1st Advantage MortgageLee County households have a median income of $76,371 and median rent of $1,067 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Lee County
- What it costs to live in Lee County
- How much Lee County households make
- How Lee County residents earn a living
- Lee County next to its neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lee County
- Budget math at the Lee County median
- Before borrowing in Lee County
- More Lee County figures
- Lender oversight for Lee County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Lee County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lee County
Roughly 17,971 residents live in Lee County, Texas, 133rd by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 629 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Lee County is not part of any metropolitan area. Giddings is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 5,151 people (29% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Lee County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,067 in Lee County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. With a median value of $267,800, a typical Lee County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Median construction year: 1992.
| Lee County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,067/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $267,800 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Lee County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How much Lee County households make
Half of Lee County households take in less than $76,371 a year and half take in more, 3% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Household income | Lee County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.4% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.7% | -1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.5% | +4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.4% | -5.1 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 39% have six-figure incomes. 11.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.407 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lee County median.
How Lee County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Lee County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by construction (16%). Construction stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.5% in Lee County. About 71% drive to work alone and 32% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Lee County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.5% | -4.1 pts |
| Construction | 15.6% | +7.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -4.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +3.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Lee County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Lee County's, from 24 to 43 miles away. Travis County leads the group on income ($99,611), Milam County trails ($66,141), and Lee County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | - | $76,371 | $1,067/mo | 78% |
| Burleson County, TX | 24 mi | $70,000 | $1,063/mo | 82% |
| Bastrop County, TX | 25 mi | $86,226 | $1,410/mo | 76% |
| Fayette County, TX | 31 mi | $75,854 | $988/mo | 79% |
| Milam County, TX | 32 mi | $66,141 | $984/mo | 77% |
| Washington County, TX | 35 mi | $77,825 | $1,165/mo | 70% |
| Travis County, TX | 43 mi | $99,611 | $1,744/mo | 52% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lee County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Lee County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 6,661 residents, leaving about 63% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Lee County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giddings | city | 5,151 | $72,913 | $1,231 | 10 mi |
| Lexington | town | 1,365 | $56,354 | $1,148 | 7 mi |
| Dime Box | CDP | 145 | $88,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Lee County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Lee County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,364 gross per month ($76,371 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,067, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,224 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,670 a month
If your rent is above $1,067, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Lee County
A few patterns in the Lee County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 16% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 32% of Lee County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 22% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 54% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
More Lee County figures
21% of Lee County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 16.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Lee County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.1% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.8% |
| 60+ min | 19.6% |
Lender oversight for Lee County
Lee County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lee County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Lee County
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lee County household make?
About $76,371 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Texas median.
How does Lee County rent compare with Texas?
$1,067 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 24% below.
I own my home in Lee County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Giddings?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Lee County, such as Lexington, Dime Box.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lee County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.