1st Advantage MortgageIn Wise County, Texas, the typical household earns $93,421 a year and the typical rent is $1,299. 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
- Getting oriented in Wise County
- Paychecks and income spread in Wise County
- Wise County housing compared with Texas
- Work, industries and travel time in Wise County
- Regional comparison for Wise County
- The communities that make up Wise County
- More Wise County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Wise County
- What a median Wise County budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Texas
- A Wise County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wise County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wise County's population at 75,005; only 50 of Texas's 254 county-level areas are larger. It covers 904 square miles of land, or about 83 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Decatur is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 7,426 people (10% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Wise County
The median household income in Wise County is $93,421; statewide it is $78,476, so Wise County runs 19% above Texas as a whole. Only 16 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Wise County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.3% | -6.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.1% | +6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.5% | 0.0 pts |
About 15% of households earn under $35,000, while 46% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.9% of Wise County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Wise County housing compared with Texas
A typical Wise County rental runs $1,299 a month including utilities, which is 7% below Texas. By the Census definition, 41% of Wise County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $304,900, about 3.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 81% of homes.
| Wise County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,299/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $304,900 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.0% | 6.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 9% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Wise 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.
Work, industries and travel time in Wise County
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with Texas, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (5% against 2%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 30% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 2.6% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Wise County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.5% | -2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.0% | -2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | -0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Wise County
Jack County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cooke County, is 39 miles off. Income ranges from $64,545 in Montague County to $111,498 in Denton County; 2 of these neighbors top Wise County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise County | - | $93,421 | $1,299/mo | 81% |
| Jack County, TX | 30 mi | $68,079 | $960/mo | 72% |
| Denton County, TX | 31 mi | $111,498 | $1,728/mo | 65% |
| Parker County, TX | 32 mi | $104,443 | $1,500/mo | 81% |
| Montague County, TX | 32 mi | $64,545 | $1,008/mo | 80% |
| Tarrant County, TX | 37 mi | $84,207 | $1,547/mo | 59% |
| Cooke County, TX | 39 mi | $73,932 | $1,047/mo | 72% |
The communities that make up Wise County
13 Census places fall mainly inside Wise County; the 13 biggest are below. They account for 34,050 residents, leaving about 55% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $105,962 at the median in Aurora, $68,674 in Alvord. Median rent ranges from $898 in Boyd to $1,781 in Paradise. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur | city | 7,426 | $73,179 | $1,024 | 4 mi |
| Briar | CDP | 7,228 | $104,238 | $1,234 | 15 mi |
| Bridgeport | city | 6,331 | $96,037 | $1,337 | 7 mi |
| Aurora | city | 1,760 | $105,962 | $1,185 | 14 mi |
| Runaway Bay | city | 1,717 | $96,875 | $1,227 | 13 mi |
| Rhome | city | 1,699 | $101,167 | $981 | 13 mi |
| New Fairview | city | 1,570 | $91,806 | $1,469 | 15 mi |
| Chico | city | 1,512 | $75,739 | $1,317 | 10 mi |
| Boyd | town | 1,351 | $68,958 | $898 | 11 mi |
| Alvord | town | 1,294 | $68,674 | $1,159 | 10 mi |
| Newark | city | 1,177 | $77,344 | $1,143 | 17 mi |
| Paradise | city | 627 | $82,619 | $1,781 | 5 mi |
| Lake Bridgeport | city | 358 | $73,194 | $1,367 | 10 mi |
More Wise County figures
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 14.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Wise County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.0% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.9% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Wise County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.8% |
| 60+ min | 17.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Wise County
Based on the Wise County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 15% of Wise County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 30% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Wise County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 46% of Wise County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
What a median Wise County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wise County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Wise County: $7,785
- Rent at the median, $1,299, takes 17% of that
- $1,815: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $1,299, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Texas
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wise County, check the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
A Wise County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Wise County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Wise County-area credit union.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wise County earn?
The median is $93,421; 46% earn $100,000 or more and 15% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Wise County rent compare with Texas?
$1,299 locally versus $1,403 for the state, 7% below.
Should Wise County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 81% of Wise County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Wise County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 13 Census places: Decatur, Briar, Bridgeport, Aurora, Runaway Bay.
Will a Wise County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Texas as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.