Stafford, Texas
Stafford is a city in Fort Bend County, on the southwestern side of the Houston metropolitan area just east of Sugar Land and about 15 miles west of downtown Houston. It sits on the flat coastal plain along the Southwest Freeway corridor and has developed into a dense mix of commercial, light-industrial, and residential development. The city grew from a small farming community into a compact suburban and industrial center along that corridor.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 18,043
- Change from 2020 base
- +3.6%
- Land area
- 7 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Fort Bend County and Harris County
Place type, county footprint, and land area use the Census Bureau's January 1, 2025 geography. Population uses Vintage 2025 estimates through July 1, 2025; change compares that estimate with the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Geography file | Population file
Stafford crosses county lines, so the appraisal district and tax office depend on the parcel address. School, city-limit, MUD, PID, and other special-district lines can be different too. Start with the full county list below instead of treating one county as the answer.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around Stafford
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Stafford.
County Origins
Fort Bend County was founded in 1837 and named for a bend in the Brazos River
Fort Bend County gets its name from a small cabin settlement built near a sharp curve in the Brazos River in the 1820s.
Property Tax Basics
Two offices handle your property tax in Fort Bend County
The appraisal district sets your home's value; the tax assessor-collector sends the bill and takes payment.
State Historic Site
San Jacinto's Battle Lasted 18 Minutes; Recognition Took Years
Sam Houston's army won a surprise victory in 18 minutes, but the agreements that followed were rejected and did not bring immediate Mexican recognition.
Nearby
Places near Stafford
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Stafford
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