1st Advantage MortgageThe median McMullen County household earns $43,875, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- McMullen County at a glance
- Household income in McMullen County
- McMullen County housing compared with Texas
- Work, industries and travel time in McMullen County
- The communities that make up McMullen County
- Regional comparison for McMullen County
- A McMullen County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for McMullen County
- McMullen County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Four steps for McMullen County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
McMullen County at a glance
With an estimated 700 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), McMullen County ranks 251st of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 1,140 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (0 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Tilden, with about 259 residents, or 37% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every McMullen County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in McMullen County
At $43,875, the typical McMullen County household income is 33% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 242nd among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | McMullen County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 56.0% | +16.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 10.6% | -16.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -7.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 16% of McMullen County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.3% of McMullen County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.441 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 McMullen County median.
McMullen County housing compared with Texas
A typical McMullen County rental runs $758 a month including utilities, which is 46% below Texas. Home values center on $97,100, or 2.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes.
| Cost | McMullen County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $758/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $97,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | 75% |
| Burdened owners | 75% | 29% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like McMullen 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.
Work, industries and travel time in McMullen County
The biggest employer of McMullen County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 24% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (17%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | McMullen County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.8% | +21.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 17.3% | +8.9 pts |
| Public administration | 15.6% | +11.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 12.1% | -9.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.2% | -7.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The communities that make up McMullen County
Just one Census place, Tilden, lies mainly within McMullen County; it holds about 259 people. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tilden | CDP | 259 | $36,638 | n/a | 5 mi |
Regional comparison for McMullen County
Distances run center to center, from Live Oak County at 28 miles out to Bee County at 51. Atascosa County leads the group on income ($70,770), Duval County trails ($49,038), and McMullen County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMullen County | - | $43,875 | $758/mo | 78% |
| Live Oak County, TX | 28 mi | $57,150 | $924/mo | 71% |
| La Salle County, TX | 32 mi | $57,716 | $819/mo | 76% |
| Atascosa County, TX | 35 mi | $70,770 | $1,061/mo | 77% |
| Frio County, TX | 46 mi | $66,010 | $1,016/mo | 59% |
| Duval County, TX | 49 mi | $49,038 | $741/mo | 70% |
| Bee County, TX | 51 mi | $57,673 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
A McMullen County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median McMullen County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $43,875 a year is $3,656 of gross monthly income
- 21% goes to median rent ($758)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,316 total minus rent leaves $558
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of McMullen County's.
Local borrowing considerations for McMullen County
What the McMullen County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 31% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
McMullen County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Measure | McMullen County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.0% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
Checking a lender's license in Texas
McMullen County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for McMullen County borrowers
A short checklist for McMullen County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in McMullen County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a McMullen County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in McMullen County earn?
The median is $43,875; 16% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does McMullen County rent compare with Texas?
$758 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 46% below.
I own my home in McMullen 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.
I live in a small McMullen County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Tilden.
Are McMullen 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.