1st Advantage MortgageUpshur County (42,567 residents) has a $66,208 median household income and $995 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. County medians do not set your terms. Shop at least three lenders, including a credit union serving Upshur County, and confirm each one's Texas license.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Upshur County
- What Upshur County households earn
- The Upshur County job picture
- Housing costs in Upshur County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Upshur County
- Upshur County next to its neighbors
- More Upshur County figures
- Debt-to-income, Upshur County edition
- Before borrowing in Upshur County
- Texas rules that apply in Upshur County
- A Upshur County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Upshur County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Upshur County's population at 42,567; only 78 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. It covers 583 square miles of land, or about 73 people per square mile. Metro area: Longview, TX (OMB, 2023). Gilmer is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 5,025 people (12% of the county total).
What Upshur County households earn
The median household income in Upshur County is $66,208; statewide it is $78,476, so Upshur County runs 16% below Texas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 114th of 254.
| Household income | Upshur County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.6% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.8% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -6.4 pts |
Six-figure households (30%) outnumber those under $35,000 (27%) in Upshur County. Poverty rate, Upshur County: 12.4%; Texas: 13.8%. For a borrower in Upshur County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Upshur County job picture
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 11%. Relative to Texas (7%), transportation, warehousing and utilities is 4 points bigger in Upshur County (10%). Unemployment in Upshur County, ACS five-year: 5.8%; Texas: 5.3%. 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Where residents work | Upshur County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.1% | -1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.5% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% | +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.
Housing costs in Upshur County
Upshur County rent at the median: $995 a month, utilities in ($1,403 in Texas). Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $167,800, about 2.5 times the median household income. 81% of Upshur County households own their home and 19% rent.
| Home costs | Upshur County | Texas | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 81% | 63% | +18.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 19.4% | 6.4% | +13.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | -9.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 29% | -6.8 pts |
| Median home value | $167,800 | $283,800 | 41% lower |
| Median gross rent | $995/mo | $1,403/mo | 29% lower |
Upshur County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Upshur County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Upshur County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 7,841 people, so roughly 82% of residents live outside any named place. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $208,534, Union Grove over Big Sandy. Median rent ranges from $722 in Big Sandy to $1,236 in Ore City. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer | city | 5,025 | $44,316 | $986 | 0 mi |
| Big Sandy | town | 1,289 | $41,467 | $722 | 14 mi |
| Ore City | city | 851 | $72,721 | $1,236 | 14 mi |
| Union Grove | city | 676 | $250,001 | $1,063 | 11 mi |
Upshur County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 33 miles). Smith County leads the group on income ($74,192), Titus County trails ($58,425), and Upshur County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upshur County | - | $66,208 | $995/mo | 81% |
| Camp County, TX | 17 mi | $58,843 | $801/mo | 77% |
| Gregg County, TX | 19 mi | $66,550 | $1,102/mo | 60% |
| Wood County, TX | 26 mi | $60,300 | $862/mo | 80% |
| Morris County, TX | 29 mi | $58,645 | $859/mo | 74% |
| Smith County, TX | 31 mi | $74,192 | $1,238/mo | 69% |
| Titus County, TX | 33 mi | $58,425 | $907/mo | 71% |
More Upshur County figures
18% of Upshur County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.8%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Indicator | Upshur County | +/- Texas | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | -15.6 pts | -3.9 pts |
| Work from home | 7.8% | -6.6 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Median age | 40.6 | +5.0 yrs | -0.9 yrs |
| No health insurance | 13.8% | -3.3 pts | +6.0 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | -1.7 pts | -1.6 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.4% | -1.4 pts | -0.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | -1.3 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | +0.5 pts | +1.4 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.7% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Debt-to-income, Upshur County edition
How much room does a median Upshur County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Upshur County: $5,517
- 18% goes to median rent ($995)
- $991: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
A household below the $66,208 median has less room than this, often none.
Before borrowing in Upshur County
Upshur County-specific points to check:
- Care without coverage. About 5,876 Upshur County residents lack insurance; check charity care before a loan (how).
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Upshur County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile homes in Upshur County. At 19% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
Texas rules that apply in Upshur County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Upshur County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. A second Texas office, the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, covers consumer credit. If a Upshur County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Upshur County borrowers is in the Texas guide.
A Upshur County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Upshur County:
- 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.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Upshur County?
$66,208 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 114th of 254 in the state.
How much is rent in Upshur County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $995 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Upshur County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Gilmer, Big Sandy, Ore City, Union Grove.
Does living in Upshur 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 Upshur County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Upshur County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.