Lavaca County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Lavaca County, Texas had an estimated 20,605 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,338, across 970 square miles. County output reached $1.53 bn in 2024, 489 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 10 7(a) approvals worth $5.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lavaca County
How many people live in Lavaca County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,552
- Households8,476
- Average household size2.42
- Median household income$63,240
- Median age42.9
- Median gross rent$910 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$228,300
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over14,339
- Population under 184,826
- Share under 1823.5 percent
- Population 65 and over4,950
- Share 65 and over24.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6410,776
- Civilian labor force9,630
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over61.2 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties117th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1847th of 3,222
Lavaca County is the 117th largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.1 percent against 23.5 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lavaca County
Is Lavaca County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,605
- Census 2020 base population20,338
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.31 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241
- Births, 2024242
- Deaths, 2024265
- Natural change, 2024-23
- Net domestic migration, 20244
- Net international migration, 202421
- Total net migration, 202425
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024344
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1389th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.31 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lavaca County
Where are people moving to Lavaca County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving464
- People arriving, from those returns936
- Tax returns filed by households leaving462
- Net household movement2
- Adjusted gross income arriving$34.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$10.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$73,373
- Average income of a leaving household$50,929
- Largest single originDeWitt County (61 households)
- Largest single destinationDeWitt County (76 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWitt County | 61 | 126 | $2.4 m |
| Harris County | 38 | 74 | $3.3 m |
| Victoria County | 37 | 71 | $2.1 m |
| Gonzales County | 28 | 49 | $978,000 |
| Fayette County | 24 | 52 | $1.1 m |
| Travis County | 24 | 44 | $1.4 m |
| Fort Bend County | 23 | 54 | $3.6 m |
| Colorado County | 21 | 38 | $1.5 m |
Households arriving report $22,444 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 DeWitt 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.
Lavaca County
What is the Lavaca County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.53 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.53 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-0.5 percent
- GDP change over five years59.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes125th of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1503rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$74,207
Output grew -0.5 percent in the latest year and 59.4 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.
Lavaca County
Employment by industry in Lavaca County
- Covered employment, annual average6,148
- Establishments reporting501
- Average annual pay$50,557
- Average weekly wage$972
- Manufacturing, employment946
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$51,958
- Retail trade, employment760
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,397
- Wholesale trade, employment541
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$66,842
- Construction, employment409
- Construction, average annual pay$81,271
- Other services, except public administration, employment154
- Finance and insurance, employment142
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 946 | 28 | $51,958 |
| Retail trade | 760 | 76 | $33,397 |
| Wholesale trade | 541 | 27 | $66,842 |
| Construction | 409 | 54 | $81,271 |
| Other services, except public administration | 154 | 37 | $43,464 |
| Finance and insurance | 142 | 21 | $74,980 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 127 | 39 | $59,185 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 83 | 27 | $34,920 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 946 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lavaca County
How many businesses are in Lavaca County?
- Establishments, all industries489
- Employment at those establishments5,202
- Annual payroll$245.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.8
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.
Lavaca County
Building permits in Lavaca County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202412
- Declared construction value permitted$3.0 m
- Single family units authorized12
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$248,064
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.4
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lavaca County
SBA loans in Lavaca County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded10
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$5.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$517,650
- Median 7(a) approval$300,000
- Largest single approval$1,430,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)64
- Jobs per approval6.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals8
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer40.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms4
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter6
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals30.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (3)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$599,000
- Average 504 approval$299,500
- Median 504 approval$299,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval7.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved25.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$5.8 m
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.
Lavaca County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lavaca County
Do SBA loans in Lavaca County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure3
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 5 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.
Lavaca County
SBA lending by place in Lavaca County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Hallettsville, approvals8
- Shiner, approvals1
- Yoakum, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Hallettsville | 8 | $5,016,500 |
| Shiner | 1 | $100,000 |
| Yoakum | 1 | $60,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lavaca County
How large is Lavaca County?
- Land area970 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties81st of 254
- Width, east to west41 mi
- Height, north to south39.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land21
- Establishments per square mile0.50
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.
Lavaca County
Flood risk in Lavaca County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lavaca County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 481178
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Lavaca 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 Lavaca County (community 481178), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Lavaca 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. 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 Lavaca 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 Lavaca County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202420,552
- Households8,476
- Average household size2.42
- Median household income$63,240
- Median age42.9
Common questions
Lavaca County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lavaca County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,605 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 20,552, in 8,476 households, ranking 117th of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lavaca County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.31 percent since the 2020 census base of 20,338, to 20,605 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 242 births against 265 deaths, with net migration of 25. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lavaca County?
$63,240. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $228,300, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $910 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lavaca County?
489 establishments, employing 5,202 people with an annual payroll of $245.8 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 Lavaca County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 946 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 6,148 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,557, or $972 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lavaca County?
10 7(a) approvals totaling $5.2 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $300,000, plus 2 504 approvals worth $599,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lavaca County?
12 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lavaca 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 Lavaca County come from?
The largest single origin is DeWitt County, with 61 households. Arriving households report an average income of $73,373 against $50,929 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lavaca 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 Lavaca 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.
Lavaca County
Cities and places in Lavaca.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lavaca County. All 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yoakum | city | 5,846 | 1 | 60.5 percent here, 39.5 percent DeWitt County |
| Hallettsville | city | 2,755 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Shiner | city | 2,154 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Moulton | town | 884 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby