1st Advantage MortgageThe median Ward County household earns $65,952, and 15% 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
- A quick profile of Ward County
- What Ward County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Ward County
- Ward County housing compared with Texas
- Ward County towns compared
- Ward County and the counties next door
- What a median Ward County budget can carry
- Ward County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Ward County
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- Checklist for Ward County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Ward County
Roughly 11,144 residents live in Ward County, Texas, 159th by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 836 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 13 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Ward County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Ward County, Monahans leads by population with about 7,452; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
What Ward County households earn
Half of Ward County households take in less than $65,952 a year and half take in more, 16% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Households earning | Ward County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.1% | -1.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.1% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.9% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -6.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 35% of Ward County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.9% of Ward County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.436 here. None of these numbers decides a Ward County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Ward County
The biggest employer of Ward County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (15% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Ward County averages 2.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). About 83% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Ward County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.7% | -5.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.1% | +12.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.7% | +3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +3.6 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.
Ward County housing compared with Texas
A typical Ward County rental runs $1,118 a month including utilities, which is 20% below Texas. By the Census definition, 40% of Ward County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $150,700, or 2.3 years of median income. 79% of Ward County households own their home and 21% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1973.
| Ward County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,118/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $150,700 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.5% | 6.4% | n/a |
Because most Ward County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Ward County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Ward County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 10,608 people, so roughly 5% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,109 in Wickett to $74,306 in Southwest Sandhill. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monahans | city | 7,452 | $70,677 | $1,110 | 10 mi |
| Southwest Sandhill | CDP | 1,143 | $74,306 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wickett | town | 699 | $57,109 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Thorntonville | town | 626 | $61,141 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Grandfalls | town | 375 | $33,125 | $422 | 19 mi |
| Barstow | city | 198 | n/a | n/a | 17 mi |
| Pyote | town | 115 | n/a | n/a | 2 mi |
Ward County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 22 to 56 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $51,250 in Loving County to $86,900 in Winkler County; 3 of these neighbors top Ward County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ward County | - | $65,952 | $1,118/mo | 79% |
| Winkler County, TX | 22 mi | $86,900 | $1,037/mo | 86% |
| Loving County, TX | 35 mi | $51,250 | n/a | 11% |
| Crane County, TX | 37 mi | $62,212 | $882/mo | 84% |
| Reeves County, TX | 39 mi | $64,297 | $981/mo | 74% |
| Ector County, TX | 41 mi | $71,536 | $1,259/mo | 65% |
| Pecos County, TX | 56 mi | $72,750 | $918/mo | 72% |
What a median Ward County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Ward County's medians:
- $5,496 a month: gross income for a household at the Ward County median
- Less median rent of $1,118, which is 20% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $1,979 total minus rent leaves $861
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Ward County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 12% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 18.9%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Ward County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.4% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.9% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Ward County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 54.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 12.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.7% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Ward County
A few patterns in the Ward County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 19% of Ward County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Ward County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 18% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
Before sharing details with a lender, a Ward County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Ward County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Ward County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ward County a high-income county?
Its $65,952 median ranks 119th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Ward County rent compare with Texas?
$1,118 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 20% below.
I live in a small Ward County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Monahans, Southwest Sandhill, Wickett, Thorntonville, Grandfalls and 2 more.
Will a Ward County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas 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 Ward County?
Start with the Texas Department of Banking, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.