1st Advantage MortgageMatagorda County households have a median income of $58,628 and median rent of $999 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
- Matagorda County, TX: the basics
- Income in Matagorda County compared with Texas
- Renting and owning in Matagorda County
- Employment and commuting in Matagorda County
- Towns and communities in Matagorda County
- Regional comparison for Matagorda County
- What a median Matagorda County budget can carry
- Matagorda County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Matagorda County
- Four steps for Matagorda County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Matagorda County residents
- More guides for Matagorda County
- Frequently asked questions
Matagorda County, TX: the basics
Matagorda County is home to about 36,329 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 87th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Land area is 1,093 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 33 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Matagorda County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (2 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Bay City, with about 17,730 residents, or 49% of the county.
Income in Matagorda County compared with Texas
The median household income in Matagorda County is $58,628; statewide it is $78,476, so Matagorda County runs 25% below Texas as a whole. Only 183 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Matagorda County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.5% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.2% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -5.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Matagorda County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. 20.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). For a borrower in Matagorda County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Matagorda County
Renters in Matagorda County pay a median of $999 a month, 29% below the Texas figure of $1,403. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 33% spend half or more. Home values center on $172,900, or 2.9 years of median income. The ownership rate is 68%. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $999/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $172,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 9% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Matagorda County
Education and health care employs 14% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Matagorda County averages 8.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.0% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Matagorda County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 13.7% | -7.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.6% | +5.0 pts |
| Construction | 13.2% | +4.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.7% | +3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Matagorda County
The table lists the 9 largest of 9 Census places in Matagorda County, by population. Together all 9 hold about 27,142 people, so roughly 25% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,620 in Palacios to $68,536 in Markham. Median rent ranges from $785 in Palacios to $1,025 in Bay City. This guide covers each of the 9 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | city | 17,730 | $53,840 | $1,025 | 15 mi |
| Palacios | city | 4,388 | $52,620 | $785 | 14 mi |
| Van Vleck | CDP | 1,763 | $58,504 | $1,005 | 19 mi |
| Sargent | CDP | 1,422 | $60,307 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Markham | CDP | 873 | $68,536 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Blessing | CDP | 418 | $51,313 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Wadsworth | CDP | 366 | $31,847 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Matagorda | CDP | 182 | $14,145 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Midfield | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Matagorda County
Wharton County is closest, 37 miles from center to center; the sixth, Victoria County, is 59 miles off. All of the six report a higher median household income than Matagorda County; Fort Bend County is highest at $114,041 and Jackson County lowest at $65,414.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matagorda County | - | $58,628 | $999/mo | 68% |
| Wharton County, TX | 37 mi | $66,924 | $1,046/mo | 72% |
| Jackson County, TX | 38 mi | $65,414 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
| Calhoun County, TX | 42 mi | $79,959 | $891/mo | 77% |
| Brazoria County, TX | 44 mi | $97,993 | $1,454/mo | 74% |
| Fort Bend County, TX | 54 mi | $114,041 | $1,807/mo | 77% |
| Victoria County, TX | 59 mi | $70,896 | $1,157/mo | 65% |
What a median Matagorda County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Matagorda County's medians:
- $4,886 a month: gross income for a household at the Matagorda County median
- Rent at the median, $999, takes 20% of that
- $760: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,102: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Matagorda County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. About 18% go without health insurance.
| Matagorda County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.0% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.5% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Matagorda County
Based on the Matagorda County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 18% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 12% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Four steps for Matagorda County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Matagorda County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Who licenses lenders for Matagorda County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Matagorda County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
More guides for Matagorda County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Matagorda County?
$58,628 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 184th of 254 in the state.
Is Matagorda County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $999 against $1,403 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Matagorda County?
By population: Bay City, Palacios, Van Vleck, Sargent, Markham. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Are Matagorda County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Matagorda County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.