Ellis County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Ellis County, Texas had an estimated 232,387 residents on July 1, 2024, up 20.8 percent since the 2020 census base of 192,451, across 935 square miles. County output reached $10.77 bn in 2024, 3,808 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 208 7(a) approvals worth $144.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ellis County
How many people live in Ellis County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024213,160
- Households71,759
- Average household size2.97
- Median household income$99,595
- Median age36.3
- Median gross rent$1,594 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$348,600
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher30.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over138,018
- Population under 1856,170
- Share under 1826.4 percent
- Population 65 and over27,788
- Share 65 and over13.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64129,202
- Civilian labor force111,446
- Unemployment rate4.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.0 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties25th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included326th of 3,222
Ellis County is the 25th 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 26.4 percent against 13.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ellis County
Is Ellis County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024232,387
- Census 2020 base population192,451
- Population change since the 2020 census base20.75 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20249,063
- Births, 20242,833
- Deaths, 20241,657
- Natural change, 20241,176
- Net domestic migration, 20247,364
- Net international migration, 2024564
- Total net migration, 20247,928
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202432,627
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents15th of 3,144
The county has grown 20.75 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.
Ellis County
Where are people moving to Ellis County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving8,911
- People arriving, from those returns18,577
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,642
- Net household movement3,269
- Adjusted gross income arriving$651.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$255.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$73,060
- Average income of a leaving household$70,138
- Largest single originDallas County (3,145 households)
- Largest single destinationDallas County (1,434 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 3,145 | 6,593 | $213.1 m |
| Tarrant County | 1,579 | 3,335 | $121.6 m |
| Denton County | 285 | 515 | $20.7 m |
| Johnson County | 240 | 518 | $20.1 m |
| Collin County | 232 | 438 | $18.9 m |
| Navarro County | 159 | 347 | $8.4 m |
| Kaufman County | 138 | 279 | $9.5 m |
| Harris County | 114 | 233 | $7.5 m |
Households arriving report $2,922 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 Dallas 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.
Ellis County
What is the Ellis County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$10.77 bn
- County GDP, 2023$9.96 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20248.1 percent
- GDP change over five years59.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes33rd of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes416th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$50,518
Output grew 8.1 percent in the latest year and 59.9 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.
Ellis County
Employment by industry in Ellis County
- Covered employment, annual average62,721
- Establishments reporting3,919
- Average annual pay$57,911
- Average weekly wage$1,114
- Manufacturing, employment10,327
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$80,045
- Retail trade, employment7,316
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,723
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,829
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$22,458
- Health care and social assistance, employment5,766
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$53,677
- Construction, employment5,291
- Transportation and warehousing, employment4,207
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 10,327 | 212 | $80,045 |
| Retail trade | 7,316 | 416 | $37,723 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,829 | 330 | $22,458 |
| Health care and social assistance | 5,766 | 391 | $53,677 |
| Construction | 5,291 | 510 | $70,262 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4,207 | 156 | $61,432 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,910 | 213 | $49,227 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,149 | 202 | $80,451 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 10,327 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ellis County
How many businesses are in Ellis County?
- Establishments, all industries3,808
- Employment at those establishments53,171
- Annual payroll$2.64 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.9
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.
Ellis County
Building permits in Ellis County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20242,972
- Declared construction value permitted$797.4 m
- Single family units authorized2,854
- Multifamily units authorized118
- Multifamily share of units4.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$268,301
- Units authorized per 1,000 households41.4
Single-family homes are 96.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ellis County
SBA loans in Ellis County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded208
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$144.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$695,083
- Median 7(a) approval$317,350
- 10th percentile approval$33,080
- 90th percentile approval$1,905,700
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,198
- Jobs per approval10.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active81
- Distinct industries receiving approvals106
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer24.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms51
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter138
- Franchise loans40
- Franchise share of approvals19.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (11)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (13)
- 504 approvals recorded23
- 504 gross approval dollars$25.7 m
- Average 504 approval$1,117,870
- Median 504 approval$744,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval15.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved14.1
- Most active CDCNorth Texas Certified Development Corporation (8)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$170.3 m
The average approval of $695,083 sits well above the median of $317,350, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 24.5 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.
