What’s considered ‘low income’ in Texas? Here are the limits in all 26 state metro areas

Brayden Garcia
·2 min read
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What’s considered “low income” in Texas varies from city to city and by the number of people in a household.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development sets the maximum income for residents to determine who qualifies for assisted housing and other programs. That figure is taken from an estimate based on fair market rent data.

The low-income average for a single person household in Texas is $49,850, but that’s just a snapshot. Here’s what we know about income limits in Texas:

What’s considered low income where I live in Texas?

HUD released its latest Texas income limit report last month. Households with incomes that do not exceed 80% of an area’s median income are considered low income. For example, the median household income for a family of four in Tarrant County is $97,700, and if a family makes less than $78,160 a year they would be considered low income.

The below data is what’s considered low income for a single person household in each Texas metropolitan area:

  • Abilene: $41,000

  • Amarillo: $45,750

  • Austin-Round Rock: $65,450

  • Beaumont-Port Arthur: $43,650

  • Brownsville-Harlingen: $40,400

  • College Station-Bryan: $45,050

  • Corpus Christi: $43,350

  • Dallas: $57,750

  • Fort Worth-Arlington: $53,600

  • El Paso: $40,400

  • Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land: $52,220

  • Killeen-Temple: $42,600

  • Laredo: $40,400

  • Longview: $41,000

  • Lubbock: $46,700

  • McAllen-Edinburg-Mission: $40,400

  • Midland: $59,600

  • Odessa: $43,900

  • San Angelo: $44,950

  • San Antonio-New Braunfels: $49,150

  • Sherman-Denison: $46,150

  • Texarkana: $40,400

  • Tyler: $46,550

  • Victoria: $41,000

  • Waco: $41,450

  • Wichita Falls: $44,900

How low-income households in Texas can get help

Texas has a few options to help low-income Households, from food services to housing.

People can apply for SNAP food benefits that will allow them to buy certain grocery items with a Lone Star Card. Texans can find out if they qualify for SNAP benefits by visiting the Your Texas Benefits website and fill out an application.

Texans can also apply for the housing choice voucher program for a place to live. The program assists low-income families with affordable housing in the private market. Applicants will need to consult with their local housing authority to see if they qualify for the programs.

In Tarrant County there are two housing authorities who can help: