Texas · GEOID 48319

Mason County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 3,955 · 2,430 housing units

Median household income

$74,180

State $80,443

Median home value

$293,600

State $291,649

Median gross rent

$800

State $1,408

Homeownership rate

79.7%

State 62.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

19.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

14.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.4%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

7.0%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

29.6%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.96

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Mason County	Texas
Population	3,955	30,188,424
Population density (per sq. mi.)	4.26	—
Median household income	$74,180	$80,443
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$97,000	—
Households	1,711	—
Average household size	2.31 people	—
Owner-occupied	79.7%	62.6%
Renter-occupied	20.3%	37.4%
Race	84.5% White · 0.1% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Mason County compared with Texas.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

38.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 33.8%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	26.7%	$74,786	$1,870	$247,359
1 earner	25.2%	$82,176	$2,054	$274,867
2 earners	45.2%	$120,094	$3,002	$416,011
3+ earners	2.9%	—	—	—

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

1,711

Average size: 2.31 people

Households with children

452

26.4% of households

Per-capita income

$34,261

Poverty rate: 7.2%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

79.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 62.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 81.1% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 3.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

47.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,976.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $293,600.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $800.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 719 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 2.8% · For rent 3.6% · Seasonal 49.9% · Other 35.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

12.7% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 87.3% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

14.8%

359 units of 2,430 total

⚑ Above the 10% threshold — meaningful pressure on year-round residents from second-home / short-term-rental demand.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

10.6%

258 units of 2,430 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$59,344

100% MHI$74,180

120% MHI$89,016

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Mason County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$53,350	$60,900	$76,150
100% AMI	$67,900	$77,600	$97,000
120% AMI	$81,500	$93,100	$116,400

HUD FMR Area: Mason County, TX. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

19.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (3.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

14.7% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Mason County.

Covered employment

661

Across 12 sectors

Establishments

133

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$44,060

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	146	$38,660	$112,886	−$180,714	$967
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	109	$21,447	$48,814	−$244,786	$536
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	93	$55,266	$174,699	−$118,901	$1,382
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	85	$53,622	$168,580	−$125,020	$1,341
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	79	$47,528	$145,896	−$147,704	$1,188
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	43	$81,851	$273,658	−$19,942	$2,046
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	33	$34,078	$95,830	−$197,770	$852
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	29	$36,873	$106,234	−$187,366	$922
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	17	$51,897	$162,159	−$131,441	$1,297
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	10	$59,416	$190,147	−$103,453	$1,485
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	10	$19,654	$42,139	−$251,461	$491
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	7	$43,270	$130,046	−$163,554	$1,082

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	83	$56,755	$180,242	−$113,358	$1,419
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	59	$44,900	$136,114	−$157,486	$1,123
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	56	$39,820	$117,204	−$176,396	$996
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	46	$24,879	$61,589	−$232,011	$622
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	40	$79,796	$266,008	−$27,592	$1,995
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	38	$78,376	$260,723	−$32,877	$1,959
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	23	$22,550	$52,919	−$240,681	$564
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	17	$51,897	$162,159	−$131,441	$1,297
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	14	$14,793	$24,045	−$269,555	$370
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	14	$43,300	$130,158	−$163,442	$1,083
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	10	$59,416	$190,147	−$103,453	$1,485
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	9	$20,783	$46,342	−$247,258	$520
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	8	$28,053	$73,403	−$220,197	$701
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	7	$43,270	$130,046	−$163,554	$1,082

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	380	(390)	(51%)	$12.49	$25,980	$65,687	$650
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	7,490	1,600	27%	$12.53	$26,060	$65,985	$652
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	5,170	(1,380)	(21%)	$13.76	$28,620	$75,514	$716
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	2,960	(260)	(8%)	$13.93	$28,970	$76,817	$724
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,480	230	10%	$15.85	$32,970	$91,706	$824
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	5,480	(850)	(13%)	$15.91	$33,080	$92,115	$827
Tellers SOC 43-3071	660	(700)	(51%)	$17.32	$36,030	$103,096	$901
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,040	(1,510)	(43%)	$17.57	$36,550	$105,032	$914
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	3,880	—	—	$18.95	$39,420	$115,715	$986
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	3,500	140	4%	$19.81	$41,210	$122,378	$1,030
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,820	550	24%	$21.51	$44,740	$135,518	$1,119
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	420	(100)	(19%)	$21.89	$45,540	$138,496	$1,139
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	490	(20)	(4%)	$22.32	$46,430	$141,809	$1,161
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,200	(850)	(21%)	$24.60	$51,170	$159,453	$1,279
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	310	(410)	(57%)	$24.73	$51,430	$160,420	$1,286
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	900	450	100%	$25.86	$53,790	$169,205	$1,345
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,140	220	24%	$26.52	$55,170	$174,342	$1,379
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,820	(1,150)	(39%)	—	$56,950	$180,968	$1,424
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,210	(120)	(9%)	$30.81	$64,090	$207,545	$1,602
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,150	40	1%	$43.03	$89,510	$302,167	$2,238

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 48319 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.