Wharton, Texas
Wharton is a city in Wharton County, in the Houston / Upper Gulf Coast region, about 35 miles southwest of Sugar Land and roughly 53 miles from Houston. It sits on the Colorado River amid the flat coastal prairie and farmland of the region, an area long associated with cotton, rice, and other row-crop agriculture. The city was the hometown of the playwright Horton Foote, whose work drew on the small-town Texas Gulf Coast.
Property here runs through the Wharton Central Appraisal District and the county tax office — the homestead exemption, the appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level. The Wharton County notes below cover the practical details, with the official county directory for the appraisal district and tax office.
Wharton County notes
What to know around Wharton
Property Tax
Who Sets Your Property Value in Wharton County
On East Milam Street, two offices face each other across the road. One decides what your property is worth, the other sends the bill.
Homestead Exemption
How to Lower Your Property Tax Bill With a Homestead Exemption
Texas homeowners can cut their school property tax bill by filing a homestead exemption — but you have to apply for it yourself.
Flood Risk
The Colorado River Floods — and Wharton County Has a Long History of It
The Colorado River cuts through Wharton County, and its floodplain puts many homes at serious flood risk.
Groundwater & Water Wells
Wharton County Has Its Own Groundwater District for Water Wells
The Coastal Bend Groundwater Conservation District regulates water wells in Wharton County and draws from the Gulf Coast Aquifer.
Mineral Rights & Oil/Gas
Oil and Gas Is Part of Wharton County's History — and Still Active
Oil production began in Wharton County in 1925 and continues today; if you buy land, check whether mineral rights are included.
Fishing Access
Fishing the Colorado River in Wharton County
The Colorado River runs through Wharton County and offers bank fishing, with TPWD maintaining leased public access points on the river.
Nearby
Places near Wharton
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Fort Bend County
58 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Colorado County
6 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Matagorda County
12 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Jackson County
7 local notes · Gulf Coast / Coastal Bend
Brazoria County
39 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Austin County
6 local notes · Houston / Upper Gulf Coast
Next steps for Wharton
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Model school and local rates, the homestead exemption, and the appraisal cap.
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