Matagorda County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Matagorda County, Texas had an estimated 36,391 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,258, across 1,100 square miles. County output reached $2.90 bn in 2024, 707 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 20 7(a) approvals worth $20.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Matagorda County
How many people live in Matagorda County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,329
- Households15,439
- Average household size2.35
- Median household income$58,628
- Median age37.8
- Median gross rent$999 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$172,900
- Home value to household income2.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over24,238
- Population under 189,284
- Share under 1825.6 percent
- Population 65 and over6,607
- Share 65 and over18.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6420,438
- Civilian labor force17,122
- Unemployment rate8.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.3 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties87th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1309th of 3,222
Matagorda County is the 87th largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 2.9 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.6 percent against 18.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Matagorda County
Is Matagorda County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202436,391
- Census 2020 base population36,258
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.37 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-31
- Births, 2024468
- Deaths, 2024447
- Natural change, 202421
- Net domestic migration, 2024-351
- Net international migration, 2024300
- Total net migration, 2024-51
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-839
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1695th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.37 percent since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Matagorda County
Where are people moving to Matagorda County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving778
- People arriving, from those returns1,452
- Tax returns filed by households leaving867
- Net household movement-89
- Adjusted gross income arriving$62.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$11.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$80,107
- Average income of a leaving household$58,291
- Largest single originHarris County (115 households)
- Largest single destinationBrazoria County (149 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 115 | 209 | $9.2 m |
| Brazoria County | 104 | 212 | $5.9 m |
| Wharton County | 67 | 124 | $2.5 m |
| Fort Bend County | 52 | 107 | $2.5 m |
| Jackson County | 24 | 46 | $1.3 m |
| Victoria County | 20 | 39 | $901,000 |
Households arriving report $21,816 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.
Matagorda County
What is the Matagorda County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.90 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.02 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-3.9 percent
- GDP change over five years24.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes81st of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1001st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$79,958
Output grew -3.9 percent in the latest year and 24.4 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.
Matagorda County
Employment by industry in Matagorda County
- Covered employment, annual average11,209
- Establishments reporting824
- Average annual pay$68,994
- Average weekly wage$1,327
- Manufacturing, employment1,523
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$102,291
- Retail trade, employment1,337
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,600
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,146
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,837
- Health care and social assistance, employment917
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,647
- Construction, employment519
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment466
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,523 | 29 | $102,291 |
| Retail trade | 1,337 | 110 | $31,600 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,146 | 98 | $21,837 |
| Health care and social assistance | 917 | 74 | $51,647 |
| Construction | 519 | 40 | $81,101 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 466 | 91 | $48,096 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 341 | 35 | $81,143 |
| Other services, except public administration | 234 | 52 | $49,505 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,523 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Matagorda County
How many businesses are in Matagorda County?
- Establishments, all industries707
- Employment at those establishments7,870
- Annual payroll$557.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents19.5
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.
Matagorda County
Building permits in Matagorda County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024153
- Declared construction value permitted$33.0 m
- Single family units authorized153
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$215,651
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.9
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.
Matagorda County
SBA loans in Matagorda County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded20
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$20.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,038,310
- Median 7(a) approval$780,000
- 10th percentile approval$52,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,482,000
- Largest single approval$2,703,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)150
- Jobs per approval7.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals13
- Median 7(a) term157 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer40.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter7
- Franchise loans9
- Franchise share of approvals45.0 percent
- Most active lenderNewtek Bank, National Association (3)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$6.4 m
- Average 504 approval$1,063,833
- Median 504 approval$974,500
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval10.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.0
- Most active CDCCapital Certified Development Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$27.1 m
The average approval of $1,038,310 sits well above the median of $780,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 40.0 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.
Matagorda County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Matagorda County
Do SBA loans in Matagorda County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure10
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
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.
Matagorda County
SBA lending by place in Matagorda County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Bay City, approvals11
- Blessing, approvals4
- Matagorda, approvals2
- Sargent, approvals2
- Cypress, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Bay City | 11 | $12,179,500 |
| Blessing | 4 | $6,971,000 |
| Matagorda | 2 | $1,010,700 |
| Sargent | 2 | $70,000 |
| Cypress | 1 | $535,000 |
Bay City accounts for 11 approvals against 4 in Blessing. 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.
Matagorda County
How large is Matagorda County?
- Land area1,100 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties49th of 254
- Width, east to west53.1 mi
- Height, north to south58.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land33
- Establishments per square mile0.64
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.
Matagorda County
Flood risk in Matagorda County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Matagorda County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 485489
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Matagorda 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 Matagorda County (community 485489), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Matagorda 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 Matagorda 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 Matagorda County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202436,329
- Households15,439
- Average household size2.35
- Median household income$58,628
- Median age37.8
Common questions
Matagorda County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Matagorda County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 36,391 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 36,329, in 15,439 households, ranking 87th of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Matagorda County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.37 percent since the 2020 census base of 36,258, to 36,391 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 468 births against 447 deaths, with net migration of -51. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Matagorda County?
$58,628. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $172,900, which is 2.9 times income, and median gross rent is $999 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Matagorda County?
707 establishments, employing 7,870 people with an annual payroll of $557.3 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 Matagorda County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,523 jobs, 13.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 11,209 jobs at an average annual pay of $68,994, or $1,327 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Matagorda County?
20 7(a) approvals totaling $20.8 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $780,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $6.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Matagorda County?
153 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $33.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Matagorda 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 Matagorda County come from?
The largest single origin is Harris County, with 115 households. Arriving households report an average income of $80,107 against $58,291 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Matagorda 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 Matagorda 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.
Matagorda County
Cities and places in Matagorda.
9 Census places lie wholly or partly in Matagorda County. All 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay City | city | 17,730 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Palacios | city | 4,388 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Van Vleck | CDP | 1,763 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sargent | CDP | 1,422 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Markham | CDP | 873 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Blessing | CDP | 418 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Wadsworth | CDP | 366 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Matagorda | CDP | 182 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Midfield | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 20 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Matagorda County, the largest being Cypress (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