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Sunday, March 9, 2025

Limestone County ranks 28th in Texas for government transfer dependency at 37.7% in 2022

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John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website

John Lettieri, President and CEO of Economic Innovation Group | Official Website

In 2022, Limestone County ranked as the 28th most government transfer-dependent county in Texas, with 37.7% of total income coming from programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and income maintenance, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.

In total, residents in Limestone County received $394.2 million, equivalent to $17,714 per capita.

For comparison, the average across Texas was $1.15 billion, or $11,542 per capita.

Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).

Breaking down the contributions in Limestone County at the time, Social Security transfers made up $94.9 million, a 24.1% share of the total. Medicare transfers accounted for $86.96 million (22.1%), while Medicaid contributed $147.5 million (37.4%). Income maintenance programs, including assistance such as SNAP or TANF, added another $35.15 million, or 8.9% of the total.

With 21.1% of the population aged 65 and older, Limestone County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Despite this aid, the total per capita income in Limestone County, excluding government transfers was $29,284, which is far below the county's total income of $46,998, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.

When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Limestone County saw an increase in its government transfer dependency by 16.2%, reflecting both rising transfer amounts and stagnant or insufficient other sources of income.

Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans' income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide. In Limestone County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from virtually none in 1970 to 37.7% (or $17,714 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.

According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.

