1st Advantage MortgageWharton County households have a median income of $66,924 and median rent of $1,046 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 Texas license first.
On this page
- Wharton County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Wharton County
- Household income in Wharton County
- What it costs to live in Wharton County
- Wharton County and the counties next door
- Wharton County towns compared
- Who lives in Wharton County, in numbers
- Reading the Wharton County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Wharton County median
- Texas rules that apply in Wharton County
- Four steps for Wharton County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wharton County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wharton County's population at 41,794; only 79 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,086 square miles of land, or about 38 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Wharton County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (3 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is El Campo, with about 12,202 residents, or 29% of the county.
Employment and commuting in Wharton County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Wharton County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (8% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Wharton County averages 4.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 7.2% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Wharton County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.7% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -1.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +1.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.1% | +5.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Wharton County
The median household income in Wharton County is $66,924; statewide it is $78,476, so Wharton County runs 15% below Texas as a whole. That places it 107th among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Band | Wharton County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.3% | -0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.5% | +7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.9% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.2% | -4.2 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. 13.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). None of these numbers decides a Wharton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Wharton County
Renters in Wharton County pay a median of $1,046 a month, 25% below the Texas figure of $1,403. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $189,900, about 2.8 times the median household income. Owners occupy 72% of homes.
| Housing | Wharton County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,046/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $189,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.3% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | n/a |
Because most Wharton 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.
Wharton County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wharton County's, from 28 to 42 miles away. Fort Bend County leads the group on income ($114,041), Matagorda County trails ($58,628), and Wharton County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wharton County | - | $66,924 | $1,046/mo | 72% |
| Colorado County, TX | 28 mi | $66,377 | $926/mo | 80% |
| Jackson County, TX | 31 mi | $65,414 | $1,065/mo | 71% |
| Fort Bend County, TX | 32 mi | $114,041 | $1,807/mo | 77% |
| Matagorda County, TX | 37 mi | $58,628 | $999/mo | 68% |
| Lavaca County, TX | 42 mi | $63,240 | $910/mo | 78% |
| Austin County, TX | 42 mi | $75,789 | $1,137/mo | 77% |
Wharton County towns compared
7 Census places fall mainly inside Wharton County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 25,463 residents, leaving about 39% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $97,961 at the median in East Bernard, $58,212 in Wharton. Median rent ranges from $1,030 in East Bernard to $1,533 in Louise. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Campo | city | 12,202 | $67,017 | $1,071 | 6 mi |
| Wharton | city | 8,724 | $58,212 | $1,051 | 8 mi |
| East Bernard | city | 3,053 | $97,961 | $1,030 | 20 mi |
| Louise | CDP | 890 | $63,750 | $1,533 | 16 mi |
| Boling | CDP | 374 | $84,545 | $820 | 17 mi |
| Hungerford | CDP | 171 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Iago | CDP | 49 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
Who lives in Wharton County, in numbers
21% of Wharton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Wharton County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.2% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.6% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.6% |
| 60+ min | 11.9% |
Reading the Wharton County data as a borrower
What the Wharton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 14% of Wharton 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 Wharton County budgets.
- Renters under pressure. When 49% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Budget math at the Wharton County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wharton County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,577 a month: gross income for a household at the Wharton County median
- Less median rent of $1,046, which is 19% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $962 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,398 total minus rent leaves $1,352
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Texas rules that apply in Wharton County
Consumer lenders serving Wharton County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. Texas also has the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner for consumer credit. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Wharton County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Wharton County:
- Price the Wharton County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Texas.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Wharton County?
$66,924 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $78,476 for Texas. It ranks 107th of 254 in the state.
How much is rent in Wharton County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,046 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Wharton County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 72% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover El Campo?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Wharton County, such as Wharton, East Bernard, Louise.
Does living in Wharton 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 Wharton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.