1st Advantage MortgageThe median Menard County household earns $53,043, and 19% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Menard County
- Housing costs in Menard County
- Household income in Menard County
- The Menard County job picture
- How Menard County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Menard County
- Menard County households compared
- Reading the Menard County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Menard County median
- Licensing and complaints for Menard County
- Four steps for Menard County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Menard County
Roughly 1,955 residents live in Menard County, Texas, 233rd by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 902 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Menard County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 1 Census place inside Menard County, Menard leads by population with about 1,008. Because Menard County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Housing costs in Menard County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $729 in Menard County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 25% of renter households here. Home values center on $108,500, or 2.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 81%. Median construction year: 1972.
| Measure | Menard County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $729/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $108,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 25% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 11% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 32% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Household income in Menard County
Half of Menard County households take in less than $53,043 a year and half take in more, 32% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Band | Menard County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.5% | +16.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -8.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -6.8 pts |
About 37% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. Census counts 18.9% of Menard County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.460 here. For a borrower in Menard 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.
The Menard County job picture
The biggest employer of Menard County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by retail trade (16%). Public administration stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 4% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 10.8% in Menard County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Menard County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +5.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Public administration | 14.2% | +10.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.3% | +3.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.7% | +7.5 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.
How Menard County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Menard County's, from 29 to 46 miles away. Schleicher County leads the group on income ($86,694), McCulloch County trails ($54,043), and Menard County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menard County | - | $53,043 | $729/mo | 81% |
| Kimble County, TX | 29 mi | $69,455 | $790/mo | 79% |
| Concho County, TX | 30 mi | $65,795 | $733/mo | 80% |
| McCulloch County, TX | 37 mi | $54,043 | $806/mo | 67% |
| Mason County, TX | 39 mi | $74,180 | $800/mo | 80% |
| Schleicher County, TX | 40 mi | $86,694 | $660/mo | 84% |
| Sutton County, TX | 46 mi | $78,906 | $772/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Menard County
Just one Census place, Menard, lies mainly within Menard County; it holds about 1,008 people. Menard has no separate guide, so this county page serves it.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menard | city | 1,008 | $41,144 | $673 | 5 mi |
Menard County households compared
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 23.6%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Menard County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.8% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 23.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
Reading the Menard County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Menard County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Menard County. For the 24% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 13% of Menard County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fixed incomes. Menard County's median age is 59.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Assistance before credit. With a 19% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Menard County loan.
Budget math at the Menard County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Menard County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,420 a month: gross income for a household at the Menard County median
- Less median rent of $729, which is 16% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $862 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $1,901 total minus rent leaves $1,172
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Menard County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Menard County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Menard County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Menard County household make?
About $53,043 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 32% below the Texas median.
How does Menard County rent compare with Texas?
$729 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 48% below.
I own my home in Menard County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Menard?
Yes, along with the other 0 Census places in Menard County.
Does living in Menard County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Menard County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.