by Kristen Carney
Updated: June 20, 2024
The richest county in Texas is Rockwall County with an average household income of $154,691 as of 2022 and 131,307 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rockwall County | 131,307 | $154,691 | $121,303 |
2 | Kendall County | 50,537 | $152,380 | $104,196 |
3 | Collin County | 1,195,359 | $144,818 | $113,255 |
4 | Fort Bend County | 916,778 | $138,115 | $109,987 |
5 | Denton County | 1,007,703 | $135,221 | $104,180 |
6 | Montgomery County | 711,354 | $133,619 | $95,946 |
7 | Glasscock County | 1,141 | $133,127 | $112,188 |
8 | Travis County | 1,334,961 | $130,157 | $92,731 |
9 | Williamson County | 697,191 | $126,077 | $102,851 |
10 | Chambers County | 53,876 | $123,951 | $106,103 |
11 | Midland County | 177,108 | $122,370 | $90,123 |
12 | Borden County | 572 | $122,340 | $80,625 |
13 | Comal County | 193,928 | $121,798 | $93,744 |
14 | Parker County | 173,494 | $120,085 | $95,721 |
15 | Sherman County | 2,678 | $116,652 | $66,169 |
16 | Wilson County | 54,183 | $116,008 | $89,708 |
17 | Brazoria County | 398,938 | $115,494 | $91,972 |
18 | Andrews County | 18,664 | $112,085 | $86,458 |
19 | Ellis County | 222,829 | $111,815 | $93,248 |
20 | Galveston County | 361,744 | $110,116 | $83,913 |
We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:
Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.
Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000
The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.
So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.
If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.
The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.
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United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 07 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
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