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Top Counties to Reside in Texas
Recent Census statistics reveal that more counties across the United States have seen increases in population over the past year, even as the moving trends prompted by the pandemic start to stabilize.
Among these, Southern counties particularly in Florida are thriving, with 96% of its 67 counties welcoming new inhabitants. Polk County, situated near Orlando, stands out, having gained 26,000 residents in 2023.
In contrast, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continue to witness population declines, albeit at a reduced pace from prior years. Notable losses are occurring in areas surrounding major cities, such as Cook County in Illinois (which includes Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.
This growth trend in various counties can be attributed to multiple factors such as employment opportunities, quality education, and affordable housing. Additionally, some counties are attractive due to their charming historical town centers and rich cultural amenities.
A compilation by Stacker lists the best counties in Texas to live in, based on rankings from Niche, which evaluates counties on elements such as educational performance, income levels, cost of living, and housing.
Continue reading to find out if your county is featured on the list.
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#30. Erath County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 319
– Population: 42,788
– Median household income: $59,654
– Median home value: $219,600 (63% own)
– Median rent: $1,070 (37% rent)
– Top public schools: Dublin Elementary School (grade A), Henderson Junior High School (grade A), Hook Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Stephenville Christian School (grade unavailable), SILVER SADDLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Stephenville (grade A minus), Dublin (grade B+)
#29. Bell County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 317
– Population: 372,821
– Median household income: $62,858
– Median home value: $196,300 (55% own)
– Median rent: $1,095 (45% rent)
– Leading public schools: Holland Middle School (grade A), Lakewood Elementary School (grade A), Sparta Elementary School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: Central Texas Christian School (grade A minus), Holy Trinity Catholic High School (grade A minus), Memorial Christian Academy (grade A minus)
– Noteworthy locations: Morgan’s Point Resort (grade A), Harker Heights (grade A minus), Nolanville (grade A minus)
#28. Madison County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 298
– Population: 13,556
– Median household income: $65,768
– Median home value: $139,100 (71% own)
– Median rent: $814 (29% rent)
– Leading public schools: Madisonville Intermediate School (grade A minus), Madisonville Junior High School (grade A minus), Madisonville High School (grade B+)
– Noteworthy locations: Madisonville (grade A minus), Midway (grade B+)
#27. Brazoria County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 294
– Population: 374,600
– Median household income: $91,972
– Median home value: $256,900 (74% own)
– Median rent: $1,333 (26% rent)
– Leading public schools: Glenda Dawson High School (grade A+), Silvercrest Elementary School (grade A), Challenger Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: Brazosport Christian School (grade B+), Angleton Christian School (grade B+), Living Stones Christian School (grade B minus)
– Noteworthy locations: Pearland (grade A+), Lake Jackson (grade A), Manvel (grade A minus)
#26. Dallas County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 284
– Population: 2,604,053
– Median household income: $70,732
– Median home value: $252,200 (51% own)
– Median rent: $1,374 (49% rent)
– Leading public schools: School for the Talented & Gifted (grade A+), School of Science & Engineering (grade A+), Coppell High School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: St. Mark’s School of Texas (grade A+), Greenhill School (grade A+), The Hockaday School (grade A+)
– Noteworthy locations: Coppell (grade A+), University Park (grade A+), Sherrill Park North/Foxboro Addition (grade A+)
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#25. Washington County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 281
– Population: 35,807
– Median household income: $70,043
– Median home value: $248,300 (73% own)
– Median rent: $1,025 (27% rent)
– Leading public schools: Dripping Springs High School (grade A+), Burton Elementary School (grade A minus), Harper Middle School (grade A minus)
– Top private schools: First Baptist Church School (grade unavailable), St. Paul’s Christian Day School (grade unavailable), Citadel Christian School (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Brenham (grade A minus), Burton (grade B)
#24. Galveston County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 257
– Population: 350,801
– Median household income: $83,913
– Median home value: $260,600 (68% own)
– Median rent: $1,301 (32% rent)
– Leading public schools: Friendswood High School (grade A+), Westwood Elementary School (grade A), Windsong Intermediate School (grade A)
– Top private schools: O’Connell College Preparatory School (grade A), Bay Area Christian School (grade B+), Trinity Episcopal School (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Friendswood (grade A+), League City (grade A), Kemah (grade A)
#23. Smith County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 254
– Population: 234,667
– Median household income: $69,053
– Median home value: $201,400 (69% own)
– Median rent: $1,129 (31% rent)
– Leading public schools: Stanton-Smith Elementary School (grade A), Lindale Junior High School (grade A), Gus Winston Cain Elementary School (grade A)
– Top private schools: The Brook Hill School (grade A+), Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School (grade A+), All Saints Episcopal School (grade A+)
– Noteworthy locations: Bullard (grade A minus), Tyler (grade A minus), Hideaway (grade A minus)
#22. Robertson County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 246
– Population: 16,912
– Median household income: $59,410
– Median home value: $156,800 (75% own)
– Median rent: $781 (25% rent)
