1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Wilbarger County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $54,102. 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 Wilbarger County
- Household income in Wilbarger County
- Work, industries and travel time in Wilbarger County
- Renting and owning in Wilbarger County
- The counties around Wilbarger County
- The communities that make up Wilbarger County
- Who lives in Wilbarger County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Wilbarger County
- Debt-to-income at Wilbarger County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Wilbarger County
- Steps before you apply in Wilbarger County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wilbarger County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wilbarger County's population at 12,616; only 150 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 971 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 13 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Vernon is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 9,848 people (78% of the county total).
Household income in Wilbarger County
At $54,102, the typical Wilbarger County household income is 18% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 206 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Band | Wilbarger County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.0% | +10.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.1% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.7% | -8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.2% | -9.3 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 22% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 17.5%, 4 points higher than the state's 13.8%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.415 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Wilbarger County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Wilbarger County
Education and health care employs 31% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 31% locally and 22% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.3% in Wilbarger County. Long commutes are the exception here: 3% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Wilbarger County | Difference from Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.4% | +9.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | +4.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.2% | +5.9 pts |
| Other services | 7.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.9% | -4.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Wilbarger County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $932 in Wilbarger County versus $1,403 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $89,400, about 1.7 times the median household income. 67% of Wilbarger County households own their home and 33% rent. The median home was built in 1965, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Wilbarger County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $932/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $89,400 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 9% | n/a |
The counties around Wilbarger County
Distances run center to center, from Tillman County at 27 miles out to Jackson County at 36. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Wilbarger County; Wichita County is highest at $63,524 and Baylor County lowest at $45,370. Some neighbors are in Oklahoma. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Wilbarger County resident follows Texas rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilbarger County | - | $54,102 | $932/mo | 67% |
| Tillman County, OK | 27 mi | $48,939 | $733/mo | 73% |
| Wichita County, TX | 31 mi | $63,524 | $1,006/mo | 61% |
| Hardeman County, TX | 32 mi | $63,333 | $684/mo | 74% |
| Baylor County, TX | 32 mi | $45,370 | $581/mo | 66% |
| Foard County, TX | 34 mi | $61,563 | $572/mo | 76% |
| Jackson County, OK | 36 mi | $62,799 | $842/mo | 59% |
The communities that make up Wilbarger County
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 81% of Wilbarger County residents live in one of the 4. Live in one of these Wilbarger County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon | city | 9,848 | $51,114 | $945 | 5 mi |
| Lockett | CDP | 195 | $54,792 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Oklaunion | CDP | 132 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
| Harrold | CDP | 78 | $82,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Who lives in Wilbarger County, in numbers
17% of Wilbarger County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 8.9%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Residents | Wilbarger County | Texas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Wilbarger County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 67.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
Before borrowing in Wilbarger County
What the Wilbarger County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
Debt-to-income at Wilbarger County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wilbarger County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,508 a month: gross income for a household at the Wilbarger County median
- Less median rent of $932, which is 21% of it
- With a 40% ceiling, about $871 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Wilbarger County
Consumer lenders serving Wilbarger County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Texas that is the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending in Texas is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Wilbarger County
Steps that save money for Wilbarger County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Wilbarger County-area credit union.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wilbarger County earn?
The median is $54,102; 22% earn $100,000 or more and 32% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Wilbarger County?
$932 a month at the median, about 21% of median household income.
Which towns does the Wilbarger County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Vernon, Lockett, Oklaunion, Harrold.
Is the fit check different in Wilbarger County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Wilbarger County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.