1st Advantage MortgageIn Live Oak County, Texas, the typical household earns $57,150 a year and the typical rent is $924. 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
- A quick profile of Live Oak County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Live Oak County
- Household income in Live Oak County
- Employment and commuting in Live Oak County
- How Live Oak County compares with nearby counties
- Live Oak County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Live Oak County's medians
- More Live Oak County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Live Oak County
- Steps before you apply in Live Oak County
- Lender oversight for Live Oak County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Live Oak County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Live Oak County's population at 11,620; only 156 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 1,040 square miles, that works out to roughly 11.2 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 2 Census places inside Live Oak County, George West leads by population with about 3,094; 2 of the 2 are incorporated.
Rent, home values and ownership in Live Oak County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $924 in Live Oak County versus $1,403 statewide. By the Census definition, 37% of Live Oak County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $159,200, a typical Live Oak County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 71% of homes. The median year built is 1985.
| Home costs | Live Oak County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $924/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,200 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
Household income in Live Oak County
Half of Live Oak County households take in less than $57,150 a year and half take in more, 27% below the Texas median of $78,476. Only 194 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Live Oak County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.8% | +11.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | +2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.4% | -7.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Live Oak County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.1% of Live Oak County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.473 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Live Oak County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 16%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 9.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Live Oak County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.1% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.1% | +5.1 pts |
| Construction | 11.8% | +3.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -4.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.0% | +5.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.0% | -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.
How Live Oak County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 24 to 45 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $43,875 in McMullen County to $70,770 in Atascosa County; 4 of these neighbors top Live Oak County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak County | - | $57,150 | $924/mo | 71% |
| Bee County, TX | 24 mi | $57,673 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
| McMullen County, TX | 28 mi | $43,875 | $758/mo | 78% |
| Karnes County, TX | 42 mi | $60,214 | $957/mo | 62% |
| Jim Wells County, TX | 43 mi | $51,896 | $938/mo | 68% |
| San Patricio County, TX | 44 mi | $69,704 | $1,291/mo | 67% |
| Atascosa County, TX | 45 mi | $70,770 | $1,061/mo | 77% |
Live Oak County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Live Oak County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 4,350 residents, leaving about 63% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Live Oak County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George West | city | 3,094 | $48,415 | $848 | 2 mi |
| Three Rivers | city | 1,256 | $46,705 | $968 | 9 mi |
Debt-to-income at Live Oak County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Live Oak County's medians:
- $4,762 a month: gross income for a household at the Live Oak County median
- Less median rent of $924, which is 19% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $790 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Live Oak County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Live Oak County figures
16% of Live Oak County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 18.3%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Live Oak County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.3% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Live Oak County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 10.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Live Oak County
Based on the Live Oak County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 18% of Live Oak County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Live Oak County budgets.
- 24% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
Steps before you apply in Live Oak County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Live Oak County:
- Price the Live Oak County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Live Oak County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Live Oak County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Live Oak County earn?
The median is $57,150; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Live Oak County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $924 against $1,403 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Live Oak County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 71% of Live Oak County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Live Oak County?
By population: George West, Three Rivers. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Live Oak County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.