1st Advantage MortgageRusk County households have a median income of $68,658 and median rent of $1,015 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
- Rusk County at a glance
- Housing costs in Rusk County
- Income in Rusk County compared with Texas
- Work, industries and travel time in Rusk County
- Rusk County and the counties next door
- Places inside Rusk County
- More Rusk County figures
- Before borrowing in Rusk County
- Debt-to-income at Rusk County's medians
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Rusk County
- More guides for Rusk County
- Frequently asked questions
Rusk County at a glance
Rusk County is home to about 52,842 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 65th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Land area is 924 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 57 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Longview, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Henderson, with about 13,385 residents, or 25% of the county.
Housing costs in Rusk County
Renters in Rusk County pay a median of $1,015 a month, 28% below the Texas figure of $1,403. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $171,300, about 2.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 79%. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Home costs | Rusk County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,015/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $171,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 9% | n/a |
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).
Income in Rusk County compared with Texas
Half of Rusk County households take in less than $68,658 a year and half take in more, 13% below the Texas median of $78,476. That places it 97th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Band | Rusk County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.4% | +4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -5.6 pts |
Some 25% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 14.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.480 (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.
Work, industries and travel time in Rusk County
The biggest employer of Rusk County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (11%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Rusk County. About 84% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Rusk County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | +0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -5.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | -0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rusk County and the counties next door
Gregg County is closest, 26 miles from center to center; the sixth, Harrison County, is 38 miles off. Smith County leads the group on income ($74,192), Nacogdoches County trails ($53,555), and Rusk County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusk County | - | $68,658 | $1,015/mo | 79% |
| Gregg County, TX | 26 mi | $66,550 | $1,102/mo | 60% |
| Panola County, TX | 27 mi | $64,894 | $834/mo | 80% |
| Cherokee County, TX | 30 mi | $61,261 | $933/mo | 74% |
| Nacogdoches County, TX | 35 mi | $53,555 | $965/mo | 59% |
| Smith County, TX | 35 mi | $74,192 | $1,238/mo | 69% |
| Harrison County, TX | 38 mi | $66,103 | $974/mo | 77% |
Places inside Rusk County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Rusk County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 17,271 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. New London has the highest median household income on the list ($63,036) and Overton the lowest ($52,279), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Rusk County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson | city | 13,385 | $61,285 | $1,007 | 4 mi |
| Overton | city | 2,444 | $52,279 | $783 | 17 mi |
| New London | city | 1,085 | $63,036 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Mount Enterprise | city | 357 | $77,083 | $1,083 | 14 mi |
More Rusk County figures
18% of Rusk County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.7%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Rusk County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.5% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.2% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Rusk County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Before borrowing in Rusk County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Rusk County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 14% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 19% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Debt-to-income at Rusk County's medians
Here is the Rusk County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $68,658 a year is $5,722 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $1,015, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,274 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Rusk County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Rusk County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Rusk County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
More guides for Rusk County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Rusk County?
$68,658 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 97th of 254 in the state.
What do renters pay in Rusk County?
$1,015 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Rusk County?
By population: Henderson, Overton, New London, Mount Enterprise. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Can Rusk County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Texas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Rusk County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.