1st Advantage MortgageThe median Nueces County household earns $66,897, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Nueces County
- How much Nueces County households make
- What it costs to live in Nueces County
- How Nueces County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Nueces County
- Nueces County and the counties next door
- More Nueces County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Nueces County
- What a median Nueces County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Nueces County residents
- Before you sign
- More guides for Nueces County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Nueces County
With an estimated 352,955 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Nueces County ranks 17th of 254 in Texas for population. It covers 839 square miles of land, or about 421 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Corpus Christi, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 16 Census places inside Nueces County, Corpus Christi leads by population with about 317,419; 8 of the 16 are incorporated.
How much Nueces County households make
Nueces County households have a median income of $66,897 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 108th of 254 in Texas.
| Household income | Nueces County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.9% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.5% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.6% | -3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -4.5 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 17.4% of Nueces County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Nueces County
A typical Nueces County rental runs $1,283 a month including utilities, which is 9% below Texas. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $208,800, about 3.1 times the median household income. 60% of Nueces County households own their home and 40% rent. The median year built is 1983.
| Cost | Nueces County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,283/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $208,800 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | n/a |
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?
How Nueces County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Nueces County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Education and health care stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Nueces County averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 80% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 6.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Nueces County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.5% | -2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Nueces County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 16 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 99% of Nueces County residents live in one of the 16. Banquete has the highest median household income on the list ($94,639) and Robstown the lowest ($34,436), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $952 in Bishop to $2,294 in Port Aransas. This guide covers each of the 16 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi | city | 317,419 | $67,394 | $1,292 | 21 mi |
| Robstown | city | 10,236 | $34,436 | $956 | 10 mi |
| Ingleside | city | 9,997 | $69,464 | $1,303 | 21 mi |
| Port Aransas | city | 3,268 | $88,947 | $2,294 | 27 mi |
| Bishop | city | 3,103 | $58,152 | $952 | 20 mi |
| North San Pedro | CDP | 721 | $37,028 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Spring Gardens | CDP | 622 | $44,708 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Banquete | CDP | 619 | $94,639 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Sandy Hollow-Escondidas | CDP | 539 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Driscoll | city | 511 | $39,035 | $1,102 | 15 mi |
| La Paloma-Lost Creek | CDP | 439 | $2,499 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Agua Dulce | city | 251 | $48,438 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Tierra Grande | CDP | 161 | $46,250 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Rancho Banquete | CDP | 131 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
Nueces County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 19 to 49 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Nueces County; San Patricio County is highest at $69,704 and Jim Wells County lowest at $51,896.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nueces County | - | $66,897 | $1,283/mo | 60% |
| San Patricio County, TX | 19 mi | $69,704 | $1,291/mo | 67% |
| Kleberg County, TX | 23 mi | $61,292 | $1,043/mo | 53% |
| Jim Wells County, TX | 35 mi | $51,896 | $938/mo | 68% |
| Aransas County, TX | 43 mi | $69,466 | $1,128/mo | 77% |
| Refugio County, TX | 46 mi | $60,181 | $795/mo | 77% |
| Bee County, TX | 49 mi | $57,673 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
More Nueces County figures
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. About 18% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Nueces County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.8% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Nueces County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 51.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Nueces County
A few patterns in the Nueces County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 18% of Nueces County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
What a median Nueces County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Nueces County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,575 before taxes
- Less median rent of $1,283, which is 23% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,397 total minus rent leaves $1,114
Two-income households and single earners in Nueces County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Nueces County residents
Nueces County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Nueces County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Nueces County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Nueces County household make?
About $66,897 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Texas median.
What do renters pay in Nueces County?
$1,283 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Which towns does the Nueces County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 16 Census places: Corpus Christi, Robstown, Ingleside, Port Aransas, Bishop.
Will a Nueces County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Nueces County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.