In Texas, the median household income is $78,476 and 63% of homes are owner-occupied (ACS 2020 to 2024). A safe personal loan starts with a license check, three written offers compared on total cost, and a payment that fits your own budget.
On this page
- Texas by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Texas borrowers
- Largest places in Texas
- The next 20 places in Texas
- Counties with the most residents
- How Texas earns a living
- More context for Texas budgets
- Checking a lender in Texas
- Can Texas residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Texas
- Frequently asked questions
Texas by the numbers
Texas in sixteen numbers, each beside the U.S. value and a rank where 1 is the highest of 51.
| What we measured | Texas | United States | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,476 | $80,734 | 22nd |
| Share of households at $100,000+ | 39% | 41% | 22nd |
| Poverty rate | 13.8% | 12.5% | 12th |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.2% | 16th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $1,403 | $1,413 | 19th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 52% | 51% | 13th |
| Home value, median | $283,800 | $332,700 | 30th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 63% | 65% | 46th |
| Cost-burdened owners with a mortgage | 29% | 28% | 14th |
| Home value to income ratio | 3.6x | 4.1x | 32nd |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 17% | 17% | 14th |
| Working from home | 14% | 15% | 24th |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree | 34% | 36% | 28th |
| Age, median | 35.6 | 38.9 | 49th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.478 | 0.483 | 13th |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 21% | 21% | 25th |
What the numbers mean for Texas borrowers
Homeownership stands at 63% in Texas and the median owner-occupied home is worth $283,800, which ranks 30th among the 51 jurisdictions. The owner cost burden rate, for households with a mortgage, is 29%.
The median household in Texas earns $78,476 a year, about the same as the national median of $80,734, which ranks 22nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Income is the first thing a lender verifies, so have recent pay stubs or tax returns ready before you compare offers.
14% of the Texas workforce works from home, while 17% face a one-way trip of 45 minutes or longer. Vehicle costs are a fixed line for long-distance commuters, so keep a repair cushion before taking on a new payment.
A Texas renter pays $1,403 a month at the median, and 52% of renters carry a rent burden of 30 percent or more, above the 51% U.S. rate. Rent-burdened households should put a cushion ahead of any loan, even a small one.
Largest places in Texas
Texas's 12 biggest cities and towns by population, from the 2020 to 2024 ACS. Where we publish a local guide, the name links to it.
| Place | County | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Harris County, Fort Bend County | 2,328,253 | $64,813 | $1,361 | $277,800 |
| San Antonio | Bexar County, Comal County | 1,479,835 | $65,056 | $1,324 | $235,700 |
| Dallas | Dallas County, Rockwall County | 1,307,930 | $70,518 | $1,472 | $320,700 |
| Austin | Travis County, Hays County | 979,539 | $93,658 | $1,729 | $555,300 |
| Fort Worth | Tarrant County, Parker County | 963,194 | $79,507 | $1,509 | $303,000 |
| El Paso | El Paso County | 680,130 | $59,745 | $1,073 | $184,500 |
| Arlington | Tarrant County | 397,742 | $75,171 | $1,470 | $304,700 |
| Corpus Christi | Nueces County, San Patricio County | 317,419 | $67,394 | $1,292 | $210,400 |
| Plano | Collin County, Denton County | 290,594 | $112,253 | $1,841 | $465,900 |
| Lubbock | Lubbock County | 264,814 | $60,895 | $1,182 | $212,400 |
| Laredo | Webb County | 257,619 | $63,915 | $1,030 | $193,500 |
| Irving | Dallas County | 256,492 | $81,830 | $1,619 | $315,600 |
Of the places the Census Bureau tracks in Texas, 269 have 10,000 or more people and 75 have 50,000 or more. The income gap between towns is wide: among places over 20,000, Southlake has the highest median at $250,001 and Nacogdoches the lowest at $39,281. Median rent in that group ranges from $811 in Alamo to $3,501 in Southlake.
The next 20 places in Texas
From Garland (246,844 residents) down to The Woodlands (121,002).
| City or town | Population | Median household income | Rent (median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garland | 246,844 | $76,320 | $1,641 |
| Frisco | 219,304 | $150,212 | $2,014 |
| McKinney | 210,600 | $124,215 | $1,901 |
| Amarillo | 201,885 | $65,912 | $1,092 |
| Grand Prairie | 201,883 | $81,619 | $1,629 |
| Brownsville | 189,177 | $52,130 | $923 |
| Killeen | 158,159 | $60,977 | $1,208 |
| Denton | 152,866 | $76,019 | $1,420 |
| Pasadena | 149,433 | $64,927 | $1,213 |
| Mesquite | 149,299 | $72,537 | $1,513 |
| McAllen | 145,385 | $61,579 | $1,049 |
| Waco | 143,570 | $54,365 | $1,165 |
| Midland | 136,640 | $89,585 | $1,434 |
| Carrollton | 133,740 | $101,396 | $1,735 |
| Lewisville | 131,080 | $89,233 | $1,670 |
| Abilene | 128,053 | $62,648 | $1,157 |
| Round Rock | 127,786 | $99,287 | $1,763 |
| Pearland | 127,514 | $118,842 | $1,860 |
| College Station | 124,570 | $50,900 | $1,194 |
| The Woodlands | 121,002 | $140,701 | $1,822 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in College Station (28%) and least in The Woodlands (16%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Texas has 254 counties or equivalents. The 16 most populous are below.
| County | Residents | Median income | Median rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 4,838,303 | $74,983 | $1,401 | $276,600 |
| Dallas County | 2,621,179 | $76,547 | $1,565 | $303,000 |
| Tarrant County | 2,167,390 | $84,207 | $1,547 | $323,900 |
| Bexar County | 2,067,341 | $72,341 | $1,354 | $262,200 |
| Travis County | 1,330,015 | $99,611 | $1,744 | $523,000 |
| Collin County | 1,163,337 | $121,600 | $1,859 | $475,600 |
| Denton County | 979,561 | $111,498 | $1,728 | $437,200 |
| Fort Bend County | 893,767 | $114,041 | $1,807 | $374,500 |
| Hidalgo County | 891,977 | $54,338 | $957 | $140,900 |
| El Paso County | 870,779 | $59,806 | $1,079 | $180,400 |
| Montgomery County | 684,432 | $97,701 | $1,532 | $346,200 |
| Williamson County | 672,688 | $111,340 | $1,796 | $447,000 |
| Cameron County | 426,120 | $52,601 | $912 | $136,500 |
| Brazoria County | 391,255 | $97,993 | $1,454 | $301,600 |
| Bell County | 386,897 | $68,865 | $1,224 | $241,000 |
| Galveston County | 358,990 | $86,105 | $1,404 | $314,600 |
Across all 254 counties, median household income ranges from $36,165 in Swisher County to $127,981 in Rockwall County. Your county's costs, not the state's, set how much room a new payment has.
How Texas earns a living
The table lists the four industries that employ the most Texas residents, as a share of employed people 16 and older, next to the national share.
| Sector | Share of Texas workers | U.S. share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 22% | 24% | -1.9 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 13% | 13% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9% | 10% | -1.3 pts |
Construction is the sector with the biggest gap over the national mix, employing 9% of Texas workers (U.S.: 7%). Pay rhythm differs by industry. Shift and seasonal work swings month to month, so size a payment to your slowest normal month.
More context for Texas budgets
Texas's Gini index of income inequality is 0.478 (U.S.: 0.483; higher means more unequal), 34% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree, and the median resident is 35.6 years old.
In Texas, 39% of households report $100,000 or more in income and 21% report under $35,000, against 41% and 21% for the country. A wide spread like this is why one-size borrowing advice fails; size the loan to your own pay, not to the state's.
Jobs and hardship: an average 5.3% unemployment rate in the 2020 to 2024 survey, and 13.8% of people below the federal poverty line. Five-year estimates smooth out booms and slumps, so they describe the economy's shape more than its current mood.
Checking a lender in Texas
Before you share details with any lender, confirm it may lend in Texas. The Texas Department of Banking is the state banking agency listed in the Conference of State Bank Supervisors directory. In Texas, consumer lending is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, so check there too.
- An upfront fee to "secure" a loan is a warning sign the FTC describes here.
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
- Ask for the lender's license number and look it up on NMLS Consumer Access.
Can Texas residents use the questionnaire?
Coverage is added state by state. A Texas resident who picks the state on step two learns immediately whether a partner is available, and can join the waitlist if not.
Local guides in Texas
Prefer the view from your own city? 47 Texas places have a full guide:
- Allen
- Arlington
- Austin
- Baytown
- Carrollton
- Cedar Park
- Conroe
- Dallas
- Denton
- Edinburg
- El Paso
- Euless
- Flower Mound
- Fort Worth
- Frisco
- Galveston
- Garland
- Georgetown
- Grand Prairie
- Grapevine
- Houston
- Irving
- League City
- Leander
- Lewisville
- Mansfield
- McAllen
- McKinney
- Midland
- Mission
- Missouri City
- New Braunfels
- North Richland Hills
- Pasadena
- Pearland
- Pflugerville
- Pharr
- Plano
- Richardson
- Round Rock
- Rowlett
- San Antonio
- San Marcos
- Sugar Land
- Texas City
- The Woodlands
- Wylie
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a lender in Texas?
The state banking agency listed for Texas by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors is the Texas Department of Banking. Consumer lending is also overseen by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. NMLS Consumer Access lists many lenders' licenses, and the CFPB accepts complaints from every state.
What do households in Texas earn?
About $78,476. Half of Texas households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
Is rent high in Texas?
The typical renter pays $1,403; the U.S. median is $1,413. In Texas, 52% of renting households spend 30 percent or more of income on housing.
How many Texas residents live below the poverty line?
13.8% in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, compared with 12.5% nationally. Households under strain should look at free options, such as hardship plans and nonprofit counseling, before a loan.