1st Advantage MortgageReal County households have a median income of $39,605 and median rent of $1,188 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Real County in brief
- Real County housing compared with Texas
- Real County against other Texas counties
- Employment and commuting in Real County
- How much Real County households make
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Real County towns compared
- More Real County figures
- Debt-to-income, Real County edition
- Local borrowing considerations for Real County
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Four steps for Real County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Real County in brief
Roughly 2,802 residents live in Real County, Texas, 226th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 699 square miles, that works out to roughly 4.0 residents per square mile. Metro status: none; Real County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. Largest place: Camp Wood, about 939 residents (34% of Real County); 2 Census places in all. At 2,802 people, Real County is a small survey sample, so small differences in these figures may be noise.
Real County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,188 in Real County versus $1,403 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 70% in Real County, 52% statewide. With a median value of $112,500, a typical Real County house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Median construction year: 1989. Against the median U.S. county, Real County rent is 35% above.
| Home costs | Real County | Texas | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,188/mo | $1,403/mo | 15% lower |
| Median home value | $112,500 | $283,800 | 60% lower |
| Owners | 78% | 63% | +15.5 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 70% | 52% | +17.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 6% | 29% | -23.4 pts |
| Vacant units | 42% | 9% | +32.8 pts |
Real County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Real County against other Texas counties
The 4 Real County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Texas, and what each means for a borrower:
- The ACS unemployment rate: 0.0% in Real County, the lowest of 247 in Texas. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Real County sits near the top of Texas at 70%, 2nd highest of 249. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- Real County ranks 4th highest of 254 Texas counties for the share of mobile homes: 35.5%, against 6.4% statewide. Manufactured homes often do not qualify for home equity loans, so unsecured loans fill the gap.
- Few Texas counties match Real County on median age: 59.5 here, 35.6 for the state, ranking 5th highest of 254. Retirement income counts when documented; favor loans with no prepayment penalty.
Employment and commuting in Real County
By the Census industry count, 33% of employed Real County residents work in education and health care and 20% in public administration. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward public administration (20% against 4%). Averaged over the five survey years, 0.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 49% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Real County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.2% | +11.6 pts |
| Public administration | 19.7% | +15.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.2% | +4.2 pts |
| Other services | 13.2% | +8.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.2% | -3.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.2% | -1.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How much Real County households make
Median household income in Real County: $39,605 (50% below Texas, $78,476).
| Yearly household income | Real County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 45.7% | +24.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.9% | -3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.2% | -13.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -7.3 pts |
On the low end, 46% of Real County households report under $35,000; at the top, 18% report $100,000-plus. Census counts 17.9% of Real County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. None of these numbers decides a Real County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (32 to 49 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Real County; Bandera County is highest at $75,813 and Edwards County lowest at $40,313.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real County | - | $39,605 | $1,188/mo | 78% |
| Edwards County, TX | 32 mi | $40,313 | $713/mo | 88% |
| Kerr County, TX | 32 mi | $69,395 | $1,109/mo | 70% |
| Uvalde County, TX | 33 mi | $53,801 | $981/mo | 71% |
| Bandera County, TX | 34 mi | $75,813 | $1,149/mo | 86% |
| Kimble County, TX | 45 mi | $69,455 | $790/mo | 79% |
| Kinney County, TX | 49 mi | $70,000 | $1,272/mo | 84% |
Real County towns compared
2 Census places fall mainly inside Real County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 1,660 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Camp Wood and every other Real County community use this county guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Wood | city | 939 | n/a | $868 | 16 mi |
| Leakey | city | 721 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
More Real County figures
21% of Real County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 16.2%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Real County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.5 | +23.9 yrs | +18.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | -12.7 pts | -1.0 pts |
| Work from home | 24.4% | +10.1 pts | +15.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 0.0% | -5.3 pts | -4.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 9.0% | -5.1 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | +4.1 pts | +4.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.4% | -1.0 pts | -1.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | -0.9 pts | +8.4 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.4% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Debt-to-income, Real County edition
DTI math using Real County medians ($39,605 income, $1,188 rent):
- Start: $3,300 gross per month ($39,605 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,188, which is 36% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $0 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Real County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Local borrowing considerations for Real County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Real County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Real County. For the 16% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile homes in Real County. At 35% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
- Fixed incomes. Real County's median age is 59.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 70% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Real County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. A second Texas office, the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, covers consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Texas page has statewide figures to set beside Real County's.
Four steps for Real County borrowers
Steps that save money for Real County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Real County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Real County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Real County?
$39,605 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 248th of 254 in the state.
Can a Real County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,188 median rent and $3,300 median monthly income, rent alone uses 36%; add other debts before a new payment.
I live in a small Real County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Camp Wood, Leakey.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Real County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Real 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.