Counties in Texas where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It’s no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Texas where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don’t have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people’s take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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#50. Wharton County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.5%
– Total occupied households: 15,199
– Median household income: $48,310
– Median monthly housing cost: $759

#49. Hunt County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.8%
– Total occupied households: 33,189
– Median household income: $54,959
– Median monthly housing cost: $864

#48. Swisher County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.9%
– Total occupied households: 2,505
– Median household income: $39,771
– Median monthly housing cost: $628

#47. Nacogdoches County

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– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.7%
– Total occupied households: 23,757
– Median household income: $44,847
– Median monthly housing cost: $711

#46. Presidio County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
– Total occupied households: 2,543
– Median household income: $25,098
– Median monthly housing cost: $399

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#45. Galveston County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.5%
– Total occupied households: 121,438
– Median household income: $73,330
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,167

#44. Anderson County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.9%
– Total occupied households: 16,677
– Median household income: $43,455
– Median monthly housing cost: $693

#43. Caldwell County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.4%
– Total occupied households: 13,460
– Median household income: $54,152
– Median monthly housing cost: $864

#42. Navarro County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.8%
– Total occupied households: 17,338
– Median household income: $48,529
– Median monthly housing cost: $775

#41. Montgomery County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.6%
– Total occupied households: 198,649
– Median household income: $80,902
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,293

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#40. Jefferson County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.9%
– Total occupied households: 92,988
– Median household income: $51,248
– Median monthly housing cost: $820

#39. Waller County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.4%
– Total occupied households: 15,171
– Median household income: $59,642
– Median monthly housing cost: $957

#38. Tom Green County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.2%
– Total occupied households: 43,314
– Median household income: $53,903
– Median monthly housing cost: $867

#37. Rockwall County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.3%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.9%
– Total occupied households: 33,032
– Median household income: $100,920
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,627

#36. Wichita County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.5%
– Total occupied households: 48,356
– Median household income: $48,650
– Median monthly housing cost: $787

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#35. Kendall County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.7%
– Total occupied households: 14,253
– Median household income: $84,747
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,371

#34. Erath County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.7%
– Total occupied households: 13,595
– Median household income: $52,742
– Median monthly housing cost: $855

#33. Hartley County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.7%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.9%
– Total occupied households: 1,678
– Median household income: $58,298
– Median monthly housing cost: $946

#32. Smith County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.8%
– Total occupied households: 77,678
– Median household income: $56,810
– Median monthly housing cost: $925

#31. Aransas County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.6%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.3%
– Total occupied households: 9,548
– Median household income: $45,137
– Median monthly housing cost: $737

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#30. Irion County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.4%
– Total occupied households: 682
– Median household income: $47,500
– Median monthly housing cost: $780

#29. Fort Bend County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.7%
– Total occupied households: 237,883
– Median household income: $97,743
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,608

#28. Houston County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.6%
– Total occupied households: 8,252
– Median household income: $37,904
– Median monthly housing cost: $624

#27. Taylor County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
– Total occupied households: 49,868
– Median household income: $53,143
– Median monthly housing cost: $875

#26. Coryell County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.1%
– Total occupied households: 22,322
– Median household income: $52,893
– Median monthly housing cost: $871

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#25. Hidalgo County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.5%
– Total occupied households: 238,345
– Median household income: $40,014
– Median monthly housing cost: $662

#24. Dimmit County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
– Total occupied households: 3,148
– Median household income: $27,161
– Median monthly housing cost: $450

#23. Collin County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.2%
– Total occupied households: 341,163
– Median household income: $96,913
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,608

#22. Gregg County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.3%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.6%
– Total occupied households: 45,460
– Median household income: $50,180
– Median monthly housing cost: $835

#21. Kaufman County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.1%
– Total occupied households: 38,015
– Median household income: $70,107
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,169

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#20. Williamson County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.3%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.4%
– Total occupied households: 180,160
– Median household income: $87,337
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,477

#19. Cameron County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.2%
– Total occupied households: 124,605
– Median household income: $38,758
– Median monthly housing cost: $658

#18. Denton County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.5%
– Total occupied households: 290,229
– Median household income: $86,913
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,477

#17. Hansford County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.0%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.7%
– Total occupied households: 1,838
– Median household income: $38,000
– Median monthly housing cost: $666

#16. Tarrant County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.3%
– Total occupied households: 708,252
– Median household income: $67,700
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,188

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#15. McLennan County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.1%
– Total occupied households: 90,054
– Median household income: $49,778
– Median monthly housing cost: $886

#14. Nueces County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.1%
– Total occupied households: 129,451
– Median household income: $55,919
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,000

#13. Bell County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.5%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.0%
– Total occupied households: 122,689
– Median household income: $54,884
– Median monthly housing cost: $985

#12. El Paso County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.2%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.2%
– Total occupied households: 268,310
– Median household income: $46,871
– Median monthly housing cost: $851

#11. Lubbock County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.3%
– Total occupied households: 113,488
– Median household income: $52,429
– Median monthly housing cost: $953

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#10. Bexar County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.9%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.0%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.9%
– Total occupied households: 636,245
– Median household income: $57,157
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,045

#9. Potter County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.1%
– Total occupied households: 44,380
– Median household income: $42,528
– Median monthly housing cost: $783

#8. Kleberg County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 44.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.6%
– Total occupied households: 10,955
– Median household income: $43,730
– Median monthly housing cost: $807

#7. Harris County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.2%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 42.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.0%
– Total occupied households: 1,605,368
– Median household income: $61,705
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,141

#6. Webb County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.4%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.5%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 34.4%
– Total occupied households: 74,789
– Median household income: $46,475
– Median monthly housing cost: $867

#5. Travis County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.6%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 39.9%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.6%
– Total occupied households: 472,361
– Median household income: $75,887
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,427

#4. Hays County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 22.7%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 38.1%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.7%
– Total occupied households: 73,437
– Median household income: $68,717
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,300

#3. Dallas County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.1%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.4%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 34.1%
– Total occupied households: 928,341
– Median household income: $59,607
– Median monthly housing cost: $1,146

#2. Walker County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 23.8%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.6%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.3%
– Total occupied households: 21,963
– Median household income: $43,742
– Median monthly housing cost: $866

#1. Brazos County

– Median percent of income spent on housing: 24.3%
— Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 37.8%
— Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 38.7%
– Total occupied households: 79,412
– Median household income: $49,181
– Median monthly housing cost: $996

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