Liberty County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Liberty County, Texas had an estimated 115,042 residents on July 1, 2024, up 25.5 percent since the 2020 census base of 91,658, across 1,158 square miles. County output reached $3.30 bn in 2024, 1,206 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 54 7(a) approvals worth $51.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Liberty County
How many people live in Liberty County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024103,380
- Households31,183
- Average household size3.32
- Median household income$68,703
- Median age32.9
- Median gross rent$1,044 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$181,700
- Home value to household income2.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher11.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree3.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over62,964
- Population under 1830,946
- Share under 1829.9 percent
- Population 65 and over11,905
- Share 65 and over11.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6460,529
- Civilian labor force41,574
- Unemployment rate7.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.4 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties43rd of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included604th of 3,222
Liberty County is the 43rd largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 2.6 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 29.9 percent against 11.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Liberty County
Is Liberty County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024115,042
- Census 2020 base population91,658
- Population change since the 2020 census base25.51 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20245,870
- Births, 20241,528
- Deaths, 2024979
- Natural change, 2024549
- Net domestic migration, 20245,063
- Net international migration, 2024322
- Total net migration, 20245,385
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202420,113
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents5th of 3,144
The county has grown 25.51 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.
Liberty County
Where are people moving to Liberty County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,317
- People arriving, from those returns10,136
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,778
- Net household movement1,539
- Adjusted gross income arriving$204.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$82.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$47,376
- Average income of a leaving household$44,082
- Largest single originHarris County (2,415 households)
- Largest single destinationHarris County (946 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 2,415 | 6,018 | $106.9 m |
| Montgomery County | 527 | 1,230 | $27.0 m |
| Chambers County | 127 | 253 | $10.7 m |
| San Jacinto County | 86 | 190 | $3.3 m |
| Fort Bend County | 64 | 175 | $3.4 m |
| Polk County | 57 | 119 | $2.6 m |
| Galveston County | 55 | 120 | $3.3 m |
| Brazoria County | 48 | 112 | $3.3 m |
Households arriving report $3,294 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 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.
Liberty County
What is the Liberty County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.30 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.12 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.8 percent
- GDP change over five years47.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes76th of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes918th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$31,966
Output grew 5.8 percent in the latest year and 47.9 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.
Liberty County
Employment by industry in Liberty County
- Covered employment, annual average20,119
- Establishments reporting1,298
- Average annual pay$55,677
- Average weekly wage$1,071
- Retail trade, employment2,663
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,537
- Construction, employment2,246
- Construction, average annual pay$80,850
- Manufacturing, employment1,246
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$73,414
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,024
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$89,712
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment482
- Wholesale trade, employment374
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,663 | 197 | $35,537 |
| Construction | 2,246 | 145 | $80,850 |
| Manufacturing | 1,246 | 60 | $73,414 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,024 | 66 | $89,712 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 482 | 44 | $58,674 |
| Wholesale trade | 374 | 58 | $68,332 |
| Other services, except public administration | 344 | 74 | $52,574 |
| Finance and insurance | 340 | 78 | $75,679 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,663 jobs, 13.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Liberty County
How many businesses are in Liberty County?
- Establishments, all industries1,206
- Employment at those establishments14,678
- Annual payroll$745.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents11.7
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.
Liberty County
Building permits in Liberty County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,321
- Declared construction value permitted$250.6 m
- Single family units authorized1,319
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units0.2 percent
- Average declared value per unit$189,718
- Units authorized per 1,000 households42.4
Single-family homes are 99.8 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Liberty County
SBA loans in Liberty County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded54
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$51.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$947,457
- Median 7(a) approval$457,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,302,450
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)708
- Jobs per approval13.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active30
- Distinct industries receiving approvals33
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer42.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms23
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter29
- Franchise loans9
- Franchise share of approvals16.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (7)
- Most active lenderWells Fargo Bank National Association (5)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.0 m
- Average 504 approval$497,667
- Median 504 approval$372,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval7.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.7
- Most active CDCNorth Texas Certified Development Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$54.1 m
The average approval of $947,457 sits well above the median of $457,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 42.6 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.
Liberty County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Liberty County
Do SBA loans in Liberty County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded10
- Paid in full10
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure35
- Status: Paid in full10
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 10 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.
Liberty County
SBA lending by place in Liberty County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Cleveland, approvals20
- Dayton, approvals18
- Liberty, approvals10
- Raywood, approvals2
- Porter, approvals1
- Mount Belvieu, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 20 | $23,987,700 |
| Dayton | 18 | $14,123,000 |
| Liberty | 10 | $6,483,500 |
| Raywood | 2 | $2,040,000 |
| Porter | 1 | $2,530,000 |
| Mount Belvieu | 1 | $1,460,600 |
| Humble | 1 | $400,000 |
| Hardin | 1 | $137,900 |
Cleveland accounts for 20 approvals against 18 in Dayton. 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.
Liberty County
How large is Liberty County?
- Land area1,158 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties42nd of 254
- Width, east to west43.3 mi
- Height, north to south42.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land89
- Establishments per square mile1.04
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.
Liberty County
Flood risk in Liberty County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Liberty County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 480438
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book14
- Of those, participating in the NFIP13
- NFIP participation rate92.9 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 Liberty 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 Liberty County (community 480438), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Liberty 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. 92.9 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 Liberty 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 Liberty County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024103,380
- Households31,183
- Average household size3.32
- Median household income$68,703
- Median age32.9
Common questions
Liberty County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Liberty County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 115,042 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 103,380, in 31,183 households, ranking 43rd of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Liberty County's population growing?
The population has grown 25.51 percent since the 2020 census base of 91,658, to 115,042 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,528 births against 979 deaths, with net migration of 5,385. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Liberty County?
$68,703. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $181,700, which is 2.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,044 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Liberty County?
1,206 establishments, employing 14,678 people with an annual payroll of $745.2 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 Liberty County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,663 jobs, 13.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 20,119 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,677, or $1,071 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Liberty County?
54 7(a) approvals totaling $51.2 m since FY2020, across 30 lenders, with a median approval of $457,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $3.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Liberty County?
1,321 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $250.6 m. Multifamily was 0.2 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Liberty 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 Liberty County come from?
The largest single origin is Harris County, with 2,415 households. Arriving households report an average income of $47,376 against $44,082 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Liberty 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 Liberty 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.
Liberty County
Cities and places in Liberty.
14 Census places lie wholly or partly in Liberty County. All 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | city | 9,058 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Cleveland | city | 8,984 | 20 | 87.8 percent here, 11.1 percent Montgomery County |
| Liberty | city | 8,650 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Old River-Winfree | city | 2,448 | None recorded | 3.8 percent here, 96.2 percent Chambers County |
| Plum Grove | city | 1,832 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ames | city | 1,142 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Daisetta | city | 1,016 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kenefick | town | 898 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hardin | city | 621 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Big Thicket Lake Estates | CDP | 596 | None recorded | 58.8 percent here, 41.2 percent Polk County |
| Devers | city | 386 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| North Cleveland | city | 376 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hull | CDP | 275 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dayton Lakes | city | 85 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 5 of the county's 54 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Liberty County, the largest being Raywood (2), Porter (1), Mount Belvieu (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