Breakdown of Government Transfers by Program in Limestone County, 2022
Medicaid Transfers 37.4%Social Security Transfers 24.1%Medicare Transfers 22.1%Income Maintenance Transfers 8.9%
2022 Texas County Rankings and Government Transfer Dependency Metrics
CountyState RankDependency on Transfers (%)% Population 65+Social Security Transfers (%)Medicare Transfers (%)Medicaid Transfers (%)Income Maintenance Transfers (%)Per Capita Transfers ($)
Brooks County150.2%16.9%7.9%11.5%20.9%7.1%$21,466
Duval County249.2%17.7%8.4%11.4%20.5%5.7%$23,192
Hall County347.4%24.3%12%12.9%15.1%4.3%$18,580
Willacy County446.5%14.8%7.3%9.3%18.9%7%$16,249
Sabine County546.5%30.8%15.4%12.7%10.9%3.1%$21,486
Crosby County644.8%18.8%9.6%9.6%18.3%4.8%$20,102
Starr County742.9%11.2%5.2%9.8%14.7%9.7%$13,581
Real County841.9%30.3%14.5%10.8%8.9%3%$24,238
Concho County941.5%20.7%10.7%12.9%12.9%2.4%$15,449
Menard County1041.4%32.2%12.1%12.5%11.1%3.1%$19,071
Polk County1141.3%18.8%15.5%11.3%6.8%3.2%$19,486
Marion County1241.2%27.4%11.6%12.6%10%3.5%$20,468
Jim Hogg County1341%18%7.8%10.3%12.9%6.4%$16,631
Zavala County1441%14.9%6.5%7.9%15.9%7.7%$17,850
San Augustine County1540.3%26.3%10.2%8.9%15.1%3.3%$23,013
Dickens County1640.2%28.3%11.2%9.4%14%2.9%$19,244
Red River County1739.7%25.6%10%10.1%13.4%3.1%$21,199
Knox County1839.6%20%8.9%9.7%15.7%3.1%$20,566
Morris County1939.3%22.1%11.6%10%10.2%3.9%$19,368
Cass County2038.7%22.4%11.1%9.1%11%3.6%$18,298
McCulloch County2138.7%24.5%10.2%9.6%13%3.4%$18,539
Zapata County2238.7%13.4%6.2%7.7%11.6%9.1%$12,789
Collingsworth County2338.4%19%8.6%11.6%13%3.2%$17,845
Motley County2438.1%29.6%14%12.9%4.6%3.3%$15,529
Tyler County2537.9%22.5%11.5%10.9%8.6%3.5%$16,256
Jim Wells County2637.8%16%7.8%8.6%13.6%4.7%$18,166
Trinity County2737.7%26.9%13.2%10.7%5.9%3.9%$17,506
Limestone County2837.7%21.1%9.1%8.3%14.1%3.4%$17,714
Floyd County2937.4%19.1%8.6%8.1%13.2%4.3%$16,832
Cochran County3037.3%15.2%8.2%7.7%14.4%4.6%$14,941
Mills County3136.7%28.4%11%8.4%11.7%2.2%$18,979
Wheeler County3236.7%21.2%8.7%10.5%12.5%2.5%$17,312
San Saba County3336.6%22.7%11%8.1%11%3.2%$15,494
Coleman County3436.3%25.8%10.2%9%11.2%2.7%$20,776
Falls County3536.2%19.3%8.3%7.4%13.4%3.9%$15,289
Dimmit County3636%16.6%6.1%8.4%14%5%$19,412
Throckmorton County3736%25.9%9.6%11.3%11%2.3%$16,799
Wood County3836%27.5%13%10.8%6.1%2.2%$17,580
Kinney County3935.5%26.6%11.8%9.3%4.8%3.4%$14,498
Newton County3935.5%23.6%9%9.1%10.3%4%$15,502
Hudspeth County4135.5%10.3%10.1%7.3%5%6.2%$12,521
Montague County4235.3%21.9%10.6%10.3%8.5%2.4%$16,299
Maverick County4335.1%11.8%5.5%7.4%11.9%6.8%$13,524
