Welcome to Wharton County, Texas.
Thinking about moving to, visiting, or opening a business in Wharton County? We built this site so you can make an informed decision — with citations. Everything in a “Fact” box is sourced to government data or reputable news. Everything in an “Our take” box is opinion, and we’ll tell you so.
The short version: the county seat lost its hospital for a year and a half, its school district carries a state “D,” it floods, and you’ll pay an above-average property-tax rate for the privilege.
Our take — opinion
Should You Move Here?
Schools rated D by the state, incomes about 80% of the Texas median, and an above-average property-tax rate. The sourced answer.
Should You Open a Business Here?
A flat population since 2010 and a county seat where a third of homes and buildings were damaged in Harvey.
Floods & the 25-Year Levee
The river kept its appointments; the levee didn't. Started 1998, ground broken 2023 — and still no completion announcement.
The Schools
Wharton ISD carries a state 'D' rating for 2024–25, with 'F' components at the high school and elementary levels.
Healthcare
The county seat's only hospital closed in 2016 and stayed closed for about 18 months. What that cost, and what's there now.
By the Numbers
Population, income, poverty, property taxes, school ratings, and crime — every figure cited, conflicting sources shown.
How this site works: blue boxes are cited facts from government or primary sources; gray boxes are third-party aggregator data (weaker — treat with caution); amber boxes are our opinion; green boxes are positive facts we include for fairness. The City of Wharton, Wharton County, and the school districts are separate entities — each page says which one is responsible for what.