1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of Smith County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $74,192. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Smith County
- Household income in Smith County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Smith County
- How Smith County residents earn a living
- Smith County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Smith County
- Budget math at the Smith County median
- Smith County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Smith County borrowers
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Smith County
Smith County is home to about 241,740 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 24th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Land area is 921 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 262 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Tyler, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 11 Census places inside Smith County, Tyler leads by population with about 109,215; 10 of the 11 are incorporated.
Household income in Smith County
The median household income in Smith County is $74,192; statewide it is $78,476, so Smith County runs 5% below Texas as a whole. That places it 54th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Household income | Smith County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.6% | +0.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.5% | -3.0 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 36% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 11.6%, 2 points lower than the state's 13.8%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Smith County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Smith County
A typical Smith County rental runs $1,238 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Texas. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $240,700, a typical Smith County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 69% of homes.
| Home costs | Smith County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,238/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $240,700 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
How Smith County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 27% locally and 22% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.4% in Smith County. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Smith County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +5.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.3% | -3.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -1.3 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Smith County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Gregg County at 27 miles out to Henderson County at 36. Van Zandt County leads the group on income ($69,475), Wood County trails ($60,300), and Smith County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith County | - | $74,192 | $1,238/mo | 69% |
| Gregg County, TX | 27 mi | $66,550 | $1,102/mo | 60% |
| Wood County, TX | 29 mi | $60,300 | $862/mo | 80% |
| Upshur County, TX | 31 mi | $66,208 | $995/mo | 81% |
| Rusk County, TX | 35 mi | $68,658 | $1,015/mo | 79% |
| Van Zandt County, TX | 35 mi | $69,475 | $1,066/mo | 81% |
| Henderson County, TX | 36 mi | $65,179 | $1,048/mo | 78% |
Towns and communities in Smith County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 58% of Smith County residents live in one of the 11. Incomes vary by place: $118,860 at the median in Bullard, $53,457 in Troup. None of the 11 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler | city | 109,215 | $67,486 | $1,252 | 5 mi |
| Whitehouse | city | 9,122 | $99,458 | $1,458 | 11 mi |
| Lindale | city | 6,644 | $83,249 | $1,274 | 12 mi |
| Bullard | town | 4,346 | $118,860 | $1,471 | 16 mi |
| Hideaway | city | 3,301 | $109,712 | $1,548 | 14 mi |
| Troup | city | 2,338 | $53,457 | $954 | 18 mi |
| Arp | city | 1,111 | $72,500 | $1,037 | 16 mi |
| Winona | town | 1,025 | $56,417 | $1,130 | 10 mi |
| Emerald Bay | CDP | 970 | $98,068 | n/a | 18 mi |
| New Chapel Hill | city | 891 | $63,672 | $1,095 | 8 mi |
| Noonday | city | 707 | $63,125 | $1,334 | 12 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Budget math at the Smith County median
How much room does a median Smith County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $6,183 gross per month ($74,192 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,238, which is 20% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,226 total minus rent leaves $988
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,421 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Smith County households compared
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. 16.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Smith County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.6% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.3% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Smith County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.3% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
What the numbers mean for Smith County borrowers
Based on the Smith County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 17% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Smith County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Smith County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Smith County, check 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. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Smith County earn?
The median is $74,192; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Smith County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,238 against $1,403 statewide, and 48% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Tyler?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Smith County, such as Whitehouse, Lindale, Bullard.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Smith County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Smith County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.