1st Advantage MortgageThe median Young County household earns $68,010, and 17% 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
- Young County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Young County
- What it costs to live in Young County
- The Young County job picture
- Young County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Young County
- What a median Young County budget can carry
- Young County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Young County
- Steps before you apply in Young County
- Lender oversight for Young County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Young County by the numbers
Young County is home to about 18,029 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 131st most populous of 254 county-level areas in Texas. It covers 914 square miles of land, or about 20 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Young County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Graham, with about 8,792 residents, or 49% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Young County
The median household income in Young County is $68,010; statewide it is $78,476, so Young County runs 13% below Texas as a whole. In the state ranking that is 100th of 254.
| Yearly household income | Young County | Gap to Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.0% | +6.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.4% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -7.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 34% of Young County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. 16.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Young County median.
What it costs to live in Young County
Renters in Young County pay a median of $862 a month, 39% below the Texas figure of $1,403. By the Census definition, 40% of Young County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $175,800, about 2.6 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 74%. Median construction year: 1976.
| Housing | Young County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $862/mo | $1,403/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $175,800 | $283,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 63% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.4% | 6.4% | n/a |
Because most Young 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.
The Young County job picture
The biggest employer of Young County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 11% locally and 2% for Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.5% in Young County. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Young County workers | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.9% | -3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.6% | +6.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.9% | +8.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.5 pts |
| Other services | 8.2% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | -1.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Young County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Young 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 70% of Young County residents live in one of the 4. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $36,250 in Olney to $63,587 in Graham. Rent is cheapest in Olney ($439) and steepest in Graham ($967). Live in one of these Young County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham | city | 8,792 | $63,587 | $967 | 7 mi |
| Olney | city | 3,015 | $36,250 | $439 | 15 mi |
| Newcastle | city | 716 | $58,333 | $586 | 5 mi |
| Loving | CDP | 87 | $94,545 | n/a | 11 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Young County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (30 to 44 miles). Income ranges from $45,370 in Baylor County to $72,159 in Archer County; 2 of these neighbors top Young County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young County | - | $68,010 | $862/mo | 74% |
| Jack County, TX | 30 mi | $68,079 | $960/mo | 72% |
| Throckmorton County, TX | 31 mi | $59,216 | $878/mo | 68% |
| Stephens County, TX | 31 mi | $58,008 | $846/mo | 79% |
| Archer County, TX | 32 mi | $72,159 | $770/mo | 84% |
| Palo Pinto County, TX | 35 mi | $67,674 | $1,093/mo | 71% |
| Baylor County, TX | 44 mi | $45,370 | $581/mo | 66% |
What a median Young County budget can carry
Young County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,668 gross per month ($68,010 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $862 uses 15%
- Under a 36% cap, $2,040 total minus rent leaves $1,178
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,575 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $862, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Young County residents: age, schooling, coverage
24% of Young County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 18.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Young County | Texas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 35.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | 33.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.5% | 14.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.6% | 17.1% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 14.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.5% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Young County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 64.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Before borrowing in Young County
A few patterns in the Young County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Medical bills. 19% of Young County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Young County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Steps before you apply in Young County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Young County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Young County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Young County resident can confirm its license with the Texas Department of Banking. The Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner handles consumer-credit questions as well. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Texas state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Texas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Young County earn?
The median is $68,010; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Young County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $862 against $1,403 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Young County?
By population: Graham, Olney, Newcastle, Loving. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Young County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Young County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Texas it is the Texas Department of Banking.