1st Advantage MortgageThe median Terry County household earns $44,100, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Terry County, TX: the basics
- What Terry County households earn
- How Terry County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Terry County
- Places inside Terry County
- Regional comparison for Terry County
- Terry County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Terry County
- Room for a loan payment in Terry County
- Four steps for Terry County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Terry County, TX: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Terry County's population at 11,629; only 155 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 889 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.1 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Brownfield is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 8,738 people (75% of the county total).
What Terry County households earn
Half of Terry County households take in less than $44,100 a year and half take in more, 44% below the Texas median of $78,476. Only 240 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Terry County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.7% | +13.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.1% | -10.4 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. 18.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.448 here. A household earning below the $44,100 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Terry County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Terry County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (23%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Terry County. About 76% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.2% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Terry County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +2.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.2% | +21.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 5.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 5.5% | +1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Terry County
A typical Terry County rental runs $817 a month including utilities, which is 42% below Texas. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. Home values center on $105,400, or 2.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 67%.
| Terry County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $817/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $105,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 43% | 29% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Places inside Terry County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 83% of Terry County residents live in one of the 3. Live in one of these Terry County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownfield | city | 8,738 | $42,150 | $811 | 4 mi |
| Meadow | town | 623 | $49,342 | $721 | 14 mi |
| Wellman | city | 286 | $122,411 | n/a | 10 mi |
Regional comparison for Terry County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (29 to 41 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Terry County; Yoakum County is highest at $84,925 and Cochran County lowest at $45,313.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry County | - | $44,100 | $817/mo | 67% |
| Yoakum County, TX | 29 mi | $84,925 | $973/mo | 67% |
| Hockley County, TX | 30 mi | $63,140 | $850/mo | 72% |
| Lynn County, TX | 30 mi | $73,679 | $927/mo | 77% |
| Gaines County, TX | 34 mi | $74,132 | $789/mo | 75% |
| Dawson County, TX | 37 mi | $54,360 | $777/mo | 71% |
| Cochran County, TX | 41 mi | $45,313 | $697/mo | 65% |
Terry County residents: age, schooling, coverage
10% of Terry County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 26.9%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| People and households | Terry County | Texas | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 9.8% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.8% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 26.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 52.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Terry County
A few patterns in the Terry County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Terry County. For the 27% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 18% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Room for a loan payment in Terry County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Terry County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $3,675 gross per month ($44,100 / 12)
- Median rent: $817, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- $469: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $1,654 total minus rent leaves $837
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Terry County borrowers
Quick steps for Terry County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Terry County-area credit union.
- Verify the Texas license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Terry County, check the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Texas guide.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Terry County a high-income county?
Its $44,100 median ranks 241st of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Terry County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $817 against $1,403 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Terry County?
By population: Brownfield, Meadow, Wellman. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Can Terry 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.
Where can someone in Terry 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.