1st Advantage MortgageIn Tarrant County, Texas, the typical household earns $84,207 a year and the typical rent is $1,547. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Texas before sharing details.
On this page
- Tarrant County, TX: the basics
- How much Tarrant County households make
- Employment and commuting in Tarrant County
- Renting and owning in Tarrant County
- Tarrant County towns compared
- Counties near Tarrant County
- More Tarrant County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Tarrant County
- A Tarrant County household budget, worked through
- Four steps for Tarrant County borrowers
- Who licenses lenders for Tarrant County residents
- More guides for Tarrant County
- Frequently asked questions
Tarrant County, TX: the basics
With an estimated 2,167,390 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Tarrant County ranks 3rd of 254 in Texas for population. Land area is 865 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2,505 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Fort Worth is the biggest of its 36 Census places, at roughly 963,194 people (44% of the county total).
How much Tarrant County households make
At $84,207, the typical Tarrant County household income is 28% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Tarrant County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.8% | -3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.1% | +0.6 pts |
About 18% of households earn under $35,000, while 42% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.1% of Tarrant County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Tarrant County
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 15% work from home. 4.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Tarrant County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.2% | +1.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | -0.1 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Renting and owning in Tarrant County
Renters in Tarrant County pay a median of $1,547 a month, 10% above the Texas figure of $1,403. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 55% of renter households here. With a median value of $323,900, a typical Tarrant County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 59%. Median construction year: 1990.
| Cost | Tarrant County | Texas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,547/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $323,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Tarrant County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 36 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 95% of Tarrant County residents live in one of the 36. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Southlake, $42,257 in Sansom Park. Median rent ranges from $1,156 in Haslet to $3,501 in Southlake. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Tarrant County community.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth | city | 963,194 | $79,507 | $1,509 | 3 mi |
| Arlington | city | 397,742 | $75,171 | $1,470 | 11 mi |
| Mansfield | city | 77,510 | $121,126 | $1,954 | 17 mi |
| North Richland Hills | city | 70,780 | $97,305 | $1,704 | 7 mi |
| Euless | city | 60,421 | $82,167 | $1,690 | 13 mi |
| Grapevine | city | 51,139 | $111,376 | $1,863 | 17 mi |
| Bedford | city | 49,085 | $83,971 | $1,502 | 10 mi |
| Keller | city | 45,976 | $174,950 | $2,144 | 12 mi |
| Haltom City | city | 45,767 | $59,057 | $1,415 | 3 mi |
| Hurst | city | 39,861 | $72,210 | $1,358 | 8 mi |
| Southlake | city | 31,137 | $250,001 | $3,501 | 15 mi |
| Colleyville | city | 26,012 | $218,328 | $3,263 | 12 mi |
| Saginaw | city | 24,970 | $97,276 | $1,776 | 8 mi |
| Benbrook | city | 24,557 | $86,292 | $1,566 | 12 mi |
Counties near Tarrant County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Tarrant County's, from 27 to 39 miles away. Income ranges from $76,547 in Dallas County to $111,498 in Denton County; 5 of these neighbors top Tarrant County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County | - | $84,207 | $1,547/mo | 59% |
| Johnson County, TX | 27 mi | $84,859 | $1,398/mo | 75% |
| Dallas County, TX | 30 mi | $76,547 | $1,565/mo | 51% |
| Parker County, TX | 30 mi | $104,443 | $1,500/mo | 81% |
| Denton County, TX | 32 mi | $111,498 | $1,728/mo | 65% |
| Wise County, TX | 37 mi | $93,421 | $1,299/mo | 81% |
| Hood County, TX | 39 mi | $88,160 | $1,428/mo | 81% |
More Tarrant County figures
Degree holders: 35% of adults over 25. About 17% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Tarrant County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.8% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Tarrant County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Tarrant County
Where the Tarrant County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Tarrant County. For the 17% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Consolidation math. With 42% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of Tarrant County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Tarrant County household budget, worked through
Here is the Tarrant County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $84,207 a year is $7,017 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,547, which is 22% of it
- $979: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Tarrant County borrowers
Quick steps for Tarrant County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Tarrant County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Tarrant County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
More guides for Tarrant County
City guides inside Tarrant County, and the statewide guide:
- Fort Worth, TX
- Arlington, TX
- Mansfield, TX
- North Richland Hills, TX
- Euless, TX
- Grapevine, TX
- Texas state guide
Frequently asked questions
Is Tarrant County a high-income county?
Its $84,207 median ranks 31st of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Tarrant County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,547 against $1,403 statewide, and 55% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Tarrant County?
By population: Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, North Richland Hills, Euless. The county has 36 Census places in all.
Can Tarrant 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.
Is there a Tarrant County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.