1st Advantage MortgageThe median Wood County household earns $60,300, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Wood County at a glance
- How much Wood County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Wood County
- What it costs to live in Wood County
- Wood County towns compared
- Counties near Wood County
- Wood County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Wood County
- Room for a loan payment in Wood County
- Who licenses lenders for Wood County residents
- Steps before you apply in Wood County
- More guides for Wood County
- Frequently asked questions
Wood County at a glance
Wood County is home to about 46,961 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 76th most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. Packed into 645 square miles, that is close to 73 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Mineola is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 5,068 people (11% of the county total).
How much Wood County households make
The median household income in Wood County is $60,300; statewide it is $78,476, so Wood County runs 23% below Texas as a whole. That places it 162nd among Texas's 254 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Wood County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.6% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -6.2 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 29% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.5% of Wood County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Texas. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Wood County median.
Work, industries and travel time in Wood County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 2% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Wood County. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Wood County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | +1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -4.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.1% | +1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What it costs to live in Wood County
A typical Wood County rental runs $862 a month including utilities, which is 39% below Texas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 52% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $216,500, about 3.6 times the median household income. 80% of Wood County households own their home and 20% rent. The median year built is 1990.
| Wood County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $862/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,500 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 15.7% | 6.4% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Wood 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Wood County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Wood County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 16,158 people, so roughly 66% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $53,000 in Mineola to $72,404 in Hawkins. Rent is cheapest in Hawkins ($796) and steepest in Quitman ($1,154). No Wood County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineola | city | 5,068 | $53,000 | $931 | 11 mi |
| Winnsboro | city | 3,485 | $54,828 | $877 | 13 mi |
| Holly Lake Ranch | CDP | 2,956 | $70,179 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Quitman | city | 2,420 | $64,493 | $1,154 | 4 mi |
| Hawkins | city | 1,876 | $72,404 | $796 | 17 mi |
| Yantis | town | 353 | $54,531 | $818 | 15 mi |
Counties near Wood County
Distances run center to center, from Rains County at 25 miles out to Smith County at 29. Income ranges from $58,843 in Camp County to $74,192 in Smith County; 5 of these neighbors top Wood County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood County | - | $60,300 | $862/mo | 80% |
| Rains County, TX | 25 mi | $65,413 | $989/mo | 83% |
| Upshur County, TX | 26 mi | $66,208 | $995/mo | 81% |
| Camp County, TX | 27 mi | $58,843 | $801/mo | 77% |
| Hopkins County, TX | 27 mi | $70,888 | $1,109/mo | 71% |
| Franklin County, TX | 29 mi | $72,360 | $936/mo | 82% |
| Smith County, TX | 29 mi | $74,192 | $1,238/mo | 69% |
Wood County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 17.1%, against 17.1% for Texas.
| Wood County | Texas | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.5% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.2% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.1% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 35.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.8% |
| 60+ min | 15.2% |
Before borrowing in Wood County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wood County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Wood County. For the 17% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 24% of Wood County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Older households. A 48.5 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
Room for a loan payment in Wood County
Here is the Wood County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,025 gross per month ($60,300 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $862, takes 17% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,809 total minus rent leaves $947
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,299 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who licenses lenders for Wood County residents
Wood County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by 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. The Texas guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Wood County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Wood County-area credit union.
- A Texas license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Wood County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Wood County
For statewide rules and data, see the Texas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wood County household make?
About $60,300 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 23% below the Texas median.
Is Wood County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $862 against $1,403 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Wood County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Wood County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Wood County?
By population: Mineola, Winnsboro, Holly Lake Ranch, Quitman, Hawkins. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Wood County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.