Bell County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Bell County, Texas had an estimated 399,578 residents on July 1, 2024, up 7.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 370,790, across 1,051 square miles. County output reached $26.06 bn in 2024, 5,923 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 296 7(a) approvals worth $161.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Bell County
How many people live in Bell County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024386,897
- Households142,305
- Average household size2.72
- Median household income$68,865
- Median age32.3
- Median gross rent$1,224 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$241,000
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher27.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over239,452
- Population under 18106,248
- Share under 1827.5 percent
- Population 65 and over46,147
- Share 65 and over11.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64234,502
- Civilian labor force170,572
- Unemployment rate6.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.8 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties15th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included192nd of 3,222
Bell County is the 15th largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 27.5 percent against 11.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Bell County
Is Bell County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024399,578
- Census 2020 base population370,790
- Population change since the 2020 census base7.76 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20245,513
- Births, 20246,197
- Deaths, 20242,955
- Natural change, 20243,242
- Net domestic migration, 2024587
- Net international migration, 20241,651
- Total net migration, 20242,238
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202410,864
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents256th of 3,144
The county has grown 7.76 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Bell County
Where are people moving to Bell County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving16,788
- People arriving, from those returns33,980
- Tax returns filed by households leaving15,303
- Net household movement1,485
- Adjusted gross income arriving$927.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$125.2 m
- Average income of an arriving household$55,265
- Average income of a leaving household$52,446
- Largest single originWilliamson County (1,458 households)
- Largest single destinationCoryell County (1,224 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson County | 1,458 | 2,980 | $104.8 m |
| Coryell County | 1,084 | 2,416 | $46.4 m |
| Travis County | 1,000 | 1,925 | $74.4 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 485 | 1,063 | $28.7 m |
| McLennan County | 386 | 766 | $18.3 m |
| Harris County | 380 | 720 | $20.1 m |
| Bexar County | 348 | 719 | $17.0 m |
| Dallas County | 266 | 438 | $12.6 m |
Households arriving report $2,819 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Williamson County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Bell County
What is the Bell County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$26.06 bn
- County GDP, 2023$24.39 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.9 percent
- GDP change over five years42.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes17th of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes218th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,350
Output grew 6.9 percent in the latest year and 42.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Bell County
Employment by industry in Bell County
- Covered employment, annual average129,627
- Establishments reporting6,521
- Average annual pay$62,107
- Average weekly wage$1,194
- Health care and social assistance, employment20,994
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$95,040
- Retail trade, employment16,488
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,354
- Accommodation and food services, employment14,123
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,088
- Manufacturing, employment7,144
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,621
- Construction, employment6,581
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment5,311
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 20,994 | 817 | $95,040 |
| Retail trade | 16,488 | 890 | $39,354 |
| Accommodation and food services | 14,123 | 721 | $22,088 |
| Manufacturing | 7,144 | 203 | $66,621 |
| Construction | 6,581 | 585 | $77,323 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5,311 | 558 | $77,287 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 4,679 | 429 | $45,290 |
| Wholesale trade | 4,327 | 192 | $83,138 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 20,994 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Bell County
How many businesses are in Bell County?
- Establishments, all industries5,923
- Employment at those establishments104,607
- Annual payroll$5.83 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents15.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bell County
Building permits in Bell County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20243,243
- Declared construction value permitted$828.8 m
- Single family units authorized2,655
- Multifamily units authorized588
- Multifamily share of units18.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$255,578
- Units authorized per 1,000 households22.8
Single-family homes are 81.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Bell County
SBA loans in Bell County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded296
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$161.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$544,481
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$26,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,409,500
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,788
- Jobs per approval9.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active80
- Distinct industries receiving approvals125
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer23.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms69
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter208
- Franchise loans62
- Franchise share of approvals20.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (14)
- Most active lenderFirst National Bank Texas (48)
- 504 approvals recorded49
- 504 gross approval dollars$50.5 m
- Average 504 approval$1,029,980
- Median 504 approval$657,000
- Distinct CDCs active9
- 504 jobs per approval13.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.7
- Most active CDCCapital Certified Development Corporation (14)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$211.6 m
The average approval of $544,481 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 23.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bell County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Bell County
Do SBA loans in Bell County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded56
- Paid in full50
- Charged off6
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans10.7 percent
- Status: Cancelled39
- Status: Exempt from disclosure188
- Status: Paid in full50
- Status: Charged off6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed13
Of the 56 loans that have reached a final outcome, 10.7 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bell County
SBA lending by place in Bell County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending17
- Killeen, approvals95
- Temple, approvals94
- Belton, approvals37
- Salado, approvals23
- Harker Heights, approvals20
- Nolanville, approvals8
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Killeen | 95 | $64,235,000 |
| Temple | 94 | $55,799,700 |
| Belton | 37 | $17,375,300 |
| Salado | 23 | $4,889,600 |
| Harker Heights | 20 | $8,228,600 |
| Nolanville | 8 | $2,039,100 |
| Troy | 6 | $1,298,800 |
| Rogers | 2 | $700,000 |
| 9 other borrower cities | 11 | $6,600,200 |
Killeen accounts for 95 approvals against 94 in Temple. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Bell County
How large is Bell County?
- Land area1,051 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties63rd of 254
- Width, east to west50 mi
- Height, north to south39.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land368
- Establishments per square mile5.64
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Bell County
Flood risk in Bell County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Bell County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 480706
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book14
- Of those, participating in the NFIP14
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Bell County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Bell County (community 480706), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Bell County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Bell County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Bell County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024386,897
- Households142,305
- Average household size2.72
- Median household income$68,865
- Median age32.3
Common questions
Bell County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Bell County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 399,578 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 386,897, in 142,305 households, ranking 15th of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Bell County's population growing?
The population has grown 7.76 percent since the 2020 census base of 370,790, to 399,578 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 6,197 births against 2,955 deaths, with net migration of 2,238. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Bell County?
$68,865. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $241,000, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,224 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Bell County?
5,923 establishments, employing 104,607 people with an annual payroll of $5.83 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Bell County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 20,994 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 129,627 jobs at an average annual pay of $62,107, or $1,194 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Bell County?
296 7(a) approvals totaling $161.2 m since FY2020, across 80 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 49 504 approvals worth $50.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Bell County get paid back?
Of the 56 loans that have reached a final outcome, 50 were paid in full and 6 charged off, a charge-off rate of 10.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Bell County?
3,243 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $828.8 m. Multifamily was 18.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Bell County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Bell County come from?
The largest single origin is Williamson County, with 1,458 households. Arriving households report an average income of $55,265 against $52,446 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Bell County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Bell County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Bell County
Cities and places in Bell.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Bell County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen | city | 158,159 | 95 | Wholly in this county |
| Temple | city | 89,602 | 94 | Wholly in this county |
| Copperas Cove | city | 37,947 | None recorded | 2.3 percent here, 80.9 percent Coryell County, 16.8 percent Lampasas County |
| Harker Heights | city | 34,128 | 20 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Hood | CDP | 26,814 | None recorded | 44.4 percent here, 55.6 percent Coryell County |
| Belton | city | 24,356 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Nolanville | city | 6,690 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Morgan's Point Resort | city | 4,750 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Troy | city | 2,844 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Little River-Academy | city | 2,233 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Salado | village | 2,225 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Bartlett | city | 1,941 | None recorded | 35.7 percent here, 64.3 percent Williamson County |
| Rogers | town | 1,303 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Holland | town | 1,299 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Pendleton | CDP | 649 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 8 of the county's 296 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Bell County, the largest being Kempner (2), Flower Mound (1), Harker Hts (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.