County profile · Texas
Wharton County, TX market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Wharton County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 42,060
- +1.2% since 2020
- Households
- 15,890
- Median household income
- $66,924
- +38.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $189,900
- Jobs located here
- 15,145
- Highest market score
- 78
- Lawn, cleaning and pest control, #89 of 1,771 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Wharton County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Wharton County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 42,060 people live in Wharton County, in 15,890 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Wharton County grew 1.2%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Wharton County is $66,924 a year, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 38.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Wharton County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (69).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Wharton County are for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (78); coffee shops and cafes (68); and pizza places (60). Wharton County ranks #89 of 1,771 scored counties for lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies.
Wharton County is part of the El Campo area. For its number of households, Wharton County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for spas and skin care studios (45% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Wharton County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Wharton County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 78 | #89 of 1,771 | 8 | 5.0 | $2.8M | 170 | 13 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 68 | #359 of 2,063 | 12 | 7.6 | $4.8M | 130 | 3 |
| Pizza | 60 | #633 of 2,090 | 9 | 5.7 | $6.4M | 126 | 31 |
| Roofing and gutters | 57 | #428 of 1,177 | 5 | 3.1 | $8.9M | 105 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 54 | #727 of 1,769 | 10 | 6.3 | $1.4M | 157 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 54 | #798 of 1,889 | 16 | 10.1 | $3.6M | 87 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 53 | #885 of 2,176 | 27 | 17.0 | Index only | 159 | 12 |
| Real estate | 51 | #1,038 of 2,229 | 34 | 21.4 | Index only | 159 | 21 |
| Auto repair shops | 50 | #1,196 of 2,378 | 38 | 23.9 | $402K | 90 | 12 |
| Insurance agencies | 47 | #1,215 of 2,272 | 27 | 17.0 | $1.6M | 124 | 25 |
| Pet businesses | 47 | #1,247 of 2,200 | 22 | 13.8 | $621K | 71 | 9 |
| Child care and preschools | 43 | #1,022 of 1,611 | 11 | 6.9 | $610K | 61 | 8 |
| Hair salons | 43 | #1,538 of 2,339 | 43 | 27.1 | $320K | 74 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 42 | #844 of 1,327 | 5 | 3.1 | $3.1M | 99 | 6 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 42 | #1,423 of 2,210 | 37 | 23.3 | $782K | 89 | 10 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 41 | #1,116 of 1,656 | 11 | 6.9 | $1.6M | 87 | 20 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 41 | #1,697 of 2,385 | 80 | 50.3 | $172K | 81 | 7 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #1,673 of 2,394 | 106 | 66.7 | $162K | 106 | 36 |
| Grocery stores | 39 | #1,407 of 2,070 | 17 | 10.7 | $5.5M | 59 | 7 |
| Veterinarians | 38 | #1,028 of 1,485 | 9 | 5.7 | $1.5M | 56 | 5 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 38 | #1,479 of 2,087 | 30 | 18.9 | $965K | 76 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 36 | #1,765 of 2,358 | 40 | 25.2 | $1.2M | 52 | 25 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 36 | #1,798 of 2,405 | 195 | 122.7 | $295K | 80 | 66 |
| Auto repair and car care | 36 | #1,818 of 2,401 | 76 | 47.8 | $201K | 75 | 23 |
| Electricians | 35 | #919 of 1,160 | 7 | 4.4 | $6.3M | 53 | 12 |
| Funeral homes | 35 | #1,113 of 1,472 | 9 | 5.7 | $265K | 39 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 34 | #1,414 of 1,707 | 20 | 12.6 | $2.2M | 47 | 14 |
| Home repair trades | 34 | #1,746 of 2,057 | 32 | 20.1 | $1.4M | 57 | 29 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 33 | #1,701 of 2,088 | 21 | 13.2 | $517K | 78 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 33 | #1,760 of 2,222 | 32 | 20.1 | $1.8M | 59 | 31 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 33 | #1,936 of 2,405 | 113 | 71.1 | $509K | 77 | 30 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 32 | #1,053 of 1,302 | 7 | 4.4 | $2.4M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 32 | #1,095 of 1,334 | 7 | 4.4 | $1.6M | 77 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | 31 | #1,240 of 1,530 | 16 | 10.1 | $954K | 38 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 30 | #1,641 of 1,886 | 21 | 13.2 | $816K | 83 | 13 |
| Barbershops | 28 | #1,141 of 1,356 | 11 | 6.9 | $1.3M | 66 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 27 | #1,567 of 1,792 | 14 | 8.8 | $775K | 60 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 27 | #2,052 of 2,402 | 56 | 35.2 | $1.7M | 49 | 20 |
| Chiropractors | 26 | #1,348 of 1,490 | 11 | 6.9 | $1.6M | 65 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 25 | #1,939 of 2,261 | 32 | 20.1 | $2.9M | 37 | 13 |
| Car washes and detailing | 24 | #1,324 of 1,451 | 11 | 6.9 | $1.4M | 55 | 4 |
| Nail salons | 21 | #1,232 of 1,328 | 15 | 9.4 | $917K | 55 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 16 | #461 of 479 | 5 | 3.1 | $3.1M | 22 | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | 14 | #495 of 507 | 5 | 3.1 | $5.8M | 37 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $5.7M | 56 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $3.4M | 134 | 4 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | $4.3M | 178 | 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.5 | Index only | 105 | 7 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.9 | $4.6M | 101 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $11.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | $11.4M | Too few | 13 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.6 | $28.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Wharton County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $15.3M | $961 | 100 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $49.2M | $3,093 | 119 |
| Food away from home | $57.6M | $3,623 | 89 |
| Groceries | $93.6M | $5,891 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $13.8M | $865 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.7M | $422 | 73 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.9M | $683 | 69 |
| Medical and dental services | $17.1M | $1,078 | 84 |
| Pets | $13.7M | $859 | 94 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $28.9M | $1,822 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $42.1M | $2,651 | 135 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $44.4M | $2,796 | 93 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $22.8M | $1,435 | 101 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $233.8M | $14,716 | 88 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Wharton County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 42,060+1.2% since 2020
- Households
- 15,890
- Median age
- 37.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 72%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 1,086 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 38
- Median household income
- $66,924+38.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $95,050
- Median home value
- $189,900
- Jobs located here
- 15,145
- Daytime population
- 34,718Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Wharton County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Wharton County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Wharton County, TX growing?
Population estimates put Wharton County at 42,060 people in 2025, up 1.2% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 15,890 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 38.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Wharton County, TX spend?
Households in Wharton County spend about $233.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $93.6M on groceries and $57.6M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Wharton County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 135, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (69).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Wharton County, TX?
Of the business types scored in Wharton County, lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (78); coffee shops and cafes (68); and pizza places (60) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies, that ranks #89 of 1,771 scored counties.
How does Wharton County, TX compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Wharton County is $66,924, 17% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.2% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $189,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (2.7 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for spas and skin care studios (45% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 44 of the 56 business types have a score in Wharton County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Wharton County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Wharton County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Wharton County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.