1st Advantage MortgageIn Runnels County, Texas, the typical household earns $62,632 a year and the typical rent is $847. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Texas license first.
On this page
- Runnels County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Runnels County
- Employment and commuting in Runnels County
- Runnels County housing compared with Texas
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Runnels County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- People and households in Runnels County
- Local borrowing considerations for Runnels County
- What a median Runnels County budget can carry
- A Runnels County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Runnels County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Runnels County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Runnels County's population at 9,874; only 162 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,051 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 9 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Runnels County is not part of any metropolitan area. Ballinger is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 3,583 people (36% of the county total). Because Runnels County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Paychecks and income spread in Runnels County
Runnels County households have a median income of $62,632 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 141st of 254 in Texas.
| Households earning | Runnels County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.0% | +1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.8% | +12.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.2% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -7.5 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 11.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.417 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Runnels County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.9% in Runnels County. About 81% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Runnels County share | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.1% | +4.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.9% | +10.7 pts |
| Construction | 12.2% | +3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.5% | -0.2 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.
Runnels County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $847 in Runnels County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 31% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $109,300, about 1.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 75% of homes. The median home was built in 1958, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Runnels County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $847/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $109,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Runnels 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Runnels County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Runnels County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 7,345 people, so roughly 26% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,590 in Winters to $74,000 in Miles. Median rent ranges from $600 in Winters to $986 in Ballinger. Live in one of these Runnels County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinger | city | 3,583 | $58,870 | $986 | 7 mi |
| Winters | city | 2,405 | $48,590 | $600 | 7 mi |
| Miles | city | 1,030 | $74,000 | $805 | 21 mi |
| Rowena | CDP | 199 | $59,632 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Wingate | CDP | 128 | $100,060 | n/a | 16 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Taylor County is closest, 32 miles from center to center; the sixth, Tom Green County, is 42 miles off. Tom Green County leads the group on income ($68,370), Coke County trails ($43,333), and Runnels County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runnels County | - | $62,632 | $847/mo | 75% |
| Taylor County, TX | 32 mi | $67,139 | $1,159/mo | 61% |
| Concho County, TX | 37 mi | $65,795 | $733/mo | 80% |
| Coleman County, TX | 38 mi | $49,159 | $653/mo | 77% |
| Coke County, TX | 38 mi | $43,333 | $729/mo | 71% |
| Nolan County, TX | 41 mi | $50,747 | $913/mo | 68% |
| Tom Green County, TX | 42 mi | $68,370 | $1,154/mo | 65% |
People and households in Runnels County
19% of Runnels County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 17% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Runnels County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.2% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Runnels County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Runnels County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 17% of Runnels County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Consolidating cards in Runnels County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
What a median Runnels County budget can carry
Runnels County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,219 before taxes
- 16% goes to median rent ($847)
- $1,397: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $847, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A Runnels County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Runnels County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Who licenses lenders for Runnels County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Runnels County, check 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. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Runnels County?
$62,632 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 141st of 254 in the state.
What do renters pay in Runnels County?
$847 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Which towns does the Runnels County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Ballinger, Winters, Miles, Rowena, Wingate.
Will a Runnels County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Runnels County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.