1st Advantage MortgageMilam County (25,567 residents) has a $66,141 median household income and $984 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Milam County offer.
On this page
- 25,567 residents: Milam County basics
- Milam County industries and commutes
- Milam County housing compared with Texas
- Paychecks and income spread in Milam County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Milam County
- Regional comparison for Milam County
- Debt-to-income, Milam County edition
- Reading the Milam County data as a borrower
- Milam County demographics against Texas
- Texas rules that apply in Milam County
- Steps before you apply in Milam County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
25,567 residents: Milam County basics
Roughly 25,567 residents live in Milam County, Texas, 100th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Its 1,016 square miles average 25 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. No metropolitan area includes Milam 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 (5 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Rockdale, with about 5,523 residents, or 22% of the county.
Milam County industries and commutes
Education and health care (23%), construction (14%) and retail trade (10%) lead Milam County's job mix. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (8% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 30% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Milam County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 13.9% | +5.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.9% | +5.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.7% | -1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Milam County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Milam County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $984 in Milam County versus $1,403 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 49% in Milam County, 52% statewide. Milam County homes are worth $189,800 at the median, a 2.9-to-1 ratio to income. The ownership rate is 77%.
| Home costs | Milam County | Texas | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $984/mo | $1,403/mo | 30% lower |
| Median home value | $189,800 | $283,800 | 33% lower |
| Owners | 77% | 63% | +14.3 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | -3.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | +1.2 pts |
| Vacant units | 13% | 9% | +3.4 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Milam 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Milam County
At $66,141, the typical Milam County household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Milam County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.3% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -6.6 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. Milam County counts about 3,309 residents below the poverty line, 12.9% of the population. Milam County scores 0.460 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. A household earning below the $66,141 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Milam County
Places, by size: the top 9 of 9. Roughly 47% of Milam County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $3,423, Thorndale over Rockdale. Rent is cheapest in Thorndale ($950) and steepest in Rockdale ($1,115). Rockdale and every other Milam County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockdale | city | 5,523 | $60,590 | $1,115 | 9 mi |
| Cameron | city | 5,416 | $62,443 | $962 | 5 mi |
| Thorndale | city | 1,113 | $64,013 | $950 | 18 mi |
| Milano | city | 487 | $53,750 | $596 | 10 mi |
| Buckholts | town | 374 | $33,333 | $710 | 10 mi |
| Gause | CDP | 312 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Praesel | CDP | 265 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Ben Arnold | CDP | 84 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Burlington | CDP | 58 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Milam County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Milam County's, from 30 to 38 miles away. Williamson County leads the group on income ($111,340), Falls County trails ($57,247), and Milam County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milam County | - | $66,141 | $984/mo | 77% |
| Burleson County, TX | 30 mi | $70,000 | $1,063/mo | 82% |
| Falls County, TX | 32 mi | $57,247 | $731/mo | 76% |
| Robertson County, TX | 32 mi | $72,236 | $779/mo | 72% |
| Lee County, TX | 32 mi | $76,371 | $1,067/mo | 78% |
| Bell County, TX | 34 mi | $68,865 | $1,224/mo | 57% |
| Williamson County, TX | 38 mi | $111,340 | $1,796/mo | 66% |
Debt-to-income, Milam County edition
How much room does a median Milam County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,512 a month: gross income for a household at the Milam County median
- Rent at the median, $984, takes 18% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $945 a month
- $1,496: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Milam County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Milam County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Care without coverage. About 4,003 Milam County residents lack insurance; check charity care before a loan (how).
- 30% long commutes. A Milam County repair bill is often urgent; compare the shop's financing with a loan in writing.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Milam County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Milam County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Milam County demographics against Texas
21% of Milam County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Milam County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | -13.3 pts | -1.6 pts |
| Median age | 41.4 | +5.8 yrs | -0.1 yrs |
| Work from home | 9.8% | -4.6 pts | +1.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.2% | -2.8 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.7% | -1.5 pts | +7.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | -0.8 pts | -0.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | -0.3 pts | +0.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | +0.1 pts | +0.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.0% |
| 60+ min | 18.0% |
Texas rules that apply in Milam County
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. For consumer-credit complaints, Texas residents can also contact the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. If a Milam County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Milam County
A short checklist for Milam County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Milam County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Keep exploring
No city in Milam County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Milam County rank on income in Texas?
115th of 254, with a median of $66,141. The state median is $78,476.
Is Milam County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $984 against $1,403 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Milam County?
By population: Rockdale, Cameron, Thorndale, Milano, Buckholts. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Are Milam 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.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Milam County?
Look it up with the Texas Department of Banking, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.