# Foundation soil risk by city

Source: https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/data/foundation-soil-risk
Updated: 2026-11-02
Publisher: FoundationRepairHQ (independent homeowner guides, not a contractor)

Original dataset: USDA soil survey shrink-swell data, NOAA climate normals and Census housing age for the 50 US cities FoundationRepairHQ covers.
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Downloads: CSV https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/data/foundation-soil-risk.csv · JSON https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/data/foundation-soil-risk.json

## Short answer

36 of the 50 cities have at least one commonly mapped soil series with high or very high shrink-swell potential in the USDA soil survey (22 very high, 14 high; linear extensibility of 6% or more). Texas accounts for 21 of those 36: 21 of its 25 cities in the table. Every city listed in Louisiana and Missouri also reaches the high class. The highest linear extensibility recorded is 20.2% (Allemands, New Orleans), 19.8% (Sharkey, Baton Rouge), 18.7% (Victoria, Corpus Christi); 17 cities have a mapped series at 17% or more. 14 cities have no high-class soil among their most-mapped series, while in Frisco, Round Rock, Temple, Houston and Beaumont all 4 are high or very high. In 23 cities the median home was built before 1980 (Census ACS 2022); 17 of them are high-shrink-swell cities.

## Data

| City | State | Dominant soil series | Shrink-swell class | Max LEP | Clay (max) | Drainage | Frost days (min ≤ 32°F) | Annual precipitation | NOAA station | Median year built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [New Orleans](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/new-orleans-la) | LA | Cancienne (19%) | Very High | 20.2% (Allemands) | 94% | Somewhat poorly drained | 5 | 63.4 in | USW00012916 (NEW ORLEANS INTL AP, LA US) | 1958 |
| [Baton Rouge](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/baton-rouge-la) | LA | Sharkey (15%) | Very High | 19.8% (Sharkey) | 84% | Poorly drained | 18 | 61.9 in | USW00013970 (BATON ROUGE RYAN AP, LA US) | 1975 |
| [Corpus Christi](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/corpus-christi-tx) | TX | Victoria (11%) | Very High | 18.7% (Victoria) | 61% | Well drained | 4 | 31.7 in | USW00012924 (CORPUS CHRISTI, TX US) | 1980 |
| [Austin](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/austin-tx) | TX | Eckrant (6%) | Very High | 17% (Heiden) | 55% | Well drained | 12 | 36.3 in | USW00013958 (AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY, TX US) | 1991 |
| [Frisco](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/frisco-tx) | TX | Altoga (6%) | Very High | 17% (Heiden) | 55% | Well drained | 23 | 38.3 in | USW00013960 (DALLAS LOVE FLD, TX US) | 2008 |
| [Georgetown](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/georgetown-tx) | TX | Houston Black (9%) | Very High | 17% (Heiden) | 55% | Moderately well drained | 12 | 36.3 in | USW00013958 (AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY, TX US) | 2005 |
| [Jackson](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/jackson-ms) | MS | Providence (16%) | Very High | 17% (Byram) | 60% | Moderately well drained | 40 | 57.4 in | USW00003940 (JACKSON INTL AP, MS US) | 1970 |
| [Laredo](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/laredo-tx) | TX | Catarina (12%) | Very High | 17% (Catarina) | 51% | Moderately well drained | 5 | 19.7 in | USC00415060 (LAREDO 2, TX US) | 1995 |
| [McKinney](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/mckinney-tx) | TX | Houston Black (10%) | Very High | 17% (Houston Black) | 55% | Moderately well drained | 48 | 38.3 in | USW00053914 (MCKINNEY MUNI AP, TX US) | 2006 |
| [Memphis](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/memphis-tn) | TN | Grenada (12%) | Very High | 17% (Sharkey) | 75% | Moderately well drained | 44 | 54.9 in | USW00013893 (MEMPHIS INTL AP, TN US) | 1970 |
| [Plano](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/plano-tx) | TX | Eddy (11%) | Very High | 17% (Heiden) | 54% | Well drained | 23 | 38.3 in | USW00013960 (DALLAS LOVE FLD, TX US) | 1993 |