– Leading public schools: Franklin Middle School (grade A), Mumford Elementary School (grade A), Roland Reynolds Elementary School (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Hearne (grade B minus), Franklin (grade A minus), Calvert (grade B+)
#21. Harris County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 245
– Population: 4,726,177
– Median household income: $70,789
– Median home value: $235,300 (55% own)
– Median rent: $1,269 (45% rent)
– Leading public schools: Carnegie Vanguard High School (grade A+), Debakey H.S. for Health Prof (grade A+), Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: St. John’s School (grade A+), The Awty International School (grade A+), The Village School (grade A+)
– Noteworthy locations: Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park (grade A+), Neartown – Montrose (grade A+), Memorial (grade A+)
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#20. Tom Green County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 238
– Population: 119,276
– Median household income: $67,215
– Median home value: $177,800 (67% own)
– Median rent: $1,024 (33% rent)
– Leading public schools: Wall Middle School (grade A), Wall Elementary School (grade A), Wall High School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: Cornerstone Christian School (grade A), San Angelo Christian Academy (grade A minus), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: San Angelo (grade A minus), Carlsbad (grade B+), Christoval (grade B+)
#19. Hansford County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 233
– Population: 5,270
– Median household income: $62,350
– Median home value: $101,700 (75% own)
– Median rent: $823 (25% rent)
– Leading public schools: Gruver Junior High School (grade A), Gruver Elementary School (grade A), Spearman Junior High School (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Spearman (grade A minus), Gruver (grade A minus), Morse (grade B+)
#18. Somervell County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 224
– Population: 9,337
– Median household income: $87,899
– Median home value: $246,600 (82% own)
– Median rent: $853 (18% rent)
– Leading public schools: Glen Rose Intermediate School (grade A), Glen Rose Junior High School (grade A minus), Glen Rose High School (grade A minus)
– Noteworthy locations: Glen Rose (grade A minus)
#17. McLennan County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 217
– Population: 261,090
– Median household income: $59,781
– Median home value: $196,400 (60% own)
– Median rent: $1,048 (40% rent)
– Leading public schools: Midway High School (grade A+), River Valley Middle School (grade A), South Bosque Elementary School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: Vanguard College Preparatory School (grade A+), Live Oak Classical School (grade A), Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Woodway (grade A+), Hewitt (grade A), Lorena (grade A minus)
#16. Burleson County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 213
– Population: 17,958
– Median household income: $71,745
– Median home value: $154,700 (79% own)
– Median rent: $977 (21% rent)
– Leading public schools: Caldwell Middle School (grade A minus), Snook Elementary School (grade A minus), Caldwell Elementary School (grade B+)
– Leading private schools: First Baptist School (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Caldwell (grade A minus), Snook (grade B+), Somerville (grade B+)
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#15. Taylor County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 208
– Population: 143,029
– Median household income: $61,806
– Median home value: $169,800 (59% own)
– Median rent: $1,063 (41% rent)
– Leading public schools: Academy for Technology, Engineering, Math & Science (ATEMS) (grade A), Wylie East J.H. (grade A), Wylie West Elementary School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: St. John’s Episcopal School (grade unavailable), Cornerstone Christian School (grade unavailable), A Habitat for Learning (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Potosi (grade A), Abilene (grade A minus), Tye (grade B)
#14. Hays County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 195
– Population: 245,351
– Median household income: $79,990
– Median home value: $335,700 (63% own)
– Median rent: $1,355 (37% rent)
– Leading public schools: Sycamore Springs Elementary School (grade A+), Sycamore Springs Middle School (grade A), Dripping Springs Elementary School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: San Marcos Academy (grade A+), AESA Prep Academy (grade A), Hill Country Christian School of San Marcos (grade B)
– Noteworthy locations: Dripping Springs (grade A), Buda (grade A minus), Wimberley (grade A minus)
#13. Brazos County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 154
– Population: 234,548
– Median household income: $57,562
– Median home value: $260,800 (47% own)
– Median rent: $1,120 (53% rent)
– Leading public schools: College Station High School (grade A+), Wellborn Middle (grade A+), A&M Consolidated High School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: Allen Academy (grade A+), Brazos Christian School (grade A), Brazos Valley Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: College Station (grade A), Bryan (grade A minus), Wixon Valley (grade B+)
#12. Montgomery County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 139
– Population: 629,989
– Median household income: $95,946
– Median home value: $293,500 (73% own)
– Median rent: $1,416 (27% rent)
– Leading public schools: The Woodlands High School (grade A+), College Park High School (grade A+), Sam Houston State University Charter School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: The John Cooper School (grade A+), The Woodlands Christian Academy (grade A+), Esprit International School (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: The Woodlands (grade A+), Oak Ridge North (grade A+), Conroe (grade A minus)
#11. Brewster County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 127
– Population: 9,454
– Median household income: $47,747
– Median home value: $200,500 (60% own)
– Median rent: $780 (40% rent)
– Leading public schools: Alpine Middle School (grade B+), Alpine High School (grade B+), Alpine Elementary School (grade B minus)
