1st Advantage MortgageAbout 77% of Lynn County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $73,679. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Lynn County at a glance
- What Lynn County households earn
- What it costs to live in Lynn County
- Employment and commuting in Lynn County
- Counties near Lynn County
- The communities that make up Lynn County
- What a median Lynn County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Lynn County
- More Lynn County figures
- Texas rules that apply in Lynn County
- Checklist for Lynn County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lynn County at a glance
Lynn County is home to about 5,752 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 193rd most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Spread over 892 square miles, that works out to roughly 6.4 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Lubbock, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 4 Census places inside Lynn County, Tahoka leads by population with about 2,424; 4 of the 4 are incorporated. Because Lynn County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
What Lynn County households earn
Half of Lynn County households take in less than $73,679 a year and half take in more, 6% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Yearly household income | Lynn County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.7% | +1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.4% | -2.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.1% | -2.3 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. 15.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.472 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lynn County median.
What it costs to live in Lynn County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $927 in Lynn County versus $1,403 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 10% spend half or more. With a median value of $147,300, a typical Lynn County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Measure | Lynn County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $927/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $147,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Lynn 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 Lynn County
The biggest employer of Lynn County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 15% locally and 2% for Texas. The survey's unemployment rate for Lynn County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. 3.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Lynn County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.3% | +7.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.6% | +12.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -3.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 6.6% | -0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Lynn County
Six nearby counties, 30 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Lynn County; Borden County is highest at $65,625 and Terry County lowest at $44,100.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn County | - | $73,679 | $927/mo | 77% |
| Garza County, TX | 30 mi | $46,314 | $838/mo | 71% |
| Lubbock County, TX | 30 mi | $64,155 | $1,178/mo | 56% |
| Terry County, TX | 30 mi | $44,100 | $817/mo | 67% |
| Dawson County, TX | 31 mi | $54,360 | $777/mo | 71% |
| Borden County, TX | 38 mi | $65,625 | n/a | 66% |
| Crosby County, TX | 42 mi | $52,188 | $684/mo | 69% |
The communities that make up Lynn County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Lynn County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 3,673 people, so roughly 36% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahoka | city | 2,424 | $62,039 | $978 | 2 mi |
| O'Donnell | city | 533 | $59,286 | $646 | 15 mi |
| Wilson | city | 449 | $50,500 | $925 | 11 mi |
| New Home | city | 267 | $55,625 | n/a | 12 mi |
What a median Lynn County budget can carry
Lynn County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $6,140 gross per month ($73,679 / 12)
- 15% goes to median rent ($927)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,222 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,763 total minus rent leaves $1,836
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Lynn County
Where the Lynn County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Lynn County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
More Lynn County figures
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. 12.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Lynn County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.8% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Lynn County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.5% |
| 60+ min | 3.3% |
Texas rules that apply in Lynn County
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. 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. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Lynn County applicants
A short checklist for Lynn County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lynn County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lynn County household make?
About $73,679 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% below the Texas median.
What do renters pay in Lynn County?
$927 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Which towns does the Lynn County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Tahoka, O'Donnell, Wilson, New Home.
Is the fit check different in Lynn County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Lynn County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.