1st Advantage MortgageIn Van Zandt County, Texas, the typical household earns $69,475 a year and the typical rent is $1,066. 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
- Van Zandt County, TX: the basics
- Household income in Van Zandt County
- Work, industries and travel time in Van Zandt County
- Van Zandt County housing compared with Texas
- Counties near Van Zandt County
- Towns and communities in Van Zandt County
- Room for a loan payment in Van Zandt County
- Who lives in Van Zandt County, in numbers
- Reading the Van Zandt County data as a borrower
- Lender oversight for Van Zandt County
- Four steps for Van Zandt County borrowers
- More guides for Van Zandt County
- Frequently asked questions
Van Zandt County, TX: the basics
Roughly 62,649 residents live in Van Zandt County, Texas, 57th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. It covers 843 square miles of land, or about 74 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Van Zandt County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Van Zandt County, Canton leads by population with about 4,545; 7 of the 10 are incorporated.
Household income in Van Zandt County
The median household income in Van Zandt County is $69,475; statewide it is $78,476, so Van Zandt County runs 11% below Texas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 89th of 254.
| Band | Van Zandt County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.0% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.5% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -6.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Van Zandt County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 11.1%, 3 points lower than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.447 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Van Zandt 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Van Zandt County
By the Census industry count, 18% of employed Van Zandt County residents work in education and health care and 13% in construction. Construction stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 33% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Van Zandt County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.3% | -3.3 pts |
| Construction | 12.7% | +4.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | +2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.2% | -4.7 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.
Van Zandt County housing compared with Texas
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,066 in Van Zandt County versus $1,403 statewide. By the Census definition, 49% of Van Zandt County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $222,100, a typical Van Zandt County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. 81% of Van Zandt County households own their home and 19% rent.
| Home costs | Van Zandt County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,066/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $222,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 29% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Van Zandt 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 Van Zandt County
Six nearby counties, 22 to 41 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Rockwall County leads the group on income ($127,981), Wood County trails ($60,300), and Van Zandt County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Zandt County | - | $69,475 | $1,066/mo | 81% |
| Rains County, TX | 22 mi | $65,413 | $989/mo | 83% |
| Henderson County, TX | 24 mi | $65,179 | $1,048/mo | 78% |
| Kaufman County, TX | 26 mi | $89,485 | $1,554/mo | 78% |
| Wood County, TX | 31 mi | $60,300 | $862/mo | 80% |
| Smith County, TX | 35 mi | $74,192 | $1,238/mo | 69% |
| Rockwall County, TX | 41 mi | $127,981 | $1,992/mo | 83% |
Towns and communities in Van Zandt County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Van Zandt County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 20,341 people, so roughly 68% of residents live outside any named place. Ben Wheeler has the highest median household income on the list ($120,523) and Callender Lake the lowest ($44,444), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $568 in Edgewood to $1,220 in Van. Live in one of these Van Zandt County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | city | 4,545 | $51,027 | $1,027 | 2 mi |
| Wills Point | city | 3,921 | $71,919 | $1,030 | 14 mi |
| Grand Saline | city | 3,203 | $50,028 | $925 | 11 mi |
| Van | city | 2,806 | $69,155 | $1,220 | 12 mi |
| Edgewood | town | 1,927 | $73,533 | $568 | 9 mi |
| Ben Wheeler | CDP | 1,792 | $120,523 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Callender Lake | CDP | 744 | $44,444 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Myrtle Springs | CDP | 692 | $47,188 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Fruitvale | city | 396 | $50,714 | $420 | 9 mi |
| Edom | city | 315 | $96,417 | $1,125 | 18 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Van Zandt County
Van Zandt County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $69,475 a year is $5,790 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($1,066)
- $960: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,605 total minus rent leaves $1,539
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Van Zandt County's.
Who lives in Van Zandt County, in numbers
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 18% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Van Zandt County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.8% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.0% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.4% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 23.9% |
Reading the Van Zandt County data as a borrower
Where the Van Zandt County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 18% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 33% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Van Zandt County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 20% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Lender oversight for Van Zandt County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Van Zandt County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Van Zandt County borrowers
A short checklist for Van Zandt County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Van Zandt County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Van Zandt County a high-income county?
Its $69,475 median ranks 89th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Van Zandt County?
$1,066 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
I live in a small Van Zandt County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Canton, Wills Point, Grand Saline, Van, Edgewood and 5 more.
Are Van Zandt County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Van Zandt County residents?
The Texas Department of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Texas; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.