– Leading private schools: Alpine Christian School (grade unavailable), Alpine Montessori School (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Alpine (grade A), Marathon (grade B+), Study Butte (grade unavailable)
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#10. Randall County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 120
– Population: 141,489
– Median household income: $78,038
– Median home value: $209,200 (69% own)
– Median rent: $1,072 (31% rent)
– Leading public schools: Hillside Elementary School (grade A), Reeves-Hinger Elementary School (grade A), Canyon Junior High School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: Ascension Academy (grade A+), Holy Cross Catholic Academy (grade A minus), St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Canyon (grade A+), Timbercreek Canyon (grade A), Lake Tanglewood (grade B+)
#9. Comal County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 111
– Population: 165,201
– Median household income: $93,744
– Median home value: $369,400 (76% own)
– Median rent: $1,390 (24% rent)
– Leading public schools: Rahe Bulverde Elementary School (grade A), Hoffmann Lane Elementary School (grade A), Smithson Valley Middle School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: St. John Paul II Catholic High School (grade A), Living Rock Academy (grade A), New Braunfels Christian Academy (grade A minus)
– Noteworthy locations: Fair Oaks Ranch (grade A), Garden Ridge (grade A), New Braunfels (grade A)
#8. Lubbock County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 97
– Population: 311,509
– Median household income: $61,911
– Median home value: $183,700 (56% own)
– Median rent: $1,087 (44% rent)
– Leading public schools: Crestview Elementary School (grade A+), Talkington School for Young Women Leaders (grade A+), Bennett Elementary School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: All Saints Episcopal School (grade A+), Christ the King Diocesan Schools (grade A+), Lubbock Christian School (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Wolfforth (grade A), Lubbock (grade A), Shallowater (grade A minus)
#7. Kendall County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 93
– Population: 45,376
– Median household income: $104,196
– Median home value: $464,100 (76% own)
– Median rent: $1,455 (24% rent)
– Leading public schools: Voss Middle School (grade A), Herff Elementary School (grade A), Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: Geneva School of Boerne (grade A+), Crestmont Christian Preparatory School (grade A), Hill Country Montessori School (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Boerne (grade A), Comfort (grade B minus)
#6. Williamson County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 57
– Population: 617,396
– Median household income: $102,851
– Median home value: $370,100 (68% own)
– Median rent: $1,597 (32% rent)
– Leading public schools: Westwood High IB World School (grade A+), Meridian World School (grade A+), Round Rock High School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: Hill Country Christian School of Austin (grade A+), Round Rock Christian Academy (grade A), St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Brushy Creek (grade A+), Cedar Park (grade A+), Leander (grade A+)
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#5. Travis County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 36
– Population: 1,289,054
– Median household income: $92,731
– Median home value: $444,800 (53% own)
– Median rent: $1,561 (47% rent)
– Leading public schools: Liberal Arts & Science Academy (grade A+), Westlake High School (grade A+), Vandegrift High School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (grade A+), Austin Peace Academy (grade A+), St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (grade A+)
– Noteworthy locations: Triangle State (grade A+), Downtown (grade A+), Hyde Park (grade A+)
#4. Rockwall County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 34
– Population: 110,631
– Median household income: $121,303
– Median home value: $363,500 (83% own)
– Median rent: $1,779 (17% rent)
– Leading public schools: New El #15 (grade A), New Elementary School (grade A), Rockwall-Heath High School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: Heritage Christian Academy (grade A), The Fulton School (grade unavailable), Providence Academy (grade unavailable)
– Noteworthy locations: Heath (grade A+), Rockwall (grade A+), Fate (grade A)
#3. Denton County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 33
– Population: 914,870
– Median household income: $104,180
– Median home value: $377,000 (65% own)
– Median rent: $1,496 (35% rent)
– Leading public schools: Flower Mound High School (grade A+), Reedy High School (grade A), Wakeland High School (grade A)
– Leading private schools: The Clariden School (grade A+), Liberty Christian School (grade A), Selwyn School (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Flower Mound (grade A+), Trophy Club (grade A+), Highland Village (grade A+)
#2. Fort Bend County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 15
– Population: 832,607
– Median household income: $109,987
– Median home value: $329,600 (78% own)
– Median rent: $1,669 (22% rent)
– Leading public schools: Seven Lakes High School (grade A+), Obra D. Tompkins High School (grade A+), Clements High School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: Fort Bend Christian Academy (grade A+), Logos Preparatory Academy (grade A), Calvary Episcopal Preparatory (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Cinco Ranch (grade A+), Sugar Land (grade A+), New Territory (grade A)
#1. Collin County, Texas
– Overall Rank: 4
– Population: 1,079,153
– Median household income: $113,255
– Median home value: $411,100 (65% own)
– Median rent: $1,689 (35% rent)
– Leading public schools: Liberty High School (grade A+), Plano East Senior High School (grade A+), Jasper High School (grade A+)
– Leading private schools: John Paul II High School (grade A+), Prince of Peace Christian School (grade A+), Spring Creek Academy (grade A)
– Noteworthy locations: Timberbrook (grade A+), Preston Highlands (grade A+), Frisco (grade A+)
This article includes data collection and writing by Elena Cox, part of an initiative to utilize automated data across all 50 states.
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By Stacker
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