| [Round Rock](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/round-rock-tx) | TX | Heiden (9%) | Very High | 17% (Heiden) | 55% | Well drained | 12 | 36.3 in | USW00013958 (AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY, TX US) | 2001 |
| [San Antonio](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/san-antonio-tx) | TX | Houston Black (8%) | Very High | 17% (Houston Black) | 55% | Moderately well drained | 14 | 32.4 in | USW00012921 (SAN ANTONIO INTL AP, TX US) | 1983 |
| [Shreveport](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/shreveport-la) | LA | Moreland (11%) | Very High | 17% (Moreland) | 69% | Somewhat poorly drained | 30 | 51.4 in | USW00013957 (SHREVEPORT, LA US) | 1973 |
| [St. Louis](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/st-louis-mo) | MO | Menfro (16%) | Very High | 17% (Darwin) | 52% | Well drained | 85 | 41.7 in | USW00013994 (ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL AP, MO US) | 1938 |
| [Temple](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/temple-tx) | TX | Heiden (11%) | Very High | 17% (Heiden) | 55% | Well drained | 33 | 37 in | USC00418646 (STILLHOUSE HOLLOW DAM, TX US) | 1988 |
| [Waco](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/waco-tx) | TX | Weswood (7%) | Very High | 17% (Heiden) | 68% | Well drained | 34 | 36.4 in | USW00013959 (WACO RGNL AP, TX US) | 1976 |
| [Houston](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/houston-tx) | TX | Bernard (11%) | Very High | 13.6% (Lake Charles) | 61% | Somewhat poorly drained | 4 | 55.6 in | USW00012918 (HOUSTON HOBBY AP, TX US) | 1980 |
| [Kansas City](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/kansas-city-mo) | MO | Knox (14%) | Very High | 11% (Snead) | 61% | Well drained | 93 | 38.1 in | USW00013988 (KANSAS CITY DOWNTOWN AP, MO US) | 1968 |
| [Nashville](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/nashville-tn) | TN | Mimosa (15%) | Very High | 9.2% (Mimosa) | 61% | Well drained | 66 | 50.5 in | USW00013897 (NASHVILLE INTL AP, TN US) | 1984 |
| [Springfield](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/springfield-mo) | MO | Goss (13%) | Very High | 9.2% (Goss) | 70% | Well drained | 95 | 44.7 in | USW00013995 (SPRINGFIELD, MO US) | 1976 |
| [Beaumont](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/beaumont-tx) | TX | Evadale (6%) | Very High | 9% (Evadale) | 55% | Poorly drained | 8 | 62.1 in | USW00012917 (PORT ARTHUR SE TX AP, TX US) | 1977 |
| [Arlington](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/arlington-tx) | TX | Frio (4%) | High | 8.3% (Frio) | 48% | Well drained | 29 | 37 in | USW00003927 (DALLAS FT WORTH AP, TX US) | 1984 |
| [Denver](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/denver-co) | CO | Elyria (7%) | High | 8.3% (Denver) | 50% | Well drained | 156 | 15.4 in | USW00023062 (DENVER-STAPLETON, CO US) | 1972 |
| [Tulsa](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/tulsa-ok) | OK | Dennis (5%) | High | 8.2% (Niotaze) | 45% | Somewhat poorly drained | 72 | 41 in | USW00013968 (TULSA INTL AP, OK US) | 1972 |
| [Raleigh](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/raleigh-nc) | NC | Wedowee (7%) | High | 8% (Creedmoor) | 53% | Well drained | 65 | 46.1 in | USW00013722 (RALEIGH DURHAM INTL AP, NC US) | 1995 |
| [Amarillo](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/amarillo-tx) | TX | Olton (7%) | High | 7.8% (Pullman) | 48% | Well drained | 108 | 19.7 in | USW00023047 (AMARILLO, TX US) | 1972 |
| [Abilene](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/abilene-tx) | TX | Rowena (7%) | High | 7.5% (Rowena) | 43% | Well drained | 48 | 25.2 in | USW00013962 (ABILENE RGNL AP, TX US) | 1974 |
| [Birmingham](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/birmingham-al) | AL | Nauvoo (19%) | High | 7.5% (Tupelo) | 55% | Well drained | 47 | 56.6 in | USW00013876 (BIRMINGHAM AP, AL US) | 1965 |
| [Dallas](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/dallas-tx) | TX | Eddy (7%) | High | 7.5% (Lewisville) | 46% | Well drained | 23 | 38.3 in | USW00013960 (DALLAS LOVE FLD, TX US) | 1979 |
| [Denton](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/denton-tx) | TX | Navo (5%) | High | 7.5% (Navo) | 45% | Moderately well drained | 29 | 37 in | USW00003927 (DALLAS FT WORTH AP, TX US) | 1992 |
