Living Pay Check to Pay Check Hits Harder in Maverick County

By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

Living paycheck to paycheck has become a reality for nearly one in four American households, but in Maverick County, where wages remain substantially below the state average, that financial pressure may hit families even harder.

A recent analysis by Bank of America Institute estimated that nearly 24 percent of households nationwide were living paycheck to paycheck.

The institute generally classified those households as spending more than 95 percent of their income on necessities.

The financial disparity was also reflected in local wages. The latest federal employment data placed Maverick County’s average annual pay at $44,605, approximately 43 percent below the statewide average of $77,964.

The latest available Census Bureau estimates showed that approximately 22.8 percent of Maverick County residents lived below the poverty line.

That represented about 13,119 people, or more than one out of every five county residents.

Maverick County’s poverty rate was more than 80 percent higher than the national rate of 12.5 percent and considerably higher than the Texas rate of 13.8 percent.

For residents working in retail, food service, construction and other local industries, steady employment does not always provide financial security.

Housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, childcare and medical expenses can consume most of a family’s monthly income. After those necessities are paid, little may remain for savings or emergencies.

A vehicle repair, medical emergency, reduction in working hours or unexpected utility bill can quickly force a household to rely on credit cards, loans, relatives or community assistance.

The financial consequences can extend beyond the immediate emergency.

Families may accumulate additional debt, delay medical care or fall behind on rent, mortgages and utility payments.

The effects can also spread throughout the local economy. Rising prices may force families to reduce spending at local businesses, while layoffs can increase demand for nonprofit organizations and public assistance programs.

With more than 13,000 Maverick County residents living below the poverty line and average annual pay trailing the state level, one unexpected expense can quickly become a financial crisis for many working families.