1st Advantage Mortgage31% of Rains County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $65,413 (ACS 2020-24). Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Rains County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- 12,775 residents: Rains County basics
- Rains County against other Texas counties
- Jobs and commutes in Rains County
- Earnings across Rains County households
- Rent, home values and ownership in Rains County
- Regional comparison for Rains County
- Rains County communities by population
- Local borrowing considerations for Rains County
- Who lives in Rains County, in numbers
- Room for a loan payment in Rains County
- Licensing and complaints for Rains County
- A Rains County borrower's checklist
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
12,775 residents: Rains County basics
Roughly 12,775 residents live in Rains County, Texas, 149th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 229 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 56 per square mile. Rains County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Of the 4 Census places inside Rains County, Emory leads by population with about 1,207; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
Rains County against other Texas counties
Out of every Texas county, Rains County is most unusual on these measures.
- On households without a vehicle, Rains County sits near the bottom of Texas at 2.0%, 17th lowest of 253. Car ownership is close to universal, and so are repair bills.
- Few Texas counties match Rains County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 29% here, 17% for the state, ranking 22nd highest of 253. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- Homeownership: 83% in Rains County. Only 23 of 254 Texas counties are higher. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
Jobs and commutes in Rains County
Education and health care (25%), manufacturing (12%) and professional and administrative services (10%) lead Rains County's job mix. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (7% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 29% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Top industries | Rains County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | +3.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.3% | +3.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.2% | -1.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.3% | +5.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | -1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Earnings across Rains County households
Half of Rains County households take in less than $65,413 a year and half take in more, 17% below the Texas median of $78,476. In the state ranking that is 124th of 254.
| Households earning | Rains County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.4% | 0.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.2% | +7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.8% | -3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.5% | -4.0 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. Rains County counts about 1,276 residents below the poverty line, 10.0% of the population. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.434 (0 is perfect equality). 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 Rains County
Rains County rent at the median: $989 a month, utilities in ($1,403 in Texas). 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. Rains County homes are worth $241,100 at the median, a 3.7-to-1 ratio to income. Homeowners 83%, renters 17%. Half the housing stock was built before 1996. Against the median U.S. county, Rains County rent is 13% above.
| Home costs | Rains County | Texas | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $989/mo | $1,403/mo | 30% lower |
| Median home value | $241,100 | $283,800 | 15% lower |
| Owners | 83% | 63% | +20.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | -4.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | +2.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 21.3% | 6.4% | +14.9 pts |
| Vacant units | 18% | 9% | +8.7 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Regional comparison for Rains County
Van Zandt County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, Rockwall County, is 36 miles off. Rockwall County leads the group on income ($127,981), Wood County trails ($60,300), and Rains County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rains County | - | $65,413 | $989/mo | 83% |
| Van Zandt County, TX | 22 mi | $69,475 | $1,066/mo | 81% |
| Hopkins County, TX | 23 mi | $70,888 | $1,109/mo | 71% |
| Hunt County, TX | 24 mi | $71,938 | $1,222/mo | 71% |
| Wood County, TX | 25 mi | $60,300 | $862/mo | 80% |
| Kaufman County, TX | 34 mi | $89,485 | $1,554/mo | 78% |
| Rockwall County, TX | 36 mi | $127,981 | $1,992/mo | 83% |
Rains County communities by population
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 29% of Rains County residents live in one of the 4. Incomes vary by place: $68,508 at the median in Point, $36,500 in Emory. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emory | city | 1,207 | $36,500 | $940 | 2 mi |
| Point | city | 912 | $68,508 | $855 | 6 mi |
| East Tawakoni | city | 869 | $57,500 | $942 | 8 mi |
| Alba | town | 664 | $60,682 | $675 | 11 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Rains County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Rains County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 17% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Long drives. With 29% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Rains County budgets.
- 21% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Rains County's median age is 46.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Who lives in Rains County, in numbers
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21% of Rains County adults. Health coverage gaps: 17.5% of Rains County residents are uninsured.
| Indicator | Rains County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | +10.8 yrs | +4.9 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | -12.9 pts | -1.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | -4.3 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.5% | +0.4 pts | +9.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 2.0% | -3.4 pts | -3.4 pts |
| Work from home | 9.4% | -4.9 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | -3.8 pts | -3.2 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | -2.0 pts | -1.2 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 23.4% |
Room for a loan payment in Rains County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Rains County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $65,413 a year is $5,451 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $989, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,355 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $989, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Licensing and complaints for Rains County
Consumer lenders serving Rains County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide.
A Rains County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rains County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Keep exploring
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Rains County household make?
About $65,413 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the Texas median.
What is the median rent in Rains County, TX?
$989 a month, utilities included, or $11,868 a year.
Should Rains County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 83% of Rains County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Rains County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Emory, Point, East Tawakoni, Alba.
Will a Rains County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.