Caldwell County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Caldwell County, Texas had an estimated 52,430 residents on July 1, 2024, up 14.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 45,879, across 545 square miles. County output reached $1.56 bn in 2024, 733 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 25 7(a) approvals worth $21.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Caldwell County
How many people live in Caldwell County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202448,669
- Households16,647
- Average household size2.92
- Median household income$69,758
- Median age38.4
- Median gross rent$1,173 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$240,500
- Home value to household income3.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over32,591
- Population under 1811,272
- Share under 1823.2 percent
- Population 65 and over7,446
- Share 65 and over15.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6429,951
- Civilian labor force22,833
- Unemployment rate3.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.1 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties73rd of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1030th of 3,222
Caldwell County is the 73rd largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 3.4 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.2 percent against 15.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Caldwell County
Is Caldwell County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202452,430
- Census 2020 base population45,879
- Population change since the 2020 census base14.28 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20242,323
- Births, 2024642
- Deaths, 2024452
- Natural change, 2024190
- Net domestic migration, 20241,930
- Net international migration, 2024211
- Total net migration, 20242,141
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20245,200
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents69th of 3,144
The county has grown 14.28 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.
Caldwell County
Where are people moving to Caldwell County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,777
- People arriving, from those returns3,500
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,336
- Net household movement441
- Adjusted gross income arriving$92.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$26.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$52,221
- Average income of a leaving household$49,466
- Largest single originTravis County (564 households)
- Largest single destinationHays County (307 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travis County | 564 | 1,118 | $30.5 m |
| Hays County | 374 | 763 | $18.9 m |
| Bastrop County | 104 | 228 | $4.3 m |
| Williamson County | 76 | 150 | $7.3 m |
| Guadalupe County | 73 | 140 | $3.4 m |
| Bexar County | 53 | 81 | $2.6 m |
| Harris County | 39 | 68 | $1.4 m |
| Comal County | 30 | 53 | $1.6 m |
Households arriving report $2,755 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 Travis 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.
Caldwell County
What is the Caldwell County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.56 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.45 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.5 percent
- GDP change over five years51.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes123rd of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1484th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$32,033
Output grew 7.5 percent in the latest year and 51.6 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.
Caldwell County
Employment by industry in Caldwell County
- Covered employment, annual average10,350
- Establishments reporting887
- Average annual pay$52,985
- Average weekly wage$1,019
- Retail trade, employment1,678
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,850
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,481
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$58,177
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,454
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$25,447
- Construction, employment952
- Construction, average annual pay$76,843
- Transportation and warehousing, employment530
- Manufacturing, employment399
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,678 | 106 | $36,850 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,481 | 80 | $58,177 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,454 | 94 | $25,447 |
| Construction | 952 | 110 | $76,843 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 530 | 34 | $85,341 |
| Manufacturing | 399 | 34 | $56,528 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 283 | 61 | $92,117 |
| Finance and insurance | 220 | 45 | $60,162 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,678 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Caldwell County
How many businesses are in Caldwell County?
- Establishments, all industries733
- Employment at those establishments6,760
- Annual payroll$321.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents15.1
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.
Caldwell County
Building permits in Caldwell County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024529
- Declared construction value permitted$134.5 m
- Single family units authorized515
- Multifamily units authorized14
- Multifamily share of units2.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$254,169
- Units authorized per 1,000 households31.8
Single-family homes are 97.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Caldwell County
SBA loans in Caldwell County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded25
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$845,896
- Median 7(a) approval$496,000
- 10th percentile approval$54,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,844,780
- Largest single approval$4,389,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)296
- Jobs per approval11.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active21
- Distinct industries receiving approvals21
- Median 7(a) term126 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer44.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter12
- Franchise loans6
- Franchise share of approvals24.0 percent
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.8 m
- Average 504 approval$967,200
- Median 504 approval$992,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval11.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.6
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$26.0 m
The average approval of $845,896 sits well above the median of $496,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 44.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Caldwell County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Caldwell County
Do SBA loans in Caldwell County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full6
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure14
- Status: Paid in full6
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 6 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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.
Caldwell County
SBA lending by place in Caldwell County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Lockhart, approvals12
- Luling, approvals3
- Maxwell, approvals3
- Dale, approvals2
- Buda, approvals2
- San Marcos, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Lockhart | 12 | $9,289,000 |
| Luling | 3 | $6,766,300 |
| Maxwell | 3 | $1,170,600 |
| Dale | 2 | $1,974,000 |
| Buda | 2 | $850,000 |
| San Marcos | 1 | $600,000 |
| Kyle | 1 | $487,000 |
| Prairie Lea | 1 | $10,500 |
Lockhart accounts for 12 approvals against 3 in Luling. 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.
Caldwell County
How large is Caldwell County?
- Land area545 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties235th of 254
- Width, east to west34.7 mi
- Height, north to south30.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land89
- Establishments per square mile1.34
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.
Caldwell County
Flood risk in Caldwell County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Caldwell County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 480094
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- 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 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Caldwell 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 Caldwell County (community 480094), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Caldwell 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 7, 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 Caldwell 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 Caldwell County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202448,669
- Households16,647
- Average household size2.92
- Median household income$69,758
- Median age38.4
Common questions
Caldwell County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Caldwell County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 52,430 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 48,669, in 16,647 households, ranking 73rd of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Caldwell County's population growing?
The population has grown 14.28 percent since the 2020 census base of 45,879, to 52,430 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 642 births against 452 deaths, with net migration of 2,141. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Caldwell County?
$69,758. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,500, which is 3.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,173 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Caldwell County?
733 establishments, employing 6,760 people with an annual payroll of $321.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Caldwell County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,678 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 10,350 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,985, or $1,019 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Caldwell County?
25 7(a) approvals totaling $21.1 m since FY2020, across 21 lenders, with a median approval of $496,000, plus 5 504 approvals worth $4.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Caldwell County?
529 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $134.5 m. Multifamily was 2.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Caldwell 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 Caldwell County come from?
The largest single origin is Travis County, with 564 households. Arriving households report an average income of $52,221 against $49,466 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Caldwell 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 Caldwell 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.
Caldwell County
Cities and places in Caldwell.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Caldwell County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos | city | 70,897 | 1 | 10.8 percent here, 87.7 percent Hays County |
| Lockhart | city | 15,326 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Luling | city | 5,531 | 3 | 91.4 percent here, 8.6 percent Guadalupe County |
| Uhland | city | 2,520 | None recorded | 13.9 percent here, 86.1 percent Hays County |
| Mustang Ridge | city | 1,750 | None recorded | 32.0 percent here, 67.8 percent Travis County |
| Martindale | city | 1,072 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Niederwald | city | 1,029 | None recorded | 16.2 percent here, 83.8 percent Hays County |
A further 9 of the county's 25 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Caldwell County, the largest being Maxwell (3), Dale (2), Buda (2). 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.
Nearby