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Buying land in Wharton County, Texas: what to check

Wharton County covers 1,086 square miles of land and 8 of water in Texas, with about 42,035 residents in 2024 (up 1.1% since 2020). The 2020 Census counted 99% of its land as rural and 53% of residents as living in urban areas. Farms operate 80% of the county's land. Below: how much of Wharton County floods, what its soils allow, what farmland is worth and how often it's in drought, from free public data with every source linked.

Check a location in Wharton CountySee a sample report

Wharton County at a glance

In the 100-year floodplain

23%

Above the state's county median (2.4%)

FEMA National Risk Index

Hydric (wetland-type) soils

5.1%

Above the state's county median (under 1%)

USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)

Soils very limited for septic

98%

USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)

Farm land value, 2022

$4,064/acre

Above the state's county median ($2,782)

USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture

Weeks in severe drought

24%

Share of weekly maps, 2021–2026

U.S. Drought Monitor county statistics

Land classed rural

99%

Census 2020 Census urban and rural classification

What to check before buying land in Wharton County

Ordered by what Wharton County's numbers point to. Every parcel differs, so treat this as where to look first.

  1. 1.Budget for a perc test and maybe an engineered septic

    USDA rates 98% of Wharton County's mapped soils "very limited" for conventional septic absorption fields and 0% "not limited".

    Without city sewer you need a septic permit from the county or state health department. Make the offer contingent on a passing soil or perc test; mound and aerobic systems can cost several times a conventional one.

    Guide: Perc tests and septic systems

  2. 2.Put flood checks first in Wharton County

    23% of the county's area is in the 1%-annual-chance (100-year) floodplain FEMA's National Risk Index uses for inland flooding; under 1% is exposed to coastal flooding; 3.5% of its mapped soils flood occasionally or frequently.

    Look up the FEMA flood zone at the pin, not the parcel's address. If any of the land is in zone A or V, price flood insurance before you offer, ask for an elevation certificate, and check whether the access road floods too.

    Guide: Flood zones before buying land

  3. 3.Find out where the water comes from

    At least half of Wharton County was in severe drought (D2) or worse in 24% of the 262 weekly U.S. Drought Monitor maps from 2021 to 2026. Texas allocates water by permit or water right, so a well or pond isn't automatic.

    Ask whether the land has a public water connection, an existing well (and its log and yield), or neighbors' well depths from the state well database. For a new well, check permits and typical depth with the state agency first.

    Guide: Wells, public water and water rights

  4. 4.Confirm legal road access and power

    The 2020 Census classified 99% of Wharton County's land area as rural.

    Rural tracts are often sold without recorded access or a power line nearby. Get the title company to confirm a recorded easement or public road frontage, and ask the electric co-op what a line extension costs.

    Guide: Road access and landlocked land

  5. 5.Check the soils if you plan to farm, graze or garden

    Farm real estate in Wharton County averaged $4,064 an acre including buildings in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, and 87% of its mapped soils are prime or of statewide importance.

    Compare the asking price with recent sales of similar tracts, not the county average, which mixes cropland, pasture, timber and homesites. If an ag tax valuation applies, ask what the rollback taxes would be if you change the use.

    Guide: Land due diligence checklist

  6. 6.Check wildfire exposure and insurance

    FEMA rates Wharton County's wildfire risk very low, and 15% of the county's area is in the wildfire exposure zone the National Risk Index uses.

    Ask an insurer for a quote early; some carriers won't write new policies in high-hazard areas. Check access for fire trucks, nearby fire stations and the vegetation around the building site.

    Guide: Wildfire risk for rural land

Flood zones, wetlands and water in Wharton County

Area in the 1%-annual-chance (100-year) floodplain
23%, 8th highest of 254 in Texas FEMA National Risk Index
Area exposed to coastal flooding
under 1% FEMA National Risk Index
Mapped soils that flood occasionally or frequently
3.5% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)
Hydric soils (a federal wetland indicator)
5.1% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)
Poorly or very poorly drained soils
under 1% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)
Surface water (lakes, rivers, reservoirs)
8 sq mi Census 2024 Gazetteer Files
Drought on 2026-10-27
86% moderate or worse, 0% severe or worse U.S. Drought Monitor county statistics

The floodplain share is the area FEMA's National Risk Index counts as exposed to inland flooding, mostly mapped 100-year flood zones. It says how common flood-prone land is in Wharton County, not whether a given parcel floods. For that, look up the zone at your exact point on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center or run the free check.

