Walker County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Walker County, Texas had an estimated 83,722 residents on July 1, 2024, up 9.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 76,408, across 784 square miles. County output reached $3.15 bn in 2024, 1,113 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 26 7(a) approvals worth $24.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Walker County
How many people live in Walker County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202480,209
- Households26,017
- Average household size3.08
- Median household income$52,324
- Median age37.6
- Median gross rent$1,031 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$226,900
- Home value to household income4.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income23.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher21.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over53,973
- Population under 1811,662
- Share under 1814.5 percent
- Population 65 and over11,123
- Share 65 and over13.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6457,424
- Civilian labor force32,796
- Unemployment rate8.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over47.8 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties50th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included725th of 3,222
Walker County is the 50th largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 4.3 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 14.5 percent against 13.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Walker County
Is Walker County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202483,722
- Census 2020 base population76,408
- Population change since the 2020 census base9.57 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,156
- Births, 2024721
- Deaths, 2024693
- Natural change, 202428
- Net domestic migration, 2024800
- Net international migration, 2024314
- Total net migration, 20241,114
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20246,163
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents161st of 3,144
The county has grown 9.57 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.
Walker County
Where are people moving to Walker County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,679
- People arriving, from those returns4,628
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,758
- Net household movement-79
- Adjusted gross income arriving$173.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$73.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$64,885
- Average income of a leaving household$36,301
- Largest single originMontgomery County (592 households)
- Largest single destinationMontgomery County (539 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 592 | 1,189 | $50.1 m |
| Harris County | 497 | 842 | $36.9 m |
| San Jacinto County | 69 | 131 | $3.2 m |
| Trinity County | 66 | 121 | $2.7 m |
| Brazos County | 54 | 85 | $1.8 m |
| Fort Bend County | 54 | 90 | $9.3 m |
| Madison County | 48 | 85 | $1.5 m |
| Polk County | 47 | 78 | $2.9 m |
Households arriving report $28,584 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 Montgomery 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.
Walker County
What is the Walker County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.15 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.95 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.6 percent
- GDP change over five years32.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes79th of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes944th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$39,247
Output grew 6.6 percent in the latest year and 32.4 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.
Walker County
Employment by industry in Walker County
- Covered employment, annual average26,314
- Establishments reporting1,166
- Average annual pay$52,613
- Average weekly wage$1,012
- Retail trade, employment2,945
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,014
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,402
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,367
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,985
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$48,467
- Manufacturing, employment1,406
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$63,327
- Construction, employment1,118
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment563
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,945 | 180 | $36,014 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,402 | 112 | $20,367 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,985 | 98 | $48,467 |
| Manufacturing | 1,406 | 56 | $63,327 |
| Construction | 1,118 | 116 | $75,390 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 563 | 100 | $52,879 |
| Finance and insurance | 396 | 66 | $58,810 |
| Other services, except public administration | 367 | 68 | $37,908 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,945 jobs, 11.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Walker County
How many businesses are in Walker County?
- Establishments, all industries1,113
- Employment at those establishments13,537
- Annual payroll$545.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents13.9
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.
Walker County
Building permits in Walker County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024829
- Declared construction value permitted$149.0 m
- Single family units authorized517
- Multifamily units authorized312
- Multifamily share of units37.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$179,781
- Units authorized per 1,000 households31.9
Single-family homes are 62.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Walker County
SBA loans in Walker County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded26
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$24.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$925,804
- Median 7(a) approval$459,000
- 10th percentile approval$137,500
- 90th percentile approval$2,447,500
- Largest single approval$3,072,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)309
- Jobs per approval11.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active21
- Distinct industries receiving approvals21
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer34.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter16
- Franchise loans8
- Franchise share of approvals30.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (4)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$8.5 m
- Average 504 approval$1,709,600
- Median 504 approval$1,004,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval18.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.5
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$32.6 m
The average approval of $925,804 sits well above the median of $459,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 34.6 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.
Walker County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Walker County
Do SBA loans in Walker County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure19
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 4 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.
Walker County
SBA lending by place in Walker County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Huntsville, approvals22
- New Waverly, approvals3
- Tx, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | 22 | $22,837,100 |
| New Waverly | 3 | $983,800 |
| Tx | 1 | $250,000 |
Huntsville accounts for 22 approvals against 3 in New Waverly. 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.
Walker County
How large is Walker County?
- Land area784 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties202nd of 254
- Width, east to west31.8 mi
- Height, north to south38.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land102
- Establishments per square mile1.42
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.
Walker County
Flood risk in Walker County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Walker County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 481042
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Walker 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 Walker County (community 481042), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Walker 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 Walker 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 Walker County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202480,209
- Households26,017
- Average household size3.08
- Median household income$52,324
- Median age37.6
Common questions
Walker County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Walker County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 83,722 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 80,209, in 26,017 households, ranking 50th of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Walker County's population growing?
The population has grown 9.57 percent since the 2020 census base of 76,408, to 83,722 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 721 births against 693 deaths, with net migration of 1,114. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Walker County?
$52,324. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $226,900, which is 4.3 times income, and median gross rent is $1,031 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Walker County?
1,113 establishments, employing 13,537 people with an annual payroll of $545.8 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 Walker County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,945 jobs, 11.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 26,314 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,613, or $1,012 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Walker County?
26 7(a) approvals totaling $24.1 m since FY2020, across 21 lenders, with a median approval of $459,000, plus 5 504 approvals worth $8.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Walker County?
829 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $149.0 m. Multifamily was 37.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Walker 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 Walker County come from?
The largest single origin is Montgomery County, with 592 households. Arriving households report an average income of $64,885 against $36,301 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Walker 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 Walker 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.
Walker County
Cities and places in Walker.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Walker County. All 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | city | 47,864 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| New Waverly | city | 955 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Riverside | city | 740 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 26 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Walker County, the largest being Tx (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