1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pecos County household earns $72,750, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Pecos County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Pecos County
- What Pecos County households earn
- How Pecos County residents earn a living
- Places inside Pecos County
- Counties near Pecos County
- What a median Pecos County budget can carry
- Pecos County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Pecos County
- A Pecos County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Pecos County
- More guides for Pecos County
- Frequently asked questions
Pecos County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Pecos County's population at 14,896; only 139 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 4,764 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Pecos County, Fort Stockton leads by population with about 8,278; 2 of the 5 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Pecos County
Renters in Pecos County pay a median of $918 a month, 35% below the Texas figure of $1,403. 36% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. Home values center on $165,700, or 2.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 72%. Half the housing stock was built before 1981.
| Home costs | Pecos County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $918/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $165,700 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 29% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 9% | n/a |
What Pecos County households earn
Pecos County households have a median income of $72,750 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 62nd of 254 in Texas.
| Band | Pecos County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +9.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.1% | -6.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | +0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.7% | -3.8 pts |
Some 31% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. 21.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). None of these numbers decides a Pecos County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Pecos County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Pecos County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 16% locally and 2% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.6% in Pecos County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Pecos County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.4% | -2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.9% | +13.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 8.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.9% | -0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Pecos County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 65% of Pecos County residents live in one of the 5. Live in one of these Pecos County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Stockton | city | 8,278 | $84,784 | $974 | 13 mi |
| Iraan | city | 1,038 | $43,490 | $374 | 49 mi |
| Imperial | CDP | 189 | $71,333 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Coyanosa | CDP | 107 | n/a | n/a | 38 mi |
| Sheffield | CDP | 74 | n/a | n/a | 54 mi |
Counties near Pecos County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (47 to 74 miles). None of the six report a higher median household income than Pecos County; Ward County is highest at $65,952 and Terrell County lowest at $44,886.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pecos County | - | $72,750 | $918/mo | 72% |
| Crane County, TX | 47 mi | $62,212 | $882/mo | 84% |
| Terrell County, TX | 54 mi | $44,886 | n/a | 89% |
| Ward County, TX | 56 mi | $65,952 | $1,118/mo | 79% |
| Upton County, TX | 57 mi | $49,167 | $720/mo | 77% |
| Reeves County, TX | 70 mi | $64,297 | $981/mo | 74% |
| Brewster County, TX | 74 mi | $56,212 | $839/mo | 62% |
What a median Pecos County budget can carry
How much room does a median Pecos County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $6,062 a month: gross income for a household at the Pecos County median
- Rent at the median, $918, takes 15% of that
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,264 a month
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,689 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Pecos County's.
Pecos County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. About 17% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Pecos County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.8% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.5% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Pecos County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 69.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 6.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 12.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Pecos County
What the Pecos County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 17% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 19% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Pecos County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 20% of Pecos County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 22% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Pecos County loan.
A Pecos County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Pecos County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Pecos County
Consumer lenders serving Pecos 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. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Pecos County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pecos County a high-income county?
Its $72,750 median ranks 62nd of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Pecos County?
$918 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Which towns does the Pecos County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Fort Stockton, Iraan, Imperial, Coyanosa, Sheffield.
Are Pecos 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Pecos 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.