1st Advantage MortgageThe median Oldham County household earns $79,900, and 21% 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
- A quick profile of Oldham County
- Oldham County housing compared with Texas
- How much Oldham County households make
- Employment and commuting in Oldham County
- How Oldham County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Oldham County
- Budget math at the Oldham County median
- Borrowing situations common in Oldham County
- More Oldham County figures
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Oldham County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Oldham County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Oldham County's population at 2,249; only 230 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,501 square miles of land, or about 1 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Amarillo, TX metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (2 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Vega, with about 1,086 residents, or 48% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Oldham County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Oldham County housing compared with Texas
A typical Oldham County rental runs $1,111 a month including utilities, which is 21% below Texas. By the Census definition, 48% of Oldham County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,800, about 2.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%. The median home was built in 1967, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Oldham County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,111/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,800 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 3% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Oldham 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.
How much Oldham County households make
The median household income in Oldham County is $79,900; statewide it is $78,476, so Oldham County runs 2% above Texas as a whole.
| Households earning | Oldham County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.8% | -7.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.8% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.8% | +3.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.6% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 40% of Oldham County households make $100,000 or more, and 14% make less than $35,000. Census counts 20.7% of Oldham County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.394 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Oldham County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Oldham County
The biggest employer of Oldham County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (14%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.7% in Oldham County. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Oldham County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | +6.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.9% | +11.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.7% | +4.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +1.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -6.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Oldham County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Oldham County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 30 to 57 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Randall County leads the group on income ($83,864), Quay County trails ($41,946), and Oldham County out-earns 5 of the six. The list crosses into New Mexico, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oldham County | - | $79,900 | $1,111/mo | 74% |
| Hartley County, TX | 30 mi | $75,841 | $1,028/mo | 74% |
| Deaf Smith County, TX | 32 mi | $60,799 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Potter County, TX | 40 mi | $53,249 | $1,022/mo | 57% |
| Moore County, TX | 50 mi | $61,762 | $939/mo | 62% |
| Randall County, TX | 50 mi | $83,864 | $1,170/mo | 68% |
| Quay County, NM | 57 mi | $41,946 | $712/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Oldham County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 75% of Oldham County residents live in one of the 4. Live in one of these Oldham County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vega | city | 1,086 | $78,125 | $1,107 | 14 mi |
| Boys Ranch | CDP | 309 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
| Wildorado | CDP | 157 | $60,833 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Adrian | city | 129 | n/a | $1,100 | 10 mi |
Budget math at the Oldham County median
Oldham County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,658 a month: gross income for a household at the Oldham County median
- Median rent: $1,111, or 17 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,286 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Oldham County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Oldham County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 19% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 21% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Oldham County loan.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
More Oldham County figures
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 19% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Oldham County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Before you sign
A short checklist for Oldham County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Oldham County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Oldham County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Oldham County earn?
The median is $79,900; 40% earn $100,000 or more and 14% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Oldham County rent compare with Texas?
$1,111 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 21% below.
I live in a small Oldham County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Vega, Boys Ranch, Wildorado, Adrian.
Is the fit check different in Oldham County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Oldham County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.