1st Advantage MortgageStarr County households have a median income of $37,639 and median rent of $726 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Starr County, TX: the basics
- What it costs to live in Starr County
- Household income in Starr County
- Employment and commuting in Starr County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Starr County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Starr County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Starr County
- Starr County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Starr County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Starr County
- More guides for Starr County
- Frequently asked questions
Starr County, TX: the basics
Roughly 66,067 residents live in Starr County, Texas, 54th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 1,223 square miles, that is close to 54 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Starr County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 115 Census places inside Starr County, Rio Grande City leads by population with about 15,396; 4 of the 115 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Starr County
Renters in Starr County pay a median of $726 a month, 48% below the Texas figure of $1,403. 56% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% spend half or more. With a median value of $95,100, a typical Starr County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 70%.
| Measure | Starr County | Texas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $726/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $95,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 39% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.9% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 9% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Household income in Starr County
The median household income in Starr County is $37,639; statewide it is $78,476, so Starr County runs 52% below Texas as a whole.
| Households earning | Starr County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 47.9% | +26.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.6% | -4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.5% | -12.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -9.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 18% of Starr County households make $100,000 or more, and 48% make less than $35,000. Census counts 33.5% of Starr County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.533 here. A household earning below the $37,639 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Starr County
By the Census industry count, 36% of employed Starr County residents work in education and health care and 12% in construction. Education and health care stands out: 36% of workers here, versus 22% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 10.4% in Starr County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 10.4% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Starr County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 36.4% | +14.8 pts |
| Construction | 12.2% | +3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.5% | +3.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.9% | -1.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.8% | -1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Starr County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 115 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 82% of Starr County residents live in one of the 115. Mikes has the highest median household income on the list ($49,375) and Garza-Salinas II the lowest ($12,368), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $563 in Roma to $815 in Escobares. No Starr County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 115.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande City | city | 15,396 | $44,577 | $767 | 12 mi |
| Roma | city | 11,545 | $24,579 | $563 | 18 mi |
| Escobares | city | 2,573 | $29,844 | $815 | 16 mi |
| Las Lomas | CDP | 2,154 | $24,583 | $645 | 12 mi |
| Mikes | CDP | 1,688 | $49,375 | n/a | 16 mi |
| La Grulla | city | 1,341 | $37,308 | $791 | 19 mi |
| Alto Bonito Heights | CDP | 1,121 | $35,625 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Mi Ranchito Estate | CDP | 1,091 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Nina | CDP | 965 | $43,553 | n/a | 20 mi |
| West Alto Bonito | CDP | 822 | $40,896 | n/a | 16 mi |
| El Refugio | CDP | 780 | $47,440 | n/a | 13 mi |
| El Rancho Vela | CDP | 623 | $48,246 | n/a | 9 mi |
| La Puerta | CDP | 582 | n/a | $720 | 13 mi |
| El Castillo | CDP | 566 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 36 to 75 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. All of the six report a higher median household income than Starr County; Hidalgo County is highest at $54,338 and Kenedy County lowest at $38,882.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starr County | - | $37,639 | $726/mo | 70% |
| Hidalgo County, TX | 36 mi | $54,338 | $957/mo | 67% |
| Jim Hogg County, TX | 36 mi | $42,211 | $824/mo | 56% |
| Zapata County, TX | 42 mi | $39,239 | $617/mo | 72% |
| Brooks County, TX | 48 mi | $47,764 | $719/mo | 53% |
| Willacy County, TX | 71 mi | $54,180 | $809/mo | 75% |
| Kenedy County, TX | 75 mi | $38,882 | n/a | 53% |
A Starr County household budget, worked through
Here is the Starr County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $3,137 a month: gross income for a household at the Starr County median
- 23% goes to median rent ($726)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,129 total minus rent leaves $403
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $623 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Starr County's.
Before borrowing in Starr County
A few patterns in the Starr County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 29% of Starr County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- 34% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- 56% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Starr County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. About 29% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Starr County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.4 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.6% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 39.6% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 28.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 33.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.4% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Starr County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
A Starr County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Starr County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Starr County
Consumer lenders serving Starr County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Starr County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Starr County a high-income county?
Its $37,639 median ranks 252nd of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Starr County?
$726 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Which towns does the Starr County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 115 Census places: Rio Grande City, Roma, Escobares, Las Lomas, Mikes.
Is the fit check different in Starr County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Starr 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.