1st Advantage MortgageIn Palo Pinto County, Texas, the typical household earns $67,674 a year and the typical rent is $1,093. 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
- A quick profile of Palo Pinto County
- What Palo Pinto County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Palo Pinto County
- Work, industries and travel time in Palo Pinto County
- Counties near Palo Pinto County
- Towns and communities in Palo Pinto County
- More Palo Pinto County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Palo Pinto County
- A Palo Pinto County household budget, worked through
- Before you sign
- Texas rules that apply in Palo Pinto County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Palo Pinto County
Palo Pinto County is home to about 29,295 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 96th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Land area is 953 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 31 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 8 places in the county (5 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Mineral Wells, with about 15,244 residents, or 52% of the county.
What Palo Pinto County households earn
Half of Palo Pinto County households take in less than $67,674 a year and half take in more, 14% below the Texas median of $78,476. In the state ranking that is 102nd of 254.
| Band | Palo Pinto County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.5% | +4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +5.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -6.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 30% of Palo Pinto County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Census counts 16.7% of Palo Pinto 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.
Rent, home values and ownership in Palo Pinto County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,093 in Palo Pinto County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $198,000, about 2.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 71%. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Housing | Palo Pinto County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,093/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $198,000 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.2% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 9% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Palo Pinto County
The biggest employer of Palo Pinto County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by construction (13%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.1% in Palo Pinto County. About 74% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.1% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Palo Pinto County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.9% | -3.7 pts |
| Construction | 12.9% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -4.9 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.
Counties near Palo Pinto County
Distances run center to center, from Parker County at 30 miles out to Erath County at 36. Income ranges from $58,008 in Stephens County to $104,443 in Parker County; 4 of these neighbors top Palo Pinto County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Pinto County | - | $67,674 | $1,093/mo | 71% |
| Parker County, TX | 30 mi | $104,443 | $1,500/mo | 81% |
| Stephens County, TX | 30 mi | $58,008 | $846/mo | 79% |
| Jack County, TX | 34 mi | $68,079 | $960/mo | 72% |
| Young County, TX | 35 mi | $68,010 | $862/mo | 74% |
| Hood County, TX | 36 mi | $88,160 | $1,428/mo | 81% |
| Erath County, TX | 36 mi | $65,115 | $1,146/mo | 63% |
Towns and communities in Palo Pinto County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Palo Pinto County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 17,916 residents, leaving about 39% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Graford has the highest median household income on the list ($60,938) and Strawn the lowest ($48,350), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Strawn ($604) and steepest in Mineral Wells ($1,077). No Palo Pinto County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 8.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral Wells | city | 15,244 | $55,929 | $1,077 | 15 mi |
| Graford | city | 654 | $60,938 | $950 | 13 mi |
| Strawn | city | 525 | $48,350 | $604 | 17 mi |
| Gordon | city | 460 | $87,188 | $944 | 15 mi |
| Santo | CDP | 427 | $104,107 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mingus | city | 380 | $53,036 | $850 | 16 mi |
| Palo Pinto | CDP | 208 | $50,278 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Brazos | CDP | 18 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
More Palo Pinto County figures
18% of Palo Pinto County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 18.2%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Palo Pinto County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.8% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.2% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.2% |
| 60+ min | 14.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Palo Pinto County
Where the Palo Pinto County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 18% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Palo Pinto County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Palo Pinto County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Palo Pinto County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Palo Pinto County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Palo Pinto County: $5,640
- Rent at the median, $1,093, takes 19% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $937 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,332 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Palo Pinto County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Texas rules that apply in Palo Pinto County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Palo Pinto County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Palo Pinto County earn?
The median is $67,674; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Palo Pinto County rent compare with Texas?
$1,093 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 22% below.
What are the biggest places in Palo Pinto County?
By population: Mineral Wells, Graford, Strawn, Gordon, Santo. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Will a Palo Pinto 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 Palo Pinto 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.