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Wharton, Texas
Inside Wharton's city limits, shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 47% of mapped land, the 3rd-highest of 3 cities in Wharton County. A shallow water table limits basements on 8%, the 3rd-highest of 3 cities in Wharton County.
That clay share is below Wharton County's 68%. FEMA's flood data list 482 flood losses since 2016 in ZIP code 77488 overlapping the city. Of its 3,885 homes, 59% were built before 1980; the median dates from 1977.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources · in Wharton County
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
flood losses since 2016 in 1 overlapping ZIP
of homes built before 1980
Foundation repair in Wharton
Foundation repair in Wharton: shrink-swell clay limits slab homes on 47% of Wharton's mapped land, more than in 55% of Texas cities.
About 2,500 of Wharton's 3,885 homes are detached houses.
| Who designs the repair | The ASCE Texas Section's repair guidelines say a Texas-licensed engineer should evaluate the foundation and design the repair (2022 guidelines) |
| Prices | Cost guide ranges compared |
Soil under Wharton city limits
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 47.5% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 7.9% |
| Septic fields very limited | 82.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 10.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 47.5% |
| Mapped soil | 5,354 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: expansive clay |
|---|---|---|
| Norwood | 33% | n/a |
| Brazoria | 26% | n/a |
| Lake Charles | 15% | 97% |
| Asa | 7% | 0% |
| Edna | 4% | n/a |
| Clemville | 4% | n/a |
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 10.0% by land area here, and 47% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 47% of the mapped land.
Clay shrinks as it dries: 85.9% of Wharton County is in drought on the latest map, and 47% of Wharton's mapped land has shrink-swell clay.
USDA rates 83% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought in Wharton County
85.9% of Wharton County is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. County detail.
Flood losses by ZIP code
FEMA flood records since 2016 in the ZIP codes that overlap Wharton. ZIP areas reach past city limits.
| ZIP | Share of city land | Flood losses | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77488 | 100% | 482 | $30.0 million |
Homes in Wharton
| Housing units | 3,885 |
| Median year built | 1977 |
| Built before 1980 | 59% |
| Built 2000 or later | 19% |
| Owner-occupied | 54% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $149,400 |
| Single-family detached | 64% |
Nearby cities
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kendleton | 11 mi | 74% | 57% |
| El Campo | 13 mi | 86% | 32% |
| East Bernard | 14 mi | 74% | 36% |
| Beasley | 17 mi | 81% | 52% |
| Needville | 17 mi | 81% | 95% |
| Pleak | 21 mi | 80% | 58% |
| Fairchilds | 21 mi | 87% | 59% |
| Orchard | 21 mi | 37% | 69% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 5, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status