1st Advantage MortgageThe median San Jacinto County household earns $65,364, and 18% 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
- San Jacinto County at a glance
- What San Jacinto County households earn
- Housing costs in San Jacinto County
- The San Jacinto County job picture
- Towns and communities in San Jacinto County
- Counties near San Jacinto County
- San Jacinto County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for San Jacinto County
- A San Jacinto County household budget, worked through
- Who licenses lenders for San Jacinto County residents
- Four steps for San Jacinto County borrowers
- More guides for San Jacinto County
- Frequently asked questions
San Jacinto County at a glance
Roughly 28,441 residents live in San Jacinto County, Texas, 98th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 569 square miles, that works out to roughly 50.0 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Cleveland is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 8,984 people (32% of the county total).
What San Jacinto County households earn
The median household income in San Jacinto County is $65,364; statewide it is $78,476, so San Jacinto County runs 17% below Texas as a whole. That places it 125th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Households earning | San Jacinto County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +5.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +3.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -7.7 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 18.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). A household earning below the $65,364 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in San Jacinto County
A typical San Jacinto County rental runs $1,060 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. With a median value of $209,300, a typical San Jacinto County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 85% of homes.
| Cost | San Jacinto County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,060/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $209,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 9% | n/a |
Because most San Jacinto County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
The San Jacinto County job picture
The biggest employer of San Jacinto County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by construction (16%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward construction (16% against 9%). The survey's unemployment rate for San Jacinto County averages 6.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 79% drive to work alone and 39% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | San Jacinto County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 16.0% | +7.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.1% | -2.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.1% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.4% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.3% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in San Jacinto County
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 50% of San Jacinto County residents live in one of the 6. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,851 in Coldspring to $74,830 in Cape Royale. Median rent ranges from $667 in Shepherd to $930 in Cleveland. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | city | 8,984 | $54,519 | $930 | 17 mi |
| Shepherd | city | 2,189 | $53,750 | $667 | 11 mi |
| Coldspring | city | 1,274 | $43,851 | $777 | 2 mi |
| Point Blank | city | 837 | $69,583 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Cape Royale | CDP | 574 | $74,830 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Oakhurst | CDP | 266 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near San Jacinto County
Distances run center to center, from Polk County at 24 miles out to Tyler County at 49. Income ranges from $52,018 in Trinity County to $97,701 in Montgomery County; 2 of these neighbors top San Jacinto County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jacinto County | - | $65,364 | $1,060/mo | 85% |
| Polk County, TX | 24 mi | $62,259 | $987/mo | 78% |
| Walker County, TX | 27 mi | $52,324 | $1,031/mo | 56% |
| Montgomery County, TX | 28 mi | $97,701 | $1,532/mo | 72% |
| Liberty County, TX | 34 mi | $68,703 | $1,044/mo | 82% |
| Trinity County, TX | 36 mi | $52,018 | $856/mo | 79% |
| Tyler County, TX | 49 mi | $55,396 | $1,049/mo | 81% |
San Jacinto County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 17.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | San Jacinto County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.1% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | San Jacinto County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.0% |
| 60+ min | 27.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for San Jacinto County
Based on the San Jacinto County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in San Jacinto County. For the 18% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 39% of San Jacinto County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 23% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 18% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
A San Jacinto County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to San Jacinto County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,447 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,060, takes 19% of that
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,282 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in San Jacinto County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for San Jacinto County residents
The Texas Department of Banking is the place to verify any lender's Texas license. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Four steps for San Jacinto County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the San Jacinto County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for San Jacinto County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in San Jacinto County?
$65,364 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 125th of 254 in the state.
Is San Jacinto County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,060 against $1,403 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small San Jacinto County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cleveland, Shepherd, Coldspring, Point Blank, Cape Royale and 1 more.
Does living in San Jacinto County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a San Jacinto County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a San Jacinto County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.