1st Advantage MortgageThe median Montague County household earns $64,545, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Montague County
- Household income in Montague County
- What it costs to live in Montague County
- Employment and commuting in Montague County
- Montague County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Montague County
- Room for a loan payment in Montague County
- More Montague County figures
- Before borrowing in Montague County
- Lender oversight for Montague County
- Four steps for Montague County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Montague County
Roughly 21,046 residents live in Montague County, Texas, 114th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 931 square miles of land, or about 23 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Montague County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside Montague County, Bowie leads by population with about 5,770; 3 of the 7 are incorporated.
Household income in Montague County
Montague County households have a median income of $64,545 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 131st of 254 in Texas.
| Band | Montague County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -6.5 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 14.2%, the same as the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $64,545 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Montague County
A typical Montague County rental runs $1,008 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. Home values center on $206,400, or 3.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 80%. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Montague County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,008/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $206,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
Because most Montague County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Employment and commuting in Montague County
The biggest employer of Montague County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (9% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Montague County averages 7.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 33% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Where residents work | Montague County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | +1.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.0% | +6.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.2% | +0.5 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.
Montague County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Montague County's, from 29 to 40 miles away. Income ranges from $48,668 in Jefferson County to $93,421 in Wise County; 5 of these neighbors top Montague County's median. Some neighbors are in Oklahoma. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Montague County resident follows Texas rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montague County | - | $64,545 | $1,008/mo | 80% |
| Clay County, TX | 29 mi | $80,114 | $811/mo | 84% |
| Cooke County, TX | 30 mi | $73,932 | $1,047/mo | 72% |
| Jefferson County, OK | 30 mi | $48,668 | $647/mo | 71% |
| Wise County, TX | 32 mi | $93,421 | $1,299/mo | 81% |
| Love County, OK | 34 mi | $66,580 | $939/mo | 73% |
| Jack County, TX | 40 mi | $68,079 | $960/mo | 72% |
Places inside Montague County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Montague County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 11,277 residents, leaving about 46% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $42,731 in Nocona to $68,182 in St. Jo. Median rent ranges from $736 in Nocona to $1,080 in Bowie. No Montague County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowie | city | 5,770 | $57,488 | $1,080 | 11 mi |
| Nocona | city | 3,144 | $42,731 | $736 | 7 mi |
| St. Jo | city | 911 | $68,182 | $752 | 12 mi |
| Nocona Hills | CDP | 687 | $66,500 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Sunset | CDP | 402 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Montague | CDP | 189 | $55,595 | n/a | 1 mi |
| Ringgold | CDP | 174 | $34,750 | n/a | 16 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Montague County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Montague County's medians:
- $5,379 a month: gross income for a household at the Montague County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,008 uses 19%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $875 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,412: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Montague County figures
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 14.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Montague County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.2% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Montague County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.3% |
| 60+ min | 22.2% |
Before borrowing in Montague County
Based on the Montague County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 14% of Montague County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 33% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Montague County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 15% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Lender oversight for Montague County
Montague County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Montague County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Montague County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Montague County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Montague County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Montague County earn?
The median is $64,545; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Montague County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,008 a month; 54% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Montague County?
By population: Bowie, Nocona, St. Jo, Nocona Hills, Sunset. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Are Montague 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Montague County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.