Cottonwood Shores, TX

This city of 1,721 residents needs 170 more housing units over the next five years. Cottonwood Shores is part of the Capital Area MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
1,721 (2026)
Households
629
Median household income
$78,493 (2026)
Typical home value
$634,669
Owner-occupied
64%
Five-year housing need
170 units

Comparison to other Texas municipalities

Cottonwood Shores: $78,493 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$23K >$162K
Cottonwood Shores: 0.32 jobs to household ratio
<0 >2.52
Cottonwood Shores: Permits since 2021 represent 19.0% of housing
<0% >28%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

The typical home in Cottonwood Shores, TX is valued at $634,669, well above the Texas average of $245,578. With a median household income of $78,493 in Cottonwood Shores, TX, the typical home is far out of reach for most households, requiring roughly $87,470 more in annual income to afford.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Cottonwood Shores, TX has a population of roughly 1,859, growing steadily at 2.7% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Cottonwood Shores, TX is a growing community of roughly 629 households, with population increasing at 2.7% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Cottonwood Shores, TX is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 81% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Cottonwood Shores, TX, with 64% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Cottonwood Shores, TX needs 170 new units over the next 5 years.

74
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
11.8%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 629 in 2026 to 703 in 2031.
96
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
6
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.8 per 1,000 units.
7
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
3
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 6.0%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
69
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 14.8%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
11
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 2.77%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
170
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
34
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
24.8%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
5.0%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?