| [El Paso](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/el-paso-tx) | TX | Harkey (9%) | High | 7.5% (Glendale) | 45% | Well drained | 42 | 8.8 in | USW00023044 (EL PASO INTL AP, TX US) | 1983 |
| [Fort Worth](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/fort-worth-tx) | TX | Gasil (5%) | High | 7.5% (Ovan) | 48% | Well drained | 33 | 35.3 in | USW00013961 (FT WORTH MEACHAM FLD, TX US) | 1990 |
| [Killeen](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/killeen-tx) | TX | Lewisville (8%) | High | 7.5% (Lewisville) | 50% | Well drained | 31 | 34.8 in | USC00414792 (KILLEEN, TX US) | 1994 |
| [Little Rock](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/little-rock-ar) | AR | Carnasaw (10%) | High | 7.5% (Carnasaw) | 53% | Well drained | 50 | 50.4 in | USW00013963 (LITTLE ROCK AP ADAMS FLD, AR US) | 1978 |
| [Phoenix](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/phoenix-az) | AZ | Antho (7%) | High | 7.5% (Gilman) | 33% | Somewhat excessively drained | 1 | 7.2 in | USW00023183 (PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL AP, AZ US) | 1984 |
| [Oklahoma City](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/oklahoma-city-ok) | OK | Teller (5%) | Moderate | 5.3% (Norge) | 41% | Well drained | 72 | 36.4 in | USW00013967 (OKLAHOMA CITY WILL ROGERS AP, OK US) | 1981 |
| [Charlotte](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/charlotte-nc) | NC | Cecil (14%) | Moderate | 5% (Mecklenburg) | 55% | Well drained | 58 | 43.6 in | USW00013881 (CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC US) | 1993 |
| [Indianapolis](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/indianapolis-in) | IN | Miami (27%) | Moderate | 4.5% (Miami) | 40% | Moderately well drained | 106 | 43.6 in | USW00093819 (INDIANAPOLIS, IN US) | 1971 |
| [Knoxville](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/knoxville-tn) | TN | Dewey (10%) | Moderate | 4.5% (Dewey) | 69% | Well drained | 67 | 51.9 in | USW00013891 (KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON AP, TN US) | 1973 |
| [Lubbock](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/lubbock-tx) | TX | Posey (10%) | Moderate | 4.5% (Bippus) | 34% | Well drained | 84 | 18.3 in | USW00023042 (LUBBOCK, TX US) | 1982 |
| [Odessa](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/odessa-tx) | TX | Kimbrough (9%) | Moderate | 4.5% (Reagan) | 40% | Well drained | 58 | 13.5 in | USW00023023 (MIDLAND ODESSA, TX US) | 1977 |
| [Tampa](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/tampa-fl) | FL | Myakka (6%) | Moderate | 4.5% (Chobee) | 28% | Poorly drained | 1 | 49.5 in | USW00012842 (TAMPA INTL AP, FL US) | 1983 |
| [Tucson](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/tucson-az) | AZ | Anthony (10%) | Moderate | 4.5% (Grabe) | 34% | Well drained | 12 | 10.6 in | USW00023160 (TUCSON INTL AP, AZ US) | 1979 |
| [Tyler](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/tyler-tx) | TX | Pickton (11%) | Moderate | 4.5% (Cuthbert) | 48% | Well drained | 29 | 42.1 in | USW00013972 (TYLER POUNDS FLD, TX US) | 1978 |
| [Midland](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/midland-tx) | TX | Amarillo (8%) | Moderate | 3.7% (Kimbrough) | 34% | Well drained | 58 | 13.5 in | USW00023023 (MIDLAND ODESSA, TX US) | 1986 |
| [Columbia](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/columbia-sc) | SC | Vaucluse (7%) | Moderate | 3% (Nanford) | 50% | Well drained | 47 | 45.2 in | USW00013883 (COLUMBIA, SC US) | 1977 |
| [Atlanta](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/atlanta-ga) | GA | Madison (12%) | Low | 2.5% (Gwinnett) | 53% | Well drained | 36 | 50.4 in | USW00013874 (ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP, GA US) | 1985 |
| [Jacksonville](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/jacksonville-fl) | FL | Pelham (6%) | Low | 1.5% (Pelham) | 29% | Poorly drained | 14 | 53.4 in | USW00013889 (JACKSONVILLE, FL US) | 1986 |
| [Orlando](https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/city/orlando-fl) | FL | Candler (7%) | Low | 1.5% (Candler) | 6% | Excessively drained | 2 | 51.5 in | USW00012815 (ORLANDO INTL AP, FL US) | 1990 |

