1st Advantage MortgageTexas County households have a median income of $50,036 and median rent of $665 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Missouri license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Texas County
- The Texas County job picture
- Income in Texas County compared with Missouri
- Rent, home values and ownership in Texas County
- Counties near Texas County
- Places inside Texas County
- Texas County households compared
- Before borrowing in Texas County
- What a median Texas County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Texas County
Texas County is home to about 25,161 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 43rd most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Spread over 1,177 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.4 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Licking, with about 2,858 residents, or 11% of the county.
The Texas County job picture
The biggest employer of Texas County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Manufacturing stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.1% in Texas County. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 8.2% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Texas County | Gap to Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.7% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +3.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Texas County compared with Missouri
Texas County households have a median income of $50,036 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 99th of 115 in Missouri.
| Income band | Share in Texas County | Difference from Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.8% | +12.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.7% | -9.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.7% | -6.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 17% of Texas County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 19.8%, 7 points higher than the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.422 here. A household earning below the $50,036 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Texas County
Renters in Texas County pay a median of $665 a month, 36% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $146,700, or 2.9 years of median income. 77% of Texas County households own their home and 23% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Home costs | Texas County | Missouri | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $665/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $146,700 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 22% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Texas County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Counties near Texas County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Texas County's, from 29 to 39 miles away. Pulaski County leads the group on income ($64,466), Wright County trails ($47,909), and Texas County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas County | - | $50,036 | $665/mo | 77% |
| Wright County, MO | 29 mi | $47,909 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Dent County, MO | 33 mi | $56,312 | $660/mo | 76% |
| Shannon County, MO | 33 mi | $55,222 | $574/mo | 80% |
| Howell County, MO | 38 mi | $50,993 | $733/mo | 70% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 38 mi | $64,466 | $1,112/mo | 61% |
| Phelps County, MO | 39 mi | $58,396 | $798/mo | 62% |
Places inside Texas County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 33% of Texas County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $33,929 in Cabool to $48,438 in Raymondville. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licking | city | 2,858 | $35,652 | $657 | 14 mi |
| Cabool | city | 2,348 | $33,929 | $475 | 15 mi |
| Houston | city | 2,226 | $40,000 | $698 | 0 mi |
| Raymondville | town | 563 | $48,438 | $492 | 7 mi |
| Plato | village | 183 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
Texas County households compared
16% of Texas County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.3%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Indicator | Texas County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.6% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.3% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Texas County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 9.3% |
Before borrowing in Texas County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Texas County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 18% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Texas County budgets.
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Texas County loan.
What a median Texas County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Texas County's medians:
- Start: $4,170 gross per month ($50,036 / 12)
- 16% goes to median rent ($665)
- $836: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,128 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Texas County's.
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
Consumer lenders serving Texas County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Missouri guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Texas County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Texas County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Texas County a high-income county?
Its $50,036 median ranks 99th of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Texas County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $665 against $1,033 statewide, and 43% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Texas County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Licking, Cabool, Houston, Raymondville, Plato.
Will a Texas County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Texas County?
Start with the Missouri Division of Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.