Jasper County4434.9%21.1%10.1%8.8%10%3.4%$17,916
Houston County4534.8%22.3%9.1%8.6%10.7%3.2%$17,529
Coke County4634.7%27.2%10.8%8.9%10.1%2%$17,769
Brown County4734.6%21%9.5%8%10.7%2.9%$16,224
Bee County4834.4%12.7%7.8%8.3%10.1%4.5%$11,930
Hardeman County4934.4%22.6%8.7%9.2%11.1%2.7%$19,490
Frio County5034.1%12.3%6.4%7.1%12.5%5.1%$12,760
Cameron County5134%14.2%6%6.4%10.8%6.7%$12,681
Refugio County5233.9%22.2%8.9%10.3%8.8%2.8%$18,428
Milam County5333.7%21.5%9.7%8.9%8.9%3.1%$15,704
Donley County5433.7%25.3%10.1%9.6%7.3%2.5%$15,791
Foard County5533.6%25.6%6.8%9.2%13.8%1.9%$23,230
Rains County5633.6%25.2%12.3%9.7%4.6%2.7%$13,805
Delta County5733.4%21%9.3%9%8.7%3.3%$15,509
Edwards County5833.4%29.8%10.2%7.7%9.3%2.9%$22,082
Terry County5933.3%15.4%7%6.9%13.4%4.2%$14,371
Cherokee County6033.2%18.1%8.9%8.4%9.6%3.7%$14,412
Eastland County6132.7%22%8.6%8.4%9.5%2.5%$18,301
Runnels County6232.5%21%8.9%8%9.8%2.7%$16,882
Haskell County6332.3%22.4%8.3%8.1%10.6%2.8%$16,323
Uvalde County6431.7%16.6%6.6%6%10.7%4.4%$16,732
Stephens County6531.7%20.5%9%7.7%9.4%3%$14,854
Jones County6631.6%15.3%7.9%6.5%11.6%2.5%$12,611
Hidalgo County6731.5%11.6%5%5.9%9.1%7.7%$10,568
Madison County6831.4%15.6%8.4%7.6%9.7%3.5%$12,902
Henderson County6931.3%22.5%10.1%9%6.3%2.9%$15,406
Mitchell County7031.3%14.5%8%6.2%11.8%3%$11,604
Nolan County7131.2%18.9%7.5%7.2%10.4%3.1%$16,205
Garza County7231.2%14.3%7.3%7.6%11.2%3%$10,248
Leon County7331.1%24.5%11.4%9.4%4.7%2.4%$17,670
Angelina County7430.8%16.8%8.1%7.4%8.6%3.5%$14,580
Kimble County7530.5%30.4%10.2%8%6.4%2.4%$16,603
Hale County7630.2%14.2%7.1%6.2%10%4.1%$12,617
Hockley County7730%15.6%7.5%6.4%9.3%3.1%$14,461
Lamar County7829.9%19.1%8.1%7.7%8.3%3%$15,474
Kleberg County7929.6%13.8%6.2%6%8.9%4.1%$13,411
Fannin County8029.6%17.8%8.5%8.2%6.9%2.2%$13,936
Fisher County8129.5%24.6%8.7%7.3%9%2.2%$15,908
Navarro County8229.5%16.4%8%7%7.8%3.5%$13,300
Camp County8329.4%18.9%8.6%7.6%6.4%3.5%$14,751
Freestone County8429.4%20.7%9.6%7.4%6.7%2.7%$13,217
Bosque County8529.3%25.4%10.2%7.5%6.2%2.1%$15,382
Hill County8629.2%20.5%9%7.2%6.8%2.7%$14,562
Dawson County8729.2%14.2%6.7%6.6%11.1%3.3%$14,130
San Jacinto County8829%22.7%10.3%7.5%5.2%3.5%$12,969
Terrell County8929%33.9%8.3%7.4%5.8%1.9%$17,452
Upshur County9028.9%18.7%9.1%7.2%6.5%3%$13,099
Wilbarger County9128.8%19.1%6.9%7.7%8.7%2.9%$16,145
Baylor County9228.8%23.9%8.2%8.3%8.1%2.3%$17,548
Comanche County9328.7%23.4%8.7%6.7%8%2.5%$15,215
Schleicher County9428.3%21.9%8.4%8.2%7.1%2.3%$15,767
Callahan County9528.3%21.6%9%7.6%5.7%2.3%$14,370
Robertson County9628.2%20.9%7.8%6.6%8.2%3.1%$15,167
Coryell County9728.1%11.4%6.5%5.4%3.6%3.4%$10,271
Jefferson County9828%15.5%7.1%6.2%8.9%3.5%$13,490
Wharton County9828%18.2%7.4%8.2%6.8%3.1%$14,428
Anderson County10027.9%15.5%7.8%7.2%7%2.8%$12,253
Jackson County10127.9%20.1%8.2%7%7.8%2.7%$13,581
Matagorda County10227.8%18.2%7.9%7.9%6.8%2.7%$14,000
Van Zandt County10327.8%20.3%8.8%7.5%6.2%2.4%$12,703
Bowie County10427.7%17.4%7.4%6.5%7.1%3.3%$13,894
Lampasas County10527.7%20.7%7.7%6.2%4.2%1.8%$16,545
Hutchinson County10627.7%18.1%8.7%8%5.8%2.5%$13,151
Mason County10727.6%31%10.8%7.8%4.9%1.8%$15,153
Orange County10827.6%16.1%8.2%6.7%7.4%2.8%$13,825
Grimes County10927.5%18.8%9.6%7.7%4.7%3%$11,611
Llano County11027.4%36.8%10.5%9.9%3.1%1.3%$17,562
Childress County11127.4%16.5%7.3%6.1%8.7%2.7%$12,088
Palo Pinto County11227.2%20.3%8.2%7.5%6%2.6%$14,078
Wichita County11327.2%15.3%7.1%7.3%6%2.7%$13,840
Gray County11427.1%16.6%8.2%7%6.6%3.1%$12,623
Colorado County11526.9%23.1%8.4%7.8%6.5%2%$16,588
Hamilton County11626.9%25.7%8.3%7.4%7.1%1.8%$17,250
Val Verde County11726.9%13.6%5.1%5.2%7.4%4.3%$12,866
Atascosa County11826.8%15%6.7%6.6%6.3%3.7%$12,249
Caldwell County11926.7%15.6%7.3%7.5%5.8%3.4%$10,787
Rusk County12026.6%17.4%8.3%5.9%7%2.9%$12,171
Walker County12126.6%13.9%7.8%7.4%4.5%2.9%$8,951
Kent County12226.6%25.8%7%7.6%9.7%1.6%$16,953
San Patricio County12326.6%15.3%7.1%6.1%6.9%3.3%$13,530
Armstrong County12426.4%23.4%7.6%5.5%8.8%1.4%$15,451
Lavaca County12526.3%23.7%7.5%8.6%6.7%1.6%$17,273
Gregg County12626.3%16%7%7%6.9%2.9%$14,720
Panola County12726.3%20.5%8.2%6.4%6.4%2.5%$14,974
Bandera County12826.3%29.4%10.7%7.4%2.3%1.7%$15,566
Goliad County12926%25.3%8.4%6.6%6.6%2.1%$14,908
Aransas County13026%28.2%9.5%6.5%5%2%$16,664
Nacogdoches County13126%15.9%7%5.9%7%3.1%$12,687
Presidio County13225.8%23.2%6.3%5.8%6.3%5.1%$14,801
Lynn County13325.7%16.3%6.5%7.4%7.1%2.9%$13,096
Jack County13425.7%17.1%8.2%7.5%5.5%2.3%$11,869
Webb County13525.4%10.3%4.5%4.5%7.2%6.3%$10,370
Young County13525.4%20.6%7.4%7%7%2%$15,993
Liberty County13725.4%11.6%6.7%6.3%5.9%4%$10,752
Scurry County13825.3%15.9%7.1%6.5%7.1%2.5%$12,277
Lamb County13925.2%17.2%6.1%5.3%8.8%3%$13,956
Briscoe County14025.2%23.8%8.9%8.8%3.9%1.9%$13,797
Burleson County14125.2%21.3%8.4%7.5%4.5%2.4%$14,043
Pecos County14225.1%13.5%5.9%5.1%9.1%3%$11,245
Live Oak County14325.1%20.5%7.7%5.3%7.3%2.7%$11,601
El Paso County14425%13.1%5.2%4.7%5.7%4.3%$11,035
Grayson County14524.8%18%7.6%7%4.9%2.1%$13,213
Shelby County14624.7%18.1%5.9%5.5%8.5%2.9%$16,180
Clay County14724.7%24%9.4%6.8%4.2%1.8%$12,924
Harrison County14824.6%17.6%7.7%5.4%5.9%2.9%$11,930
Jeff Davis County14924.5%42.9%11.4%6.8%2.2%1.4%$14,591
