1st Advantage MortgageMoore County households have a median income of $61,762 and median rent of $939 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
- A quick profile of Moore County
- Jobs and commutes in Moore County
- How much Moore County households make
- Moore County housing compared with Texas
- The counties around Moore County
- Towns and communities in Moore County
- Moore County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Moore County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Moore County
- Who licenses lenders for Moore County residents
- Checklist for Moore County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Moore County
Moore County is home to about 21,373 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 112th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Land area is 900 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Moore County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Dumas is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 14,452 people (68% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Moore County
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Moore County residents work in manufacturing and 15% in education and health care. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward manufacturing (29% against 9%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.7% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Moore County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28.9% | +20.3 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.0% | -6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.4% | +7.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How much Moore County households make
The median household income in Moore County is $61,762; statewide it is $78,476, so Moore County runs 21% below Texas as a whole.
| Band | Moore County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.7% | +7.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | +0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -9.2 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 18.3% of Moore County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. None of these numbers decides a Moore County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Moore County housing compared with Texas
A typical Moore County rental runs $939 a month including utilities, which is 33% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 37% of renter households here. With a median value of $152,600, a typical Moore County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 62% of homes. The median home was built in 1975, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Moore County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $939/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $152,600 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
The counties around Moore County
Six nearby counties, 30 to 42 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $53,249 in Potter County to $85,231 in Carson County; 4 of these neighbors top Moore County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moore County | - | $61,762 | $939/mo | 62% |
| Hutchinson County, TX | 30 mi | $67,228 | $932/mo | 83% |
| Potter County, TX | 30 mi | $53,249 | $1,022/mo | 57% |
| Sherman County, TX | 31 mi | $61,250 | $835/mo | 76% |
| Hartley County, TX | 40 mi | $75,841 | $1,028/mo | 74% |
| Carson County, TX | 42 mi | $85,231 | $956/mo | 79% |
| Hansford County, TX | 42 mi | $69,441 | $939/mo | 81% |
Towns and communities in Moore County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Moore County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 20,171 residents, leaving about 6% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $66,488 at the median in Sunray, $45,346 in Cactus. Rent is cheapest in Cactus ($816) and steepest in Dumas ($1,028). Live in one of these Moore County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dumas | city | 14,452 | $63,788 | $1,028 | 5 mi |
| Cactus | city | 3,091 | $45,346 | $816 | 16 mi |
| Sunray | city | 2,628 | $66,488 | $972 | 13 mi |
Moore County households compared
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. About 23% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Moore County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.3% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 31.8% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 22.8% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Moore County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 6.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
What the numbers mean for Moore County borrowers
Based on the Moore County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 23% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Moore County loan.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Room for a loan payment in Moore County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Moore County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $5,147 gross per month ($61,762 / 12)
- Less median rent of $939, which is 18% of it
- $914: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,274: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $939, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Moore County residents
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Checklist for Moore County applicants
Quick steps for Moore County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Moore County household make?
About $61,762 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 21% below the Texas median.
How does Moore County rent compare with Texas?
$939 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 33% below.
I live in a small Moore County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Dumas, Cactus, Sunray.
Is the fit check different in Moore County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Moore County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.