## Methodology

- For each city we draw a square about 0.3° on a side (roughly 10 miles from the center in each direction) around the city-center coordinate and ask USDA Soil Data Access for every SSURGO map unit that intersects it. Within those map units we keep major components only, drop urban land, water, pits, dumps, fill and rock outcrop, and group the components by soil series.
- "Dominant" means the series with the largest summed component percentage across the intersecting map units — how often it is mapped, not how much area it covers. The four most-mapped series are kept; their share is of all remaining major components.
- Shrink-swell class comes from linear extensibility (LEP, the representative lep_r value), taking the highest value in any horizon of the series, and the NRCS classes: under 3% low, 3–6% moderate, 6–9% high, 9% or more very high. The city column shows the highest class among its four most-mapped series, because one expansive series under part of a city is what moves slabs there.
- Climate columns are NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for one station per city, named in the data: the nearest first-order weather station (usually the airport) to the city-center coordinate with standard-completeness normals, else the nearest station with representative ones, within 25 miles. Annual precipitation is ANN-PRCP-NORMAL; frost days are ANN-TMIN-AVGNDS-LSTH032, the average number of days a year whose minimum temperature is 32°F or lower. That counts freezing nights, not freeze-thaw cycles, which NOAA normals do not publish. A station can sit up to about 20 miles from the city center, so treat the figures as the local climate, not your street.
- Median year built is the Census ACS 5-year 2022 estimate (table B25035) for the incorporated place.

Soil profiles queried 2026-10-30; NOAA normals retrieved 2026-11-02; housing values compiled 2026-03-21.

## Limitations

- The 50 cities are the ones this site covers, half of them in Texas. They are not a random or representative sample of US cities, so counts describe this table, not the country.
- One coordinate per city: the box around the city center does not cover the whole metro, and suburbs can sit on different soils.
- Counts by mapped components are not area-weighted. A series can rank first because it appears in many small map units.
- Soil survey values are representative values for a series, not measurements at an address. Soils change block by block; only a geotechnical report or an engineer reads your lot.
- Shrink-swell is one factor. Drainage, trees, plumbing leaks, fill and construction quality decide whether a given house moves.

## Sources

- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), via Soil Data Access (soil series, linear extensibility, clay, drainage): https://sdmdataaccess.sc.egov.usda.gov/
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal), one station per city (annual precipitation and frost days (minimum ≤ 32°F)): https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/normals-annualseasonal/1991-2020/
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2022 (B25035) (median year built): https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B25035

## How to cite

FoundationRepairHQ, "Foundation soil risk by city", 2026, https://www.foundationrepairhq.com/data/foundation-soil-risk