Stonewall County15024.4%28.3%6.3%7.1%8.9%1.5%$21,642
Hardin County15124.2%17.5%7.8%6.6%5.6%2%$13,201
Medina County15124.2%17.5%6.8%5.3%5.7%2.4%$12,088
Hopkins County15324.1%18.6%7.5%6.4%5.7%2.3%$12,882
Sutton County15424%20.8%6.4%6.4%7.5%1.8%$16,540
Titus County15523.8%15.1%6.4%5.2%6.8%3.1%$12,375
Fayette County15623.5%27%8.2%6.8%5.5%1.3%$16,525
Bell County15723.5%11.9%5.4%4.1%2.7%2.9%$11,619
Nueces County15823.3%16%5.6%5%6.7%3%$12,974
La Salle County15923.2%15.1%5.2%5.2%7.3%3.7%$11,868
Victoria County16023.1%17.1%6.5%6%5.6%2.5%$13,649
Kerr County16123%28.8%9.3%6.8%2.5%1.5%$14,793
Taylor County16223%14.9%5.7%5.5%5.7%2.3%$12,766
Potter County16322.9%14.3%5.3%4.5%7.5%3%$12,895
Crockett County16422.9%19.1%7.2%5%6.9%2.3%$14,215
DeWitt County16522.9%20.2%5.9%5%7.9%2.2%$16,247
Franklin County16522.9%22.7%7.8%6.3%4.5%2%$13,162
Hunt County16722.7%15.6%7.1%6%4.4%2.5%$10,900
Bailey County16822.7%15.3%5.2%5.1%7.5%2.8%$11,909
Carson County16922.4%20.7%8.6%6.4%3.1%1.6%$10,716
McLennan County17022.3%15.3%6.4%5.1%4.9%2.7%$11,186
Lee County17122.1%20.2%7.4%5.9%5.1%1.9%$12,679
Hood County17222.1%25.5%9%6.6%2.3%1.3%$14,038
Washington County17321.7%22.9%6.8%5.4%5.7%1.6%$15,871
Howard County17421.5%13.8%5%4.7%6.4%2.3%$12,165
Gonzales County17521.5%17.8%5.6%5.2%6.3%2.6%$14,339
Calhoun County17621.4%19.7%6.5%5.3%5.4%2.1%$14,251
Yoakum County17721.4%12.6%6.6%4.3%6.2%2.7%$10,573
Cottle County17821.3%25.3%5.7%5.6%7.3%1.8%$18,591
Erath County17921%14.9%6%4.4%5.3%1.8%$10,636
Austin County18021%21.2%7.4%6%4%1.8%$12,910
Somervell County18120.9%19.8%7.4%5.5%4.4%1.4%$12,200
Bastrop County18220.3%15.5%6.7%5.7%2.6%2.6%$9,058
Tom Green County18320%17%5.5%4.7%5%1.9%$12,629
Lubbock County18420%13.3%5.5%4.6%5%2.4%$10,503
Wilson County18520%16.9%6.1%4.2%3.7%1.5%$11,319
Culberson County18619.9%20.5%4.1%6%5.5%2.3%$16,334
Brewster County18719.9%24.4%7.3%4.5%2.8%1.5%$11,574
Johnson County18819.6%14%6.1%5.5%3.2%1.9%$10,375
Bexar County18919.5%12.9%5%4%3.8%2.7%$10,239
Cooke County19019.3%19.2%6.4%5.1%3.7%1.8%$11,798
Guadalupe County19119.3%14.9%5.6%3.8%2%1.7%$10,352
Upton County19219%16.3%5%7.2%4.2%1.8%$13,609
Kenedy County19319%22.3%5.8%7.4%1.4%3.1%$7,249
Burnet County19418.8%23.6%8.1%4.9%2.6%1.3%$12,137
Ward County19518.8%13.8%5.4%4.2%5.4%2.4%$11,041
Reeves County19618.7%13.2%4.2%3.8%6.9%2.5%$11,493
Crane County19718.5%12.7%5.4%5.3%4%2.3%$9,842
Gillespie County19818.4%30.6%7.5%5%3.3%0.8%$15,541
Deaf Smith County19918.1%12.9%3.7%3.7%7.1%2.5%$11,898
Karnes County20017.9%14.4%4%4.9%6.3%1.7%$14,561
Archer County20117.9%21.3%7%5.1%2.3%1.3%$11,083
Galveston County20217.8%15.7%5.7%5.3%3.1%1.8%$10,915