Soils and terrain

Prime farmland
58% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)
Farmland of statewide importance
29% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)
Average slope over 15%
0% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)
Very limited for septic absorption fields
98% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)
Not limited for septic absorption fields
0% USDA NRCS Web Soil Survey (SSURGO)

Shares of Wharton County's soil-surveyed land (about 696,380 acres, open water excluded), using each map unit's dominant condition in USDA's SSURGO soil survey. Soils change within a few hundred feet, so the soil at your building site is what matters.

Farms and land use

Farms (2022)
1,472 USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Share of the county's land in farms
80% USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Average farm size
376 acres (median 69) USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Average value of land and buildings
$4,064 per acre, 74th highest of 254 in Texas USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Cropland
364,166 acres USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Pasture and rangeland
201,395 acres USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Woodland on farms
25,317 acres USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture
Irrigated land
106,823 acres USDA NASS, 2022 Census of Agriculture

Natural hazard ratings

FEMA's National Risk Index rates each hazard for Wharton County relative to every other U.S. county. Overall risk: Relatively Moderate.

  • DroughtRelatively High
  • HurricaneRelatively High
  • HailRelatively Moderate
  • LightningRelatively Moderate
  • TornadoRelatively Moderate
  • Heat waveRelatively Low
  • River and inland floodingRelatively Low
  • Strong windRelatively Low
  • Winter weatherRelatively Low
  • EarthquakeVery Low
  • LandslideVery Low
  • WildfireVery Low

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025

Questions about buying land in Wharton County

How much of Wharton County, TX is in a flood zone?

About 23% of Wharton County's area is in the 1%-annual-chance (100-year) floodplain used by FEMA's National Risk Index (December 2025), 8th highest of 254 counties in Texas. Another under 1% is exposed to coastal flooding. Whether a given parcel is in a flood zone depends on its exact location, so check the FEMA map at your pin.

How much does land cost per acre in Wharton County?

The 2022 Census of Agriculture put the average value of farm land and buildings in Wharton County at $4,064 an acre, 74th highest of 254 counties in Texas (the median Texas county was $2,782). It's a self-reported average across farms, so small homesites and recreational tracts often sell for more per acre.

Will a septic system work on land in Wharton County?

Often, but test first. USDA soil surveys rate 98% of Wharton County's mapped soils very limited for conventional septic absorption fields, usually because of wetness, slow permeability, shallow rock or flooding. A perc or soil test on the parcel decides what system the health department will permit.

Is there good farmland in Wharton County?

58% of Wharton County's mapped soils are prime farmland, 0% are prime only if drained, irrigated or protected from flooding, and 29% are farmland of statewide importance (USDA SSURGO). The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 1,472 farms averaging 376 acres.

How often is Wharton County in drought?

Since 2021, at least half of the county was in severe drought or worse in 24% of weekly U.S. Drought Monitor maps, and in extreme drought in 11%. On 2026-10-27, 86% of the county was in moderate drought or worse.

Can I check a specific property in Wharton County?

Yes. Enter the address or drop a pin anywhere in Wharton County on the free check. It shows which checks return data at that exact point, and the full report costs $29: flood zone, slope, soils, wetlands, roads, power lines, wildfire and more, each with its source. It is a screen of public maps, not a survey, title search or perc test.

Check the parcel, not just the county

County numbers tell you what to look for. The free check looks at your exact point in Wharton County: flood zone, slope, soils, wetlands, roads, power and more. The full report is $29.

Check a location in Wharton County

What these numbers can't tell you

  • County shares describe Wharton County as a whole; a parcel can be entirely in or out of a flood zone, wetland or poor soil.
  • It doesn't look at the whole parcel, its boundaries, title, easements, zoning or permits.
  • It isn't a survey, appraisal, elevation certificate, soil or perc test, or Phase I environmental site assessment.
  • It can't see local distribution power lines, driveways, legal access, wells or mineral rights.
  • Maps lag behind the ground, and distances are straight-line, not driving distance.

Sources and vintages

Summarized per county by our build script on 2026-10-31. County figures cover the whole county; checks on the report are at your point.