1st Advantage MortgageThe median Tyler County household earns $55,396, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Tyler County at a glance
- Tyler County housing compared with Texas
- What Tyler County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Tyler County
- Tyler County towns compared
- Tyler County next to its neighbors
- What a median Tyler County budget can carry
- Reading the Tyler County data as a borrower
- Tyler County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- A Tyler County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Tyler County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Tyler County's population at 20,238; only 118 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 924 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 22 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Tyler County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 5 Census places inside Tyler County, Woodville leads by population with about 2,755; 4 of the 5 are incorporated.
Tyler County housing compared with Texas
Renters in Tyler County pay a median of $1,049 a month, 25% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 51% of Tyler County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $157,300, or 2.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 81% of homes. The median year built is 1985.
| Housing | Tyler County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,049/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $157,300 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 25% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
What Tyler County households earn
At $55,396, the typical Tyler County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 202 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Tyler County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.4% | +9.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.5% | -4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -8.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Tyler County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.9% of Tyler County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. A household earning below the $55,396 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Tyler County
Education and health care employs 16% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 8% locally and 4% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.1% in Tyler County. About 74% drive to work alone and 32% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Tyler County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.3% | -5.3 pts |
| Construction | 12.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | -3.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +4.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +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.
Tyler County towns compared
5 Census places fall mainly inside Tyler County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 6,080 residents, leaving about 70% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,865 in Woodville to $58,056 in Colmesneil. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodville | town | 2,755 | $45,865 | $1,075 | 3 mi |
| Ivanhoe | city | 1,680 | $52,054 | $1,170 | 7 mi |
| Warren | CDP | 847 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Colmesneil | city | 642 | $58,056 | $808 | 10 mi |
| Chester | town | 156 | $64,375 | n/a | 17 mi |
Tyler County next to its neighbors
Jasper County is closest, 21 miles from center to center; the sixth, San Augustine County, is 44 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Tyler County; Hardin County is highest at $75,808 and Newton County lowest at $42,618.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler County | - | $55,396 | $1,049/mo | 81% |
| Jasper County, TX | 21 mi | $56,723 | $848/mo | 79% |
| Polk County, TX | 27 mi | $62,259 | $987/mo | 78% |
| Hardin County, TX | 30 mi | $75,808 | $1,049/mo | 82% |
| Angelina County, TX | 36 mi | $60,960 | $1,076/mo | 64% |
| Newton County, TX | 38 mi | $42,618 | $1,001/mo | 83% |
| San Augustine County, TX | 44 mi | $50,408 | $591/mo | 75% |
What a median Tyler County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Tyler County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,616 before taxes
- 23% goes to median rent ($1,049)
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $567 left for all other debt payments
- $1,028: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,049, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the Tyler County data as a borrower
What the Tyler County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Health costs. With 16% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Vehicle repairs. 32% of Tyler County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 20% of Tyler County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Tyler County residents: age, schooling, coverage
12% of Tyler County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 15.7%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Tyler County | All of Texas | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.4% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.0% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.7% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.1% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Tyler County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 23.3% |
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Tyler County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
A Tyler County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Tyler County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Tyler County?
$55,396 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 203rd of 254 in the state.
How does Tyler County rent compare with Texas?
$1,049 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 25% below.
Should Tyler County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Tyler County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Tyler County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Woodville, Ivanhoe, Warren, Colmesneil, Chester.
Does living in Tyler County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Tyler County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.