Texas · GEOID 48185

Grimes County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 31,340 · 12,349 housing units

Median household income

$69,803

State $80,443

Median home value

$237,400

State $291,649

Median gross rent

$1,069

State $1,408

Homeownership rate

79.9%

State 62.6%

Renter cost-burden rate

44.9%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.4%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

7.2%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

17.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.40

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Grimes County	Texas
Population	31,340	30,188,424
Population density (per sq. mi.)	39.80	—
Median household income	$69,803	$80,443
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$89,500	—
Households	10,255	—
Average household size	2.71 people	—
Owner-occupied	79.9%	62.6%
Renter-occupied	20.1%	37.4%
Race	61.2% White · 11.4% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Grimes County compared with Texas.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

19.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 33.8%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	15.1%	$57,667	$1,442	$183,637
1 earner	35.7%	$70,732	$1,768	$232,269
2 earners	37.7%	$102,210	$2,555	$349,441
3+ earners	11.5%	$123,000	$3,075	$426,828

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

10,255

Average size: 2.71 people

Households with children

2,970

29.0% of households

Per-capita income

$32,583

Poverty rate: 12.1%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

79.9% owner-occupied vs. state average 62.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 71.5% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 5.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

25.6% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,997.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $237,400.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,069.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 2,094 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 6.3% · For rent 7.9% · Seasonal 45.2% · Other 27.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

27.2% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 72.8% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

7.7%

946 units of 12,349 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.7%

578 units of 12,349 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$55,842

100% MHI$69,803

120% MHI$83,764

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Grimes County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$50,150	$57,300	$71,600
100% AMI	$62,650	$71,600	$89,500
120% AMI	$75,200	$85,900	$107,400

HUD FMR Area: Grimes County, TX. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

44.9% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (20.0% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.4% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Grimes County.

Covered employment

6,096

Across 17 sectors

Establishments

547

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$61,294

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,502	$67,892	$221,698	−$15,702	$1,697
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	678	$67,824	$221,444	−$15,956	$1,696
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	674	$36,467	$104,723	−$132,677	$912
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	615	$21,505	$49,029	−$188,371	$538
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	428	$66,601	$216,892	−$20,508	$1,665
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	380	$68,142	$222,628	−$14,772	$1,704
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	378	$92,507	$313,323	+$75,923	$2,313
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	314	$76,602	$254,119	+$16,719	$1,915
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	270	$54,787	$172,916	−$64,484	$1,370
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	239	$115,324	$398,256	+$160,856	$2,883
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	186	$46,071	$140,472	−$96,928	$1,152
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	118	$46,697	$142,803	−$94,597	$1,167
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	114	$67,194	$219,099	−$18,301	$1,680
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	96	$46,191	$140,919	−$96,481	$1,155
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	42	$36,132	$103,476	−$133,924	$903
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	40	$48,842	$150,787	−$86,613	$1,221
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	22	$112,205	$386,646	+$149,246	$2,805

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	915	$74,155	$245,011	+$7,611	$1,854
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	552	$21,074	$47,425	−$189,975	$527
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	376	$65,871	$214,175	−$23,225	$1,647
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	314	$76,602	$254,119	+$16,719	$1,915
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	240	$51,584	$160,994	−$76,406	$1,290
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	239	$115,324	$398,256	+$160,856	$2,883
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	209	$69,397	$227,300	−$10,100	$1,735
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	194	$53,077	$166,551	−$70,849	$1,327
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	190	$75,577	$250,304	+$12,904	$1,889
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	172	$30,262	$81,626	−$155,774	$757
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	139	$35,750	$102,054	−$135,346	$894
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	138	$24,638	$60,691	−$176,709	$616
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	127	$90,404	$305,495	+$68,095	$2,260
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	120	$61,556	$198,113	−$39,287	$1,539
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	105	$43,143	$129,573	−$107,827	$1,079
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	96	$35,908	$102,642	−$134,758	$898
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	95	$66,147	$215,202	−$22,198	$1,654
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	92	$72,971	$240,603	+$3,203	$1,824
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	88	$42,396	$126,793	−$110,607	$1,060
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	86	$52,835	$165,650	−$71,750	$1,321
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	83	$29,922	$80,360	−$157,040	$748
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	76	$64,882	$210,493	−$26,907	$1,622
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	71	$60,895	$195,652	−$41,748	$1,522
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	63	$25,282	$63,089	−$174,311	$632
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	60	$79,111	$263,458	+$26,058	$1,978
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	58	$65,926	$214,379	−$23,021	$1,648
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	46	$78,260	$260,291	+$22,891	$1,957
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	30	$14,250	$22,024	−$215,376	$356
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	29	$20,652	$45,854	−$191,546	$516
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	24	$32,320	$89,287	−$148,113	$808
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	22	$112,205	$386,646	+$149,246	$2,805
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	17	$33,675	$94,330	−$143,070	$842
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	10	$66,495	$216,497	−$20,903	$1,662
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	6	$23,178	$55,257	−$182,143	$579

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	380	(390)	(51%)	$12.49	$25,980	$65,687	$650
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	7,490	1,600	27%	$12.53	$26,060	$65,985	$652
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	5,170	(1,380)	(21%)	$13.76	$28,620	$75,514	$716
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	2,960	(260)	(8%)	$13.93	$28,970	$76,817	$724
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,480	230	10%	$15.85	$32,970	$91,706	$824
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	5,480	(850)	(13%)	$15.91	$33,080	$92,115	$827
Tellers SOC 43-3071	660	(700)	(51%)	$17.32	$36,030	$103,096	$901
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,040	(1,510)	(43%)	$17.57	$36,550	$105,032	$914
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	3,880	—	—	$18.95	$39,420	$115,715	$986
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	3,500	140	4%	$19.81	$41,210	$122,378	$1,030
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,820	550	24%	$21.51	$44,740	$135,518	$1,119
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	420	(100)	(19%)	$21.89	$45,540	$138,496	$1,139
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	490	(20)	(4%)	$22.32	$46,430	$141,809	$1,161
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,200	(850)	(21%)	$24.60	$51,170	$159,453	$1,279
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	310	(410)	(57%)	$24.73	$51,430	$160,420	$1,286
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	900	450	100%	$25.86	$53,790	$169,205	$1,345
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,140	220	24%	$26.52	$55,170	$174,342	$1,379
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,820	(1,150)	(39%)	—	$56,950	$180,968	$1,424
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,210	(120)	(9%)	$30.81	$64,090	$207,545	$1,602
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	3,150	40	1%	$43.03	$89,510	$302,167	$2,238

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 48185 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.