1st Advantage MortgageMcLennan County households have a median income of $66,643 and median rent of $1,173 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- McLennan County, TX: the basics
- The McLennan County job picture
- What McLennan County households earn
- Renting and owning in McLennan County
- Counties near McLennan County
- Places inside McLennan County
- Room for a loan payment in McLennan County
- Local borrowing considerations for McLennan County
- McLennan County households compared
- A McLennan County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
McLennan County, TX: the basics
With an estimated 266,067 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), McLennan County ranks 21st of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 1,037 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 257 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Waco, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Waco is the biggest of its 21 Census places, at roughly 143,570 people (54% of the county total).
The McLennan County job picture
The biggest employer of McLennan County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 22%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in McLennan County. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 5.3% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | McLennan County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.5% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -4.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | -0.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What McLennan County households earn
The median household income in McLennan County is $66,643; statewide it is $78,476, so McLennan County runs 15% below Texas as a whole. That places it 109th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Household income | McLennan County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.8% | +5.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.5% | -4.0 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 16.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). For a borrower in McLennan 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 McLennan County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,173 in McLennan County versus $1,403 statewide. By the Census definition, 57% of McLennan County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $243,600, about 3.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 62%. Median construction year: 1983.
| Measure | McLennan County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,173/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $243,600 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.2% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Counties near McLennan County
Distances run center to center, from Falls County at 26 miles out to Bell County at 39. Coryell County leads the group on income ($71,301), Falls County trails ($57,247), and McLennan County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLennan County | - | $66,643 | $1,173/mo | 62% |
| Falls County, TX | 26 mi | $57,247 | $731/mo | 76% |
| Hill County, TX | 30 mi | $64,591 | $946/mo | 78% |
| Bosque County, TX | 35 mi | $68,914 | $928/mo | 76% |
| Limestone County, TX | 36 mi | $60,573 | $905/mo | 72% |
| Coryell County, TX | 37 mi | $71,301 | $1,186/mo | 59% |
| Bell County, TX | 39 mi | $68,865 | $1,224/mo | 57% |
Places inside McLennan County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 21 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of McLennan County residents live in one of the 21. Incomes vary by place: $115,108 at the median in Woodway, $47,313 in Beverly Hills. Median rent ranges from $862 in Gholson to $1,653 in Woodway. Live in one of these McLennan County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | city | 143,570 | $54,365 | $1,165 | 1 mi |
| Hewitt | city | 16,432 | $83,511 | $1,538 | 7 mi |
| Robinson | city | 12,800 | $99,289 | $1,419 | 8 mi |
| Bellmead | city | 10,566 | $52,075 | $1,107 | 8 mi |
| Woodway | city | 9,570 | $115,108 | $1,653 | 4 mi |
| Lacy-Lakeview | city | 7,274 | $56,924 | $917 | 8 mi |
| McGregor | city | 5,761 | $72,750 | $1,194 | 16 mi |
| West | city | 2,576 | $61,875 | $1,002 | 19 mi |
| Willow Grove | CDP | 2,080 | $89,036 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Beverly Hills | city | 1,590 | $47,313 | $942 | 3 mi |
| Bruceville-Eddy | city | 1,584 | $76,154 | $1,159 | 17 mi |
| Lorena | city | 1,497 | $88,250 | $867 | 12 mi |
| Riesel | city | 1,453 | $98,063 | $1,172 | 16 mi |
| Moody | city | 1,390 | $69,750 | $1,214 | 19 mi |
Room for a loan payment in McLennan County
How much room does a median McLennan County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,554 a month: gross income for a household at the McLennan County median
- Median rent: $1,173, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $826 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,215 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for McLennan County
Based on the McLennan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in McLennan County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Tight rental budgets. With 57% of McLennan County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Consolidating cards in McLennan County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
McLennan County households compared
29% of McLennan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 14.2%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| McLennan County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.7% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.9% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.2% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | McLennan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 48.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
A McLennan County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for McLennan County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Consumer lenders serving McLennan County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in McLennan County earn?
The median is $66,643; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in McLennan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,173 a month; 57% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the McLennan County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 21 Census places: Waco, Hewitt, Robinson, Bellmead, Woodway.
Will a McLennan 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 do I complain to about a lender in McLennan County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.