1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lavaca County household earns $63,240, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Lavaca County
- Housing costs in Lavaca County
- Income in Lavaca County compared with Texas
- How Lavaca County residents earn a living
- Towns and communities in Lavaca County
- The counties around Lavaca County
- Debt-to-income at Lavaca County's medians
- People and households in Lavaca County
- Local borrowing considerations for Lavaca County
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Lavaca County
- More guides for Lavaca County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Lavaca County
With an estimated 20,552 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lavaca County ranks 117th of 254 in Texas for population. It covers 970 square miles of land, or about 21 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lavaca County is not part of any metropolitan area. Yoakum is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 5,846 people (28% of the county total).
Housing costs in Lavaca County
A typical Lavaca County rental runs $910 a month including utilities, which is 35% below Texas. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 17% spend half or more. With a median value of $228,300, a typical Lavaca County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Lavaca County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $910/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $228,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lavaca 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.
Income in Lavaca County compared with Texas
Lavaca County households have a median income of $63,240 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 137th of 254 in Texas.
| Household income | Lavaca County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.3% | +4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.4% | -1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -6.3 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.5%, 2 points lower than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.436 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $63,240 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Lavaca County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Lavaca County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward manufacturing (15% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lavaca County averages 3.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Where residents work | Lavaca County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.3% | +6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.7% | +6.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -1.8 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.9% | -1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Lavaca County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Lavaca County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 11,639 people, so roughly 43% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $99,299 at the median in Shiner, $46,810 in Yoakum. Rent is cheapest in Hallettsville ($922) and steepest in Shiner ($1,388). Live in one of these Lavaca County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoakum | city | 5,846 | $46,810 | $931 | 15 mi |
| Hallettsville | city | 2,755 | $55,718 | $922 | 4 mi |
| Shiner | city | 2,154 | $99,299 | $1,388 | 15 mi |
| Moulton | town | 884 | $58,421 | $1,215 | 19 mi |
The counties around Lavaca County
Colorado County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Victoria County, is 41 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Lavaca County; Fayette County is highest at $75,854 and Gonzales County lowest at $58,672.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavaca County | - | $63,240 | $910/mo | 78% |
| Colorado County, TX | 29 mi | $66,377 | $926/mo | 80% |
| DeWitt County, TX | 34 mi | $63,730 | $921/mo | 74% |
| Fayette County, TX | 34 mi | $75,854 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Gonzales County, TX | 35 mi | $58,672 | $840/mo | 66% |
| Jackson County, TX | 36 mi | $65,414 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
| Victoria County, TX | 41 mi | $70,896 | $1,157/mo | 65% |
Debt-to-income at Lavaca County's medians
How much room does a median Lavaca County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Lavaca County: $5,270
- 17% goes to median rent ($910)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,356 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Lavaca County
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Lavaca County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lavaca County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 12.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lavaca County
A few patterns in the Lavaca County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lavaca County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Lavaca County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Lavaca County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Lavaca County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lavaca County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
More guides for Lavaca County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lavaca County household make?
About $63,240 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 19% below the Texas median.
What do renters pay in Lavaca County?
$910 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I live in a small Lavaca County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Yoakum, Hallettsville, Shiner, Moulton.
Will a Lavaca County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lavaca 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.