Jefferson County, Texas: commercial real estate data.
Jefferson County, Texas has a population of 253,878 across 876 square miles, down 1.0 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $27.10 bn in 2024, 5,710 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 146 7(a) approvals worth $162.9 m.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Jefferson County
How many people live in Jefferson County
- Population253,878
- Households94,807
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$60,026
- Median age37.0
- Median gross rent$1,117 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$169,500
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over169,590
- Population under 1862,480
- Share under 1824.6 percent
- Population 65 and over39,263
- Share 65 and over15.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64152,135
- Civilian labor force110,898
- Unemployment rate6.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.9 percent
- Rank by population among Texas counties22nd of 254
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents283rd
Jefferson County is the 22nd largest of 254 Texas counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.6 percent against 15.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jefferson County
Is Jefferson County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.01 percent
- Census 2020 base population256,543
- Births, 20243,251
- Deaths, 20242,631
- Natural change, 2024620
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,461
- Net international migration, 20241,378
- Total net migration, 2024-83
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-7,375
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2193rd
The county has lost 1.01 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 but more people left than arrived, so the population is being sustained internally rather than attracting.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jefferson County
Where people moving to Jefferson County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,758
- People arriving, from those returns8,688
- Adjusted gross income arriving$244.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$51,375
- Largest single originJefferson County Non-migrants (83,676 households)
- Largest single destination (83,676 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Non-migrants | 83,676 | 173,942 | $6.06 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 1,234 | 2,338 | $69.7 m |
| Harris County | 785 | 1,489 | $38.5 m |
| Other flows - South | 658 | 1,237 | $34.8 m |
| Orange County | 527 | 977 | $26.6 m |
| Other flows - Same State | 452 | 748 | $20.1 m |
| Hardin County | 411 | 772 | $23.5 m |
| Other flows - West | 279 | 551 | $19.7 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Jefferson County Non-migrants, 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.
Jefferson County
What the Jefferson County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$27.10 bn
- County GDP, 2023$25.20 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.6 percent
- GDP change over five years62.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among Texas counties15th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents210th
- GDP per resident$106,753
Output grew 7.6 percent in the latest year and 62.2 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.
Jefferson County
Who employs people in Jefferson County
- Covered employment, annual average124,861
- Establishments reporting5,839
- Average annual pay$69,970
- Average weekly wage$1,346
- Sector 23, employment17,873
- Sector 23, average annual pay$89,042
- Sector 62, employment17,414
- Sector 62, average annual pay$52,358
- Sector 31-33, employment16,044
- Sector 31-33, average annual pay$120,636
- Sector 44-45, employment12,792
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$38,757
- Sector 72, employment11,041
- Sector 56, employment6,065
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 23 | 17,873 | 450 | $89,042 |
| Sector 62 | 17,414 | 856 | $52,358 |
| Sector 31-33 | 16,044 | 236 | $120,636 |
| Sector 44-45 | 12,792 | 908 | $38,757 |
| Sector 72 | 11,041 | 533 | $23,401 |
| Sector 56 | 6,065 | 320 | $57,371 |
| Sector 54 | 5,322 | 518 | $101,059 |
| Sector 48-49 | 4,849 | 235 | $73,700 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 17,873 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job exceeds median household income, which usually means single earner households and a wage base that can carry rent.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jefferson County
What businesses operate in Jefferson County
- Establishments, all industries5,710
- Employment at those establishments105,009
- Annual payroll$6.44 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Jefferson County
What is being built in Jefferson County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024356
- Declared construction value permitted$108.1 m
- Single family units authorised336
- Multifamily units authorised20
- Multifamily share of units5.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$303,728
- Units authorised per 1,000 households3.8
Multifamily is 5.6 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is predominantly for sale product.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Jefferson County
How much SBA lending happens in Jefferson County
- 7(a) approvals recorded146
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$162.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,115,561
- Median 7(a) approval$599,000
- 10th percentile approval$43,800
- 90th percentile approval$3,159,100
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,750
- Jobs per approval12.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active54
- Distinct industries receiving approvals70
- Median 7(a) term126 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer38.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms56
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter67
- Franchise loans36
- Franchise share of approvals24.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (11)
- Most active lenderLive Oak Banking Company (9)
- 504 approvals recorded43
- 504 gross approval dollars$38.3 m
- Average 504 approval$890,047
- Median 504 approval$547,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval10.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.0
- Most active CDCSoutheast Texas Economic Development Foundation (19)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals77.2 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$201.1 m
The average approval of $1,115,561 sits well above the median of $599,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. 38.4 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.
Jefferson County
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded31
- Paid in full29
- Charged off2
- Charge off rate on resolved loans6.5 percent
- Status: Paid in full29
- Status: Exempt from disclosure94
- Status: Cancelled16
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed5
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 6.5 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jefferson County
Which parts of Jefferson County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending8
- Beaumont, approvals91
- PORT ARTHUR, approvals24
- Nederland, approvals15
- Groves, approvals9
- Port Neches, approvals3
- HAMSHIRE, approvals2
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont | 91 | $98,916,600 |
| PORT ARTHUR | 24 | $36,388,600 |
| Nederland | 15 | $15,808,500 |
| Groves | 9 | $6,268,200 |
| Port Neches | 3 | $957,000 |
| HAMSHIRE | 2 | $1,485,000 |
| FREMONT | 1 | $2,748,000 |
| Houston | 1 | $300,000 |
Beaumont accounts for 91 approvals against 24 in PORT ARTHUR. 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.
Jefferson County
How big is Jefferson County
- Land area876 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Texas counties174th of 254
- Width, east to west36.4 mi
- Height, north to south43.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land290
- Establishments per square mile6.52
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.
Jefferson County
What hazards affect Jefferson County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book10
- Of those, participating in the NFIP10
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class4
The EPA places the county in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Jefferson 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 Jefferson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population253,878
- Households94,807
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$60,026
- Median age37.0
Common questions
Jefferson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jefferson County, Texas?
253,878, in 94,807 households, ranking 22nd of 254 Texas counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jefferson County growing?
The population has fallen 1.01 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 3,251 births against 2,631 deaths, with net migration of -83. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
$60,026. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,500, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,117 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Jefferson County?
5,710 establishments, employing 105,009 people with an annual payroll of $6.44 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Jefferson County?
Average annual pay is $69,970, or $1,346 a week, across 124,861 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jefferson County?
146 7(a) approvals totalling $162.9 m since FY2020, across 54 lenders, with a median approval of $599,000, plus 43 504 approvals worth $38.3 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back?
Of the 31 loans that have reached a final outcome, 29 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge off rate of 6.5 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Jefferson County?
356 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $108.1 m. Multifamily was 5.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County come from?
The largest single origin is Jefferson County Non-migrants, with 83,676 households. Arriving households report an average income of $51,375 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.