Wise County20317.8%15.6%6.2%5.4%2.1%1.5%$9,870
Swisher County20417.7%17.1%5.1%4.2%4.1%2.4%$12,647
Smith County20517.7%17.4%5.8%4.5%3.5%1.9%$11,830
Blanco County20617.5%27%7.3%5.2%2.1%0.8%$13,036
Roberts County20716.9%22.9%8%4.5%1.8%1.3%$9,151
Winkler County20816.9%12.5%4.2%3.4%5.9%2.1%$11,397
Ector County20916.8%10%4.2%3.7%4.5%2.6%$9,286
Waller County21016.7%11.7%5%3.9%3%2.2%$8,617
Reagan County21116.6%12.4%4.3%4.6%4.6%2%$10,847
Sterling County21216.4%14.2%4.3%5.1%4.8%1.2%$10,971
Ellis County21316.2%13.1%5.3%4.4%2.1%1.8%$8,967
Brazoria County21415.8%12.8%5.1%4.5%2.4%1.7%$9,088
Andrews County21515.7%10.3%4.5%3.5%4.5%2%$8,518
Dallam County21615.4%11%3.1%4.7%4.4%1.5%$10,786
Kaufman County21715.3%10.7%4.8%3.7%2%2.2%$8,046
Comal County21815.3%18.6%5.7%3.9%1.2%0.8%$11,449
Gaines County21915%9.1%3.4%2.9%4.8%2.7%$7,044
Moore County22014.6%11.8%3.9%3%4.5%2%$8,477
Ochiltree County22014.6%13.1%4.5%3.8%3.3%1.9%$8,782
Brazos County22214.4%10.2%4.5%3.3%2.2%2.1%$6,854
Randall County22314.2%15.7%5.6%4.1%1.1%1.3%$8,228
Castro County22414%17.1%3.3%3.2%4.8%1.7%$12,086
Hemphill County22414%18.6%5.3%4.1%2.2%1.2%$10,339
Parmer County22613.9%15.1%3.8%3.5%3.8%1.7%$9,418
Tarrant County22713.6%12.3%4.2%3.5%2.1%1.9%$8,429
Shackelford County22813.6%21%4.2%3.3%3.7%1.1%$14,344
Hansford County22913.4%15.1%4.2%4.2%3%1.2%$10,484
Chambers County23013.4%11.9%4.8%4.3%1.5%1.4%$8,250
Irion County23113.4%21.5%5.5%3.7%1.8%0.9%$10,732
Parker County23212.9%15.9%4.9%3.8%1.2%1%$9,033
Oldham County23312.8%16.6%5.8%1.9%1.6%1.1%$9,811
Harris County23412.8%11.8%3.4%3.1%2.6%2.1%$8,838
Martin County23512.2%11.7%2.6%3.1%3.9%1.6%$12,015
Hays County23612%12.1%4.3%3.2%1.1%1.2%$7,196
McMullen County23711.9%25.1%4.5%4.5%1%1.3%$14,149
Kendall County23811.6%20.2%4.7%3%1%0.5%$12,326
Dallas County23911.6%11.8%3.2%2.9%2.3%1.9%$8,730
Montgomery County24011%13.8%4%3.4%1%1.2%$8,360
Williamson County24110.3%12.9%4%2.9%0.7%0.8%$6,913
Rockwall County2429.8%12.6%3.9%2.9%0.6%0.8%$7,455
Fort Bend County2439.6%12.5%3.4%2.6%0.8%1.2%$6,767
Lipscomb County2449.3%20.4%3.3%2.7%1.6%0.8%$10,869
Denton County2458.7%11.5%3.2%2.4%0.8%0.8%$6,440
Travis County2467.6%11%2.5%1.8%1.2%0.9%$6,542
Sherman County2477.2%15.4%2.3%1.7%1.7%0.8%$7,464
Collin County2487.1%11.6%2.9%2.1%0.4%0.7%$5,900
Borden County2497.1%25.2%3.4%2%0.1%0.8%$8,232
Loving County2506.7%0%3.3%1.1%0%0.8%$9,510
Glasscock County2515.4%15%2.5%1.6%0.4%0.6%$6,641
Midland County2525.3%10.8%1.6%1.1%1.2%0.9%$7,710
King County2534.6%23.1%2.3%0.7%0.4%0.8%$5,206
Hartley County2544.2%16.5%2.5%0.6%0.1%0.5%$3,748

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