Reno | city | 3,500 | $72,420 | $889 | 5 mi |
| Blossom | city | 1,393 | $55,114 | $920 | 11 mi |
| Powderly | CDP | 1,140 | $106,797 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Roxton | city | 391 | $72,891 | $985 | 12 mi |
| Petty | CDP | 213 | $105,625 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Toco | city | 76 | $47,292 | $1,266 | 5 mi |
| Sun Valley | city | 49 | n/a | $394 | 8 mi |
| Brookston | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Who lives in Lamar County, in numbers
22% of Lamar County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 19.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Lamar County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.6% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 19.3% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lamar County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 46.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lamar County
What the Lamar County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 19% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 45% of Lamar County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Budget math at the Lamar County median
Lamar County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $5,157 a month: gross income for a household at the Lamar County median
- 18% goes to median rent ($949)
- $907: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Lamar County's.
Licensing and complaints for Lamar County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lamar County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Lamar County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lamar County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lamar County earn?
The median is $61,880; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Lamar County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $949 a month; 45% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Lamar County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Paris, Reno, Blossom, Powderly, Roxton.
Is the fit check different in Lamar County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lamar County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.