Waller County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Waller County, Texas had an estimated 65,109 residents on July 1, 2024, up 14.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 56,750, across 513 square miles. County output reached $6.17 bn in 2024, 1,082 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 69 7(a) approvals worth $69.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Waller County
How many people live in Waller County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202461,552
- Households18,342
- Average household size3.36
- Median household income$80,397
- Median age31.3
- Median gross rent$1,169 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$318,700
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher27.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over35,538
- Population under 1814,610
- Share under 1823.7 percent
- Population 65 and over7,143
- Share 65 and over11.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6439,799
- Civilian labor force29,810
- Unemployment rate6.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.5 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties58th of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included879th of 3,222
Waller County is the 58th largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.7 percent against 11.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Waller County
Is Waller County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202465,109
- Census 2020 base population56,750
- Population change since the 2020 census base14.73 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,173
- Births, 2024776
- Deaths, 2024426
- Natural change, 2024350
- Net domestic migration, 2024575
- Net international migration, 2024247
- Total net migration, 2024822
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20246,070
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents64th of 3,144
The county has grown 14.73 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.
Waller County
Where are people moving to Waller County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,541
- People arriving, from those returns5,375
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,888
- Net household movement653
- Adjusted gross income arriving$203.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$66.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$80,096
- Average income of a leaving household$72,415
- Largest single originHarris County (1,283 households)
- Largest single destinationHarris County (785 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 1,283 | 2,828 | $105.1 m |
| Fort Bend County | 245 | 548 | $26.3 m |
| Montgomery County | 146 | 308 | $9.6 m |
| Austin County | 59 | 104 | $3.3 m |
| Tarrant County | 27 | 54 | $1.5 m |
| Brazoria County | 25 | 55 | $1.5 m |
| Brazos County | 24 | 50 | $842,000 |
| Galveston County | 24 | 39 | $1.4 m |
Households arriving report $7,681 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.
Waller County
What is the Waller County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$6.17 bn
- County GDP, 2023$6.19 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-0.4 percent
- GDP change over five years72.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Texas areas BEA publishes49th of 254
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes637th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$100,209
Output grew -0.4 percent in the latest year and 72.1 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.
Waller County
Employment by industry in Waller County
- Covered employment, annual average26,681
- Establishments reporting1,144
- Average annual pay$61,149
- Average weekly wage$1,176
- Manufacturing, employment4,507
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$77,422
- Transportation and warehousing, employment3,847
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$52,803
- Wholesale trade, employment2,827
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$77,835
- Retail trade, employment2,685
- Retail trade, average annual pay$50,358
- Construction, employment1,712
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,158
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,507 | 116 | $77,422 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,847 | 47 | $52,803 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,827 | 113 | $77,835 |
| Retail trade | 2,685 | 113 | $50,358 |
| Construction | 1,712 | 145 | $74,875 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,158 | 64 | $28,285 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,098 | 59 | $35,984 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 845 | 66 | $71,755 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 4,507 jobs, 16.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Waller County
How many businesses are in Waller County?
- Establishments, all industries1,082
- Employment at those establishments18,058
- Annual payroll$1.03 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.6
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.
Waller County
Building permits in Waller County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024480
- Declared construction value permitted$108.7 m
- Single family units authorized368
- Multifamily units authorized112
- Multifamily share of units23.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$226,403
- Units authorized per 1,000 households26.2
Single-family homes are 76.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Waller County
SBA loans in Waller County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded69
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$69.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,008,991
- Median 7(a) approval$467,000
- 10th percentile approval$116,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,372,400
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)915
- Jobs per approval13.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active46
- Distinct industries receiving approvals52
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer34.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms24
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter38
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals17.4 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (5)
- 504 approvals recorded16
- 504 gross approval dollars$29.2 m
- Average 504 approval$1,822,000
- Median 504 approval$1,066,000
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval22.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.3
- Most active CDCCapital Certified Development Corporation (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$98.8 m
The average approval of $1,008,991 sits well above the median of $467,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 34.8 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.
Waller County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Waller County
Do SBA loans in Waller County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded6
- Paid in full5
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure50
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled7
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Only 6 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.
Waller County
SBA lending by place in Waller County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Brookshire, approvals24
- Hempstead, approvals16
- Waller, approvals12
- Katy, approvals7
- Hockley, approvals4
- Magnolia, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Brookshire | 24 | $30,247,900 |
| Hempstead | 16 | $13,189,000 |
| Waller | 12 | $17,254,700 |
| Katy | 7 | $3,897,000 |
| Hockley | 4 | $458,400 |
| Magnolia | 2 | $2,247,000 |
| Fulshear | 2 | $1,563,000 |
| Austin | 2 | $763,400 |
Brookshire accounts for 24 approvals against 16 in Hempstead. 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.
Waller County
How large is Waller County?
- Land area513 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties237th of 254
- Width, east to west23.2 mi
- Height, north to south35.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land120
- Establishments per square mile2.11
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.
Waller County
Flood risk in Waller County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Waller County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 480640
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate87.5 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Waller 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 Waller County (community 480640), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Waller 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. 87.5 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 Waller 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 Waller County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202461,552
- Households18,342
- Average household size3.36
- Median household income$80,397
- Median age31.3
Common questions
Waller County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Waller County, Texas?
The Census Bureau estimates 65,109 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 61,552, in 18,342 households, ranking 58th of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Waller County's population growing?
The population has grown 14.73 percent since the 2020 census base of 56,750, to 65,109 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 776 births against 426 deaths, with net migration of 822. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Waller County?
$80,397. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $318,700, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,169 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Waller County?
1,082 establishments, employing 18,058 people with an annual payroll of $1.03 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 Waller County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 4,507 jobs, 16.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 26,681 jobs at an average annual pay of $61,149, or $1,176 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Waller County?
69 7(a) approvals totaling $69.6 m since FY2020, across 46 lenders, with a median approval of $467,000, plus 16 504 approvals worth $29.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Waller County?
480 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $108.7 m. Multifamily was 23.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Waller 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 Waller County come from?
The largest single origin is Harris County, with 1,283 households. Arriving households report an average income of $80,096 against $72,415 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Waller 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 Waller 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.
Waller County
Cities and places in Waller.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Waller County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katy | city | 25,184 | 7 | 36.8 percent here, 33.8 percent Harris County, 29.4 percent Fort Bend County |
| Prairie View | city | 8,431 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hempstead | city | 6,137 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Brookshire | city | 5,495 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Waller | city | 3,108 | 12 | 59.9 percent here, 40.1 percent Harris County |
| Pine Island | town | 1,321 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pattison | city | 706 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 10 of the county's 69 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Waller County, the largest being Hockley (4), Magnolia (2), Fulshear (2). 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