1st Advantage MortgageIn Shelby County, Texas, the typical household earns $49,776 a year and the typical rent is $781. 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
- Getting oriented in Shelby County
- Shelby County housing compared with Texas
- Household income in Shelby County
- Employment and commuting in Shelby County
- Places inside Shelby County
- Regional comparison for Shelby County
- Who lives in Shelby County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Shelby County
- What a median Shelby County budget can carry
- Lender oversight for Shelby County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Shelby County
With an estimated 24,155 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Shelby County ranks 104th of 254 in Texas for population. It covers 796 square miles of land, or about 30 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Shelby County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Center is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 5,271 people (22% of the county total).
Shelby County housing compared with Texas
Renters in Shelby County pay a median of $781 a month, 44% below the Texas figure of $1,403. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 36% of renter households here. Home values center on $101,500, or 2.0 years of median income. 74% of Shelby County households own their home and 26% rent.
| Housing | Shelby County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $781/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $101,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 32.3% | 6.4% | 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).
Household income in Shelby County
Shelby County households have a median income of $49,776 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 224th of 254 in Texas.
| Households earning | Shelby County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.9% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +5.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -10.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.7% | -7.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Shelby County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. Census counts 20.6% of Shelby County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.475 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Shelby County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Shelby County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Shelby County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 10% locally and 2% for Texas. The survey's unemployment rate for Shelby County averages 4.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.7% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Shelby County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.7% | +4.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.0% | +7.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +2.7 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | -0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Shelby 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 37% of Shelby County residents live in one of the 6. Center has the highest median household income on the list ($48,293) and Tenaha the lowest ($27,813), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center | city | 5,271 | $48,293 | $823 | 2 mi |
| Tenaha | town | 1,239 | $27,813 | $600 | 12 mi |
| Timpson | city | 1,063 | $31,250 | $619 | 17 mi |
| Joaquin | city | 869 | $35,625 | $663 | 13 mi |
| Huxley | city | 322 | $44,028 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Shelbyville | CDP | 188 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Shelby County
Six nearby counties, 28 to 38 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Sabine County leads the group on income ($66,585), De Soto Parish trails ($48,578), and Shelby County out-earns 1 of the six. The list crosses into Louisiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | - | $49,776 | $781/mo | 74% |
| Panola County, TX | 28 mi | $64,894 | $834/mo | 80% |
| San Augustine County, TX | 28 mi | $50,408 | $591/mo | 75% |
| De Soto Parish, LA | 30 mi | $48,578 | $687/mo | 77% |
| Nacogdoches County, TX | 30 mi | $53,555 | $965/mo | 59% |
| Sabine County, TX | 35 mi | $66,585 | $844/mo | 86% |
| Sabine Parish, LA | 38 mi | $50,329 | $701/mo | 80% |
Who lives in Shelby County, in numbers
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. 20.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Shelby County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.1% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 20.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Shelby County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Shelby County
What the Shelby County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Shelby County. For the 21% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile home upkeep. 32% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
What a median Shelby County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Shelby County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,148 before taxes
- 19% goes to median rent ($781)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,003 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Shelby County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Shelby County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Shelby County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Shelby County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Texas borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Shelby County earn?
The median is $49,776; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Shelby County rent compare with Texas?
$781 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 44% below.
Does this page cover Center?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Shelby County, such as Tenaha, Timpson, Joaquin.
Is the fit check different in Shelby County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Shelby County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.