Smith County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Smith County, Texas had an estimated 249,091 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 233,480, across 921 square miles. County output reached $16.66 bn in 2024, 6,356 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 180 7(a) approvals worth $145.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Smith County
How many people live in Smith County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024241,740
- Households83,134
- Average household size2.91
- Median household income$74,192
- Median age37.5
- Median gross rent$1,238 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$240,700
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over160,294
- Population under 1858,485
- Share under 1824.2 percent
- Population 65 and over42,158
- Share 65 and over17.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64141,097
- Civilian labor force117,355
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.0 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties24th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included295th of 3,222
Smith County is the 24th largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.2 percent against 17.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Smith County
Is Smith County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024249,091
- Census 2020 base population233,480
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.69 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,136
- Births, 20243,129
- Deaths, 20242,488
- Natural change, 2024641
- Net domestic migration, 20241,823
- Net international migration, 2024667
- Total net migration, 20242,490
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202411,629
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents331st of 3,144
The county has grown 6.69 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.
Smith County
Where are people moving to Smith County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving7,107
- People arriving, from those returns13,763
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,981
- Net household movement1,126
- Adjusted gross income arriving$539.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$154.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$75,953
- Average income of a leaving household$64,395
- Largest single originDallas County (403 households)
- Largest single destinationDallas County (435 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County | 403 | 713 | $54.3 m |
| Cherokee County | 379 | 781 | $22.0 m |
| Henderson County | 366 | 685 | $23.8 m |
| Gregg County | 338 | 605 | $18.5 m |
| Tarrant County | 264 | 496 | $18.3 m |
| Wood County | 210 | 373 | $12.5 m |
| Harris County | 209 | 392 | $22.1 m |
| Collin County | 196 | 392 | $19.4 m |
Households arriving report $11,558 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.
Smith County
What is the Smith County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$16.66 bn
- County GDP, 2023$15.97 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.3 percent
- GDP change over five years41.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes22nd of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes303rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$68,906
Output grew 4.3 percent in the latest year and 41.2 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.
Smith County
Employment by industry in Smith County
- Covered employment, annual average113,523
- Establishments reporting6,931
- Average annual pay$57,439
- Average weekly wage$1,105
- Health care and social assistance, employment24,966
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$61,973
- Retail trade, employment13,780
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,997
- Accommodation and food services, employment11,696
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,037
- Manufacturing, employment7,392
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$62,216
- Wholesale trade, employment5,445
- Construction, employment5,283
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 24,966 | 930 | $61,973 |
| Retail trade | 13,780 | 840 | $39,997 |
| Accommodation and food services | 11,696 | 520 | $23,037 |
| Manufacturing | 7,392 | 253 | $62,216 |
| Wholesale trade | 5,445 | 313 | $68,607 |
| Construction | 5,283 | 659 | $62,773 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5,173 | 807 | $89,652 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5,114 | 168 | $61,395 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 24,966 jobs, 22.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Smith County
How many businesses are in Smith County?
- Establishments, all industries6,356
- Employment at those establishments98,886
- Annual payroll$5.23 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.3
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.
Smith County
Building permits in Smith County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024608
- Declared construction value permitted$152.0 m
- Single family units authorized464
- Multifamily units authorized144
- Multifamily share of units23.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$249,978
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.3
Single-family homes are 76.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Smith County
SBA loans in Smith County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded180
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$145.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$809,311
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,186,300
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,351
- Jobs per approval13.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active65
- Distinct industries receiving approvals89
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer25.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms45
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter120
- Franchise loans58
- Franchise share of approvals32.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (10)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (31)
- 504 approvals recorded71
- 504 gross approval dollars$63.6 m
- Average 504 approval$895,437
- Median 504 approval$541,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval13.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.2
- Most active CDCGreater East Texas Certified Development Company (54)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$209.3 m
The average approval of $809,311 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 25.0 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.
Smith County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Smith County
Do SBA loans in Smith County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded26
- Paid in full20
- Charged off6
- Status: Exempt from disclosure120
- Status: Paid in full20
- Status: Charged off6
- Status: Cancelled20
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed14
Only 26 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.
Smith County
SBA lending by place in Smith County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Tyler, approvals148
- Lindale, approvals13
- Whitehouse, approvals5
- Troup, approvals4
- Bullard, approvals4
- Winona, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler | 148 | $114,401,100 |
| Lindale | 13 | $12,578,900 |
| Whitehouse | 5 | $4,381,000 |
| Troup | 4 | $4,553,100 |
| Bullard | 4 | $2,712,900 |
| Winona | 3 | $6,278,900 |
| Forney | 1 | $320,000 |
| Flint | 1 | $300,000 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $150,000 |
Tyler accounts for 148 approvals against 13 in Lindale. 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.
Smith County
How large is Smith County?
- Land area921 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties108th of 254
- Width, east to west35.6 mi
- Height, north to south38.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land262
- Establishments per square mile6.90
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.
Smith County
Flood risk in Smith County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Smith County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 481185
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book12
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Smith 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 Smith County (community 481185), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Smith 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. 75.0 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 Smith 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 Smith County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024241,740
- Households83,134
- Average household size2.91
- Median household income$74,192
- Median age37.5
Common questions
Smith County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Smith County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 249,091 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 241,740, in 83,134 households, ranking 24th of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Smith County's population growing?
The population has grown 6.69 percent since the 2020 census base of 233,480, to 249,091 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,129 births against 2,488 deaths, with net migration of 2,490. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Smith County?
$74,192. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $240,700, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,238 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Smith County?
6,356 establishments, employing 98,886 people with an annual payroll of $5.23 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 Smith County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 24,966 jobs, 22.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 113,523 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,439, or $1,105 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Smith County?
180 7(a) approvals totaling $145.7 m since FY2020, across 65 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 71 504 approvals worth $63.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Smith County?
608 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $152.0 m. Multifamily was 23.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Smith 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 Smith County come from?
The largest single origin is Dallas County, with 403 households. Arriving households report an average income of $75,953 against $64,395 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Smith 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 Smith 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.
Smith County
Cities and places in Smith.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Smith County. All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler | city | 109,215 | 148 | Wholly in this county |
| Whitehouse | city | 9,122 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Lindale | city | 6,644 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Bullard | town | 4,346 | 4 | 80.3 percent here, 19.7 percent Cherokee County |
| Hideaway | city | 3,301 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Overton | city | 2,444 | None recorded | 19.8 percent here, 80.2 percent Rusk County |
| Troup | city | 2,338 | 4 | 87.8 percent here, 12.2 percent Cherokee County |
| Arp | city | 1,111 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Winona | town | 1,025 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Emerald Bay | CDP | 970 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| New Chapel Hill | city | 891 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Noonday | city | 707 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 180 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Smith County, the largest being Forney (1), Flint (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