1st Advantage MortgageMedina County households have a median income of $78,074 and median rent of $1,196 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Medina County at a glance
- How much Medina County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Medina County
- Housing costs in Medina County
- Regional comparison for Medina County
- Medina County towns compared
- Budget math at the Medina County median
- What the numbers mean for Medina County borrowers
- Who lives in Medina County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Medina County
- Who licenses lenders for Medina County residents
- More guides for Medina County
- Frequently asked questions
Medina County at a glance
Roughly 53,547 residents live in Medina County, Texas, 63rd by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 1,325 square miles, that works out to roughly 40.4 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metropolitan area. Hondo is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 8,713 people (16% of the county total).
How much Medina County households make
Medina County households have a median income of $78,074 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 42nd of 254 in Texas.
| Yearly household income | Medina County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.8% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.2% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.1% | +3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -4.6 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. 9.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.412 here. None of these numbers decides a Medina County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Medina County
The biggest employer of Medina County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). Public administration stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Medina County averages 3.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 73% drive to work alone and 28% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Medina County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.0% | +2.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.1% | -2.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | -1.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Housing costs in Medina County
A typical Medina County rental runs $1,196 a month including utilities, which is 15% below Texas. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $239,600, or 3.1 years of median income. Owners occupy 84% of homes.
| Housing | Medina County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,196/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $239,600 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 29% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Medina 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Regional comparison for Medina County
Bandera County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kendall County, is 47 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Medina County; Kendall County is highest at $114,962 and Uvalde County lowest at $53,801.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medina County | - | $78,074 | $1,196/mo | 84% |
| Bandera County, TX | 29 mi | $75,813 | $1,149/mo | 86% |
| Frio County, TX | 33 mi | $66,010 | $1,016/mo | 59% |
| Bexar County, TX | 36 mi | $72,341 | $1,354/mo | 59% |
| Uvalde County, TX | 40 mi | $53,801 | $981/mo | 71% |
| Atascosa County, TX | 47 mi | $70,770 | $1,061/mo | 77% |
| Kendall County, TX | 47 mi | $114,962 | $1,606/mo | 79% |
Medina County towns compared
8 Census places fall mainly inside Medina County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 21,622 residents, leaving about 60% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,207 in Devine to $78,460 in Castroville. No Medina County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hondo | city | 8,713 | $62,032 | $1,460 | 3 mi |
| Devine | city | 4,476 | $38,207 | $725 | 19 mi |
| Castroville | city | 3,092 | $78,460 | $1,253 | 15 mi |
| Lytle | city | 2,492 | $70,685 | $1,099 | 21 mi |
| LaCoste | city | 1,365 | $68,929 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Natalia | city | 981 | $45,750 | $810 | 19 mi |
| D'Hanis | CDP | 480 | $40,625 | $1,196 | 10 mi |
| Yancey | CDP | 23 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Medina County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Medina County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $78,074 a year is $6,506 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,196 uses 18%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,081 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,928 total minus rent leaves $1,732
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Medina County borrowers
A few patterns in the Medina County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 12% of Medina County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Keeping the car running. At 28% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Medina County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 25% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Who lives in Medina County, in numbers
23% of Medina County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 12% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Medina County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.0% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Medina County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.2% |
| 60+ min | 15.2% |
Steps before you apply in Medina County
A short checklist for Medina County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Medina County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Medina County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
More guides for Medina County
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Medina County a high-income county?
Its $78,074 median ranks 42nd of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Medina County?
$1,196 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Which towns does the Medina County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 8 Census places: Hondo, Devine, Castroville, Lytle, LaCoste.
Will a Medina County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Medina County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.