1st Advantage MortgageThe median Parmer County household earns $69,735, and 10% 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
- A quick profile of Parmer County
- How Parmer County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Parmer County
- Renting and owning in Parmer County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Parmer County
- Room for a loan payment in Parmer County
- People and households in Parmer County
- Borrowing situations common in Parmer County
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Steps before you apply in Parmer County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Parmer County
Roughly 9,731 residents live in Parmer County, Texas, 167th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 881 square miles of land, or about 11 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Parmer County, Friona leads by population with about 4,102; 3 of the 3 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Parmer County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How Parmer County residents earn a living
Manufacturing employs 18% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (15% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Parmer County averages 2.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 83% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Parmer County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 17.9% | +9.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -3.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.0% | +12.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | +2.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.2% | -3.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Parmer County
Parmer County households have a median income of $69,735 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 86th of 254 in Texas.
| Income band | Share in Parmer County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.2% | -4.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.5% | +9.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.5% | +0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -5.7 pts |
Some 17% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 34% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.2%, 4 points lower than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.388 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Parmer County median.
Renting and owning in Parmer County
A typical Parmer County rental runs $1,081 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Texas. 23% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 8% spend half or more. With a median value of $146,700, a typical Parmer County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 72%. Median construction year: 1973.
| Parmer County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,081/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $146,700 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 23% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Parmer 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 30 to 53 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Parmer County; Bailey County is highest at $61,420 and Roosevelt County lowest at $52,685. The list crosses into New Mexico, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parmer County | - | $69,735 | $1,081/mo | 72% |
| Castro County, TX | 30 mi | $56,776 | $896/mo | 64% |
| Deaf Smith County, TX | 30 mi | $60,799 | $926/mo | 67% |
| Curry County, NM | 32 mi | $57,309 | $1,024/mo | 63% |
| Bailey County, TX | 32 mi | $61,420 | $931/mo | 80% |
| Lamb County, TX | 41 mi | $60,760 | $968/mo | 74% |
| Roosevelt County, NM | 53 mi | $52,685 | $898/mo | 61% |
The communities that make up Parmer County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Parmer County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 6,896 people, so roughly 29% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $66,801 at the median in Friona, $48,500 in Bovina. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friona | city | 4,102 | $66,801 | $1,038 | 8 mi |
| Bovina | city | 1,488 | $48,500 | $1,033 | 6 mi |
| Farwell | city | 1,306 | $56,875 | $1,338 | 18 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Parmer County
How much room does a median Parmer County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,811 before taxes
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,081)
- $1,011: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,081, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Parmer County
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 24.1%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Measure | Parmer County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 31.4% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 24.1% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.6% |
| 60+ min | 2.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Parmer County
A few patterns in the Parmer County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Parmer County. For the 24% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Parmer County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Consumer lenders serving Parmer County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is 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. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Parmer County
Quick steps for Parmer County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Parmer County earn?
The median is $69,735; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Parmer County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,081 against $1,403 statewide, and 23% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Parmer County?
By population: Friona, Bovina, Farwell. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Are Parmer 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.
Is there a Parmer County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.