1st Advantage MortgageWheeler County households have a median income of $60,167 and median rent of $970 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Getting oriented in Wheeler County
- Housing costs in Wheeler County
- How much Wheeler County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Wheeler County
- How Wheeler County compares with nearby counties
- Wheeler County towns compared
- Wheeler County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Wheeler County
- A Wheeler County household budget, worked through
- Checklist for Wheeler County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Wheeler County residents
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wheeler County
Roughly 4,862 residents live in Wheeler County, Texas, 203rd by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 915 square miles, that works out to roughly 5.3 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Shamrock, with about 1,710 residents, or 35% of the county. With so few households sampled, Wheeler County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Wheeler County
A typical Wheeler County rental runs $970 a month including utilities, which is 31% below Texas. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. With a median value of $106,100, a typical Wheeler County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%. Median construction year: 1971.
| Home costs | Wheeler County | Texas | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $970/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $106,100 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.1% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 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.
How much Wheeler County households make
Half of Wheeler County households take in less than $60,167 a year and half take in more, 23% below the Texas median of $78,476.
| Households earning | Wheeler County | +/- vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.8% | +7.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.1% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -7.9 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 15.4% of Wheeler County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.418 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $60,167 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Wheeler County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Wheeler County residents work in education and health care and 23% in agriculture, forestry and mining. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 23% locally and 2% for Texas. The survey's unemployment rate for Wheeler County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.3%). 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 6.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wheeler County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | +3.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 23.2% | +21.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.9% | +2.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.2% | -3.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -1.8 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.
How Wheeler County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wheeler County's, from 29 to 44 miles away. Roger Mills County leads the group on income ($66,094), Beckham County trails ($53,328), and Wheeler County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Oklahoma. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Wheeler County resident follows Texas rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler County | - | $60,167 | $970/mo | 76% |
| Hemphill County, TX | 29 mi | $61,563 | $836/mo | 71% |
| Collingsworth County, TX | 30 mi | $61,280 | $714/mo | 74% |
| Gray County, TX | 32 mi | $59,614 | $933/mo | 76% |
| Beckham County, OK | 33 mi | $53,328 | $904/mo | 68% |
| Roger Mills County, OK | 36 mi | $66,094 | $795/mo | 83% |
| Donley County, TX | 44 mi | $58,750 | $780/mo | 75% |
Wheeler County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Wheeler County residents live in one of the 4. Live in one of these Wheeler County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shamrock | city | 1,710 | $46,912 | $958 | 12 mi |
| Wheeler | city | 1,431 | $56,346 | $994 | 4 mi |
| Allison | CDP | 101 | $152,917 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Mobeetie | city | 64 | $64,167 | n/a | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Wheeler County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 17% of adults over 25. 21.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Wheeler County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.0% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 21.2% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 14.1% |
Before borrowing in Wheeler County
A few patterns in the Wheeler County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 21% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
A Wheeler County household budget, worked through
Here is the Wheeler County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,014 before taxes
- Median rent: $970, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $835 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Wheeler County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checklist for Wheeler County applicants
A short checklist for Wheeler County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Wheeler County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Wheeler County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Wheeler 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. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Texas: Texas personal loans.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wheeler County a high-income county?
Its $60,167 median ranks 165th of 254 Texas counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Wheeler County rent compare with Texas?
$970 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 31% below.
I own my home in Wheeler County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Shamrock?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Wheeler County, such as Wheeler, Allison, Mobeetie.
Is the fit check different in Wheeler County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.