Ellis County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ellis County
Do SBA loans in Ellis County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded35
- Paid in full30
- Charged off5
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans14.3 percent
- Status: Cancelled27
- Status: Paid in full30
- Status: Charged off5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure130
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed16
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 14.3 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.
Ellis County
SBA lending by place in Ellis County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending11
- Waxahachie, approvals77
- Midlothian, approvals54
- Red Oak, approvals32
- Ennis, approvals30
- Glenn Heights, approvals6
- Palmer, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Waxahachie | 77 | $51,285,600 |
| Midlothian | 54 | $34,292,000 |
| Red Oak | 32 | $27,404,600 |
| Ennis | 30 | $27,765,800 |
| Glenn Heights | 6 | $930,000 |
| Palmer | 3 | $578,300 |
| Italy | 2 | $1,737,200 |
| Mansfield | 1 | $435,000 |
| 3 other borrower cities | 3 | $148,800 |
Waxahachie accounts for 77 approvals against 54 in Midlothian. 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.
Ellis County
How large is Ellis County?
- Land area935 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties92nd of 254
- Width, east to west41.1 mi
- Height, north to south34.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land228
- Establishments per square mile4.07
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.
Ellis County
Flood risk in Ellis County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ellis County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 480798
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book20
- Of those, participating in the NFIP19
- NFIP participation rate95.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 4
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Ellis 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 Ellis County (community 480798), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Ellis 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 4, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 95.0 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 Ellis 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 Ellis County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024213,160
- Households71,759
- Average household size2.97
- Median household income$99,595
- Median age36.3
Common questions
Ellis County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ellis County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 232,387 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 213,160, in 71,759 households, ranking 25th of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ellis County's population growing?
The population has grown 20.75 percent since the 2020 census base of 192,451, to 232,387 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,833 births against 1,657 deaths, with net migration of 7,928. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ellis County?
$99,595. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $348,600, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,594 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ellis County?
3,808 establishments, employing 53,171 people with an annual payroll of $2.64 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 Ellis County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 10,327 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 62,721 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,911, or $1,114 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ellis County?
208 7(a) approvals totaling $144.6 m since FY2020, across 81 lenders, with a median approval of $317,350, plus 23 504 approvals worth $25.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Ellis County get paid back?
Of the 35 loans that have reached a final outcome, 30 were paid in full and 5 charged off, a charge-off rate of 14.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Ellis County?
2,972 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $797.4 m. Multifamily was 4.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ellis 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 Ellis County come from?
The largest single origin is Dallas County, with 3,145 households. Arriving households report an average income of $73,060 against $70,138 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ellis 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 Ellis 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.
Ellis County
Cities and places in Ellis.
21 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ellis County. All 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prairie | city | 201,883 | None recorded | 4.6 percent here, 66.0 percent Dallas County, 29.4 percent Tarrant County |
| Mansfield | city | 77,510 | 1 | 4.4 percent here, 75.9 percent Tarrant County, 19.6 percent Johnson County |
| Cedar Hill | city | 48,879 | None recorded | 9.3 percent here, 90.7 percent Dallas County |
| Waxahachie | city | 45,347 | 77 | Wholly in this county |
| Midlothian | city | 39,356 | 54 | Wholly in this county |
| Ennis | city | 22,588 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Glenn Heights | city | 18,096 | 6 | 32.8 percent here, 67.2 percent Dallas County |
| Red Oak | city | 17,077 | 32 | Wholly in this county |
| Venus | town | 6,745 | None recorded | 32.8 percent here, 67.2 percent Johnson County |
| Ovilla | city | 4,375 | 1 | 84.9 percent here, 15.1 percent Dallas County |
| Ferris | city | 3,238 | 1 | 84.9 percent here, 15.1 percent Dallas County |
| Palmer | town | 2,515 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Italy | town | 2,372 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Oak Leaf | city | 1,827 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Garrett | town | 1,260 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Milford | town | 966 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bardwell | city | 963 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maypearl | city | 907 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Pecan Hill | city | 723 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bristol | CDP | 649 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Alma | town | 541 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |