Jefferson County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Jefferson County, Texas had an estimated 253,948 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 256,543, across 876 square miles. County output reached $27.10 bn in 2024, 5,710 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 146 7(a) approvals worth $162.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jefferson County
How many people live in Jefferson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024253,878
- Households94,807
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$60,026
- Median age37.0
- Median gross rent$1,117 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$169,500
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over169,590
- Population under 1862,480
- Share under 1824.6 percent
- Population 65 and over39,263
- Share 65 and over15.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64152,135
- Civilian labor force110,898
- Unemployment rate6.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.9 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties22nd of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included283rd of 3,222
Jefferson County is the 22nd largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.6 percent against 15.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jefferson County
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024253,948
- Census 2020 base population256,543
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.01 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024556
- Births, 20243,251
- Deaths, 20242,631
- Natural change, 2024620
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,461
- Net international migration, 20241,378
- Total net migration, 2024-83
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-7,375
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2193rd of 3,144
The county has lost 1.01 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 by more than net migration took away, so the population grew even though more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jefferson County
Where are people moving to Jefferson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,758
- People arriving, from those returns8,688
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,770
- Net household movement-1,012
- Adjusted gross income arriving$244.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-102.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$51,375
- Average income of a leaving household$60,203
- Largest single originHarris County (785 households)
- Largest single destinationHarris County (1,125 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 785 | 1,489 | $38.5 m |
| Orange County | 527 | 977 | $26.6 m |
| Hardin County | 411 | 772 | $23.5 m |
| Calcasieu Parish | 110 | 199 | $4.8 m |
| Jasper County | 90 | 153 | $4.0 m |
| Brazoria County | 81 | 152 | $4.7 m |
| Chambers County | 79 | 156 | $4.6 m |
| Galveston County | 79 | 151 | $5.4 m |
Households arriving report $8,828 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Harris 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.
Jefferson County
What is the Jefferson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$27.10 bn
- County GDP, 2023$25.20 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.6 percent
- GDP change over five years62.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes15th of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes210th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$106,753
Output grew 7.6 percent in the latest year and 62.2 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.
Jefferson County
Employment by industry in Jefferson County
- Covered employment, annual average124,861
- Establishments reporting5,839
- Average annual pay$69,970
- Average weekly wage$1,346
- Construction, employment17,873
- Construction, average annual pay$89,042
- Health care and social assistance, employment17,414
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$52,358
- Manufacturing, employment16,044
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$120,636
- Retail trade, employment12,792
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,757
- Accommodation and food services, employment11,041
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment6,065
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 17,873 | 450 | $89,042 |
| Health care and social assistance | 17,414 | 856 | $52,358 |
| Manufacturing | 16,044 | 236 | $120,636 |
| Retail trade | 12,792 | 908 | $38,757 |
| Accommodation and food services | 11,041 | 533 | $23,401 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 6,065 | 320 | $57,371 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5,322 | 518 | $101,059 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4,849 | 235 | $73,700 |
Construction is the largest private sector at 17,873 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jefferson County
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
- Establishments, all industries5,710
- Employment at those establishments105,009
- Annual payroll$6.44 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.5
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.
Jefferson County
Building permits in Jefferson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024356
- Declared construction value permitted$108.1 m
- Single family units authorized336
- Multifamily units authorized20
- Multifamily share of units5.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$303,728
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.8
Single-family homes are 94.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Jefferson County
SBA loans in Jefferson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded146
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$162.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,115,561
- Median 7(a) approval$588,000
- 10th percentile approval$44,400
- 90th percentile approval$3,118,050
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,750
- Jobs per approval12.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active54
- Distinct industries receiving approvals70
- Median 7(a) term126 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer38.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms56
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter67
- Franchise loans36
- Franchise share of approvals24.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (11)
- 504 approvals recorded43
- 504 gross approval dollars$38.3 m
- Average 504 approval$890,047
- Median 504 approval$547,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval10.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.0
- Most active CDCSoutheast Texas Economic Development Foundation (19)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$201.1 m
The average approval of $1,115,561 sits well above the median of $588,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 38.4 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.
Jefferson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jefferson County
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded31
- Paid in full29
- Charged off2
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans6.5 percent
- Status: Paid in full29
- Status: Exempt from disclosure94
- Status: Cancelled16
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed5
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 6.5 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.
Jefferson County
SBA lending by place in Jefferson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Beaumont, approvals91
- Port Arthur, approvals24
- Nederland, approvals15
- Groves, approvals9
- Port Neches, approvals3
- Hamshire, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont | 91 | $98,916,600 |
| Port Arthur | 24 | $36,388,600 |
| Nederland | 15 | $15,808,500 |
| Groves | 9 | $6,268,200 |
| Port Neches | 3 | $957,000 |
| Hamshire | 2 | $1,485,000 |
| Fremont | 1 | $2,748,000 |
| Houston | 1 | $300,000 |
Beaumont accounts for 91 approvals against 24 in Port Arthur. 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.
Jefferson County
How large is Jefferson County?
- Land area876 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties174th of 254
- Width, east to west36.4 mi
- Height, north to south43.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land290
- Establishments per square mile6.52
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.
Jefferson County
Flood risk in Jefferson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Jefferson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 480385
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- 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 class4
- Radon levels in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County (community 480385), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024253,878
- Households94,807
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$60,026
- Median age37.0
Common questions
Jefferson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jefferson County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 253,948 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 253,878, in 94,807 households, ranking 22nd of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.01 percent since the 2020 census base of 256,543, to 253,948 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,251 births against 2,631 deaths, with net migration of -83. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
$60,026. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,500, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,117 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
5,710 establishments, employing 105,009 people with an annual payroll of $6.44 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 Jefferson County?
Construction is the largest private sector at 17,873 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 124,861 jobs at an average annual pay of $69,970, or $1,346 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jefferson County?
146 7(a) approvals totaling $162.9 m since FY2020, across 54 lenders, with a median approval of $588,000, plus 43 504 approvals worth $38.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back?
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 29 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge-off rate of 6.5 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Jefferson County?
356 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $108.1 m. Multifamily was 5.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County come from?
The largest single origin is Harris County, with 785 households. Arriving households report an average income of $51,375 against $60,203 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County
Cities and places in Jefferson.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jefferson County. All 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont | city | 113,279 | 91 | Wholly in this county |
| Port Arthur | city | 55,828 | 24 | 91.2 percent here, 8.8 percent Orange County |
| Nederland | city | 18,381 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Groves | city | 16,976 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Port Neches | city | 13,664 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Central Gardens | CDP | 3,976 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fannett | CDP | 1,654 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hamshire | CDP | 1,388 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Beauxart Gardens | CDP | 1,276 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bevil Oaks | city | 1,133 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| China | city | 963 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Taylor Landing | city | 284 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nome | city | 253 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 146 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Jefferson County, the largest being Fremont (1), Houston (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.
Nearby