Best counties to live in Texas
Written by:
February 18, 2021
Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
Best counties to live in Texas
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Texas using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Erath County
- Population: 41,841
- Median home value: $159,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $911 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $52,742
- Median home value: $159,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $911 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $52,742
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Canva
#24. Carson County
- Population: 6,009
- Median home value: $114,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $831 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $74,872
- Median home value: $114,300 (81% own)
- Median rent: $831 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $74,872
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Mark Fisher // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Tarrant County
- Population: 2,049,770
- Median home value: $188,500 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,095 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $67,700
- Median home value: $188,500 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,095 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $67,700
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Taylor County
- Population: 136,870
- Median home value: $124,500 (58% own)
- Median rent: $925 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $53,143
- Median home value: $124,500 (58% own)
- Median rent: $925 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $53,143
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Canva
#21. Bexar County
- Population: 1,952,843
- Median home value: $161,800 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,015 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $57,157
- Median home value: $161,800 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,015 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $57,157
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Vami IV // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Tom Green County
- Population: 117,986
- Median home value: $141,500 (63% own)
- Median rent: $880 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $53,903
- Median home value: $141,500 (63% own)
- Median rent: $880 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $53,903
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Lpret // Wikicommons
#19. McLennan County
- Population: 251,089
- Median home value: $142,800 (59% own)
- Median rent: $871 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $49,778
- Median home value: $142,800 (59% own)
- Median rent: $871 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $49,778
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Nsaum75 // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Galveston County
- Population: 332,885
- Median home value: $199,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $73,330
- Median home value: $199,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $73,330
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Adavyd // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Brazoria County
- Population: 360,677
- Median home value: $197,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,141 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $81,447
- Median home value: $197,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,141 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $81,447
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Hays County
- Population: 213,366
- Median home value: $238,700 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,154 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $68,717
- Median home value: $238,700 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,154 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $68,717
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Hequals2henry // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Harris County
- Population: 4,646,630
- Median home value: $175,700 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $61,705
- Median home value: $175,700 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $61,705
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Alan Botting // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Dallas County
- Population: 2,606,868
- Median home value: $174,900 (50% own)
- Median rent: $1,105 (50% rent)
- Median household income: $59,607
- Median home value: $174,900 (50% own)
- Median rent: $1,105 (50% rent)
- Median household income: $59,607
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Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Kendall County
- Population: 43,769
- Median home value: $348,500 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,196 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $84,747
- Median home value: $348,500 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,196 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $84,747
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Brazos County
- Population: 222,981
- Median home value: $201,800 (47% own)
- Median rent: $948 (53% rent)
- Median household income: $49,181
- Median home value: $201,800 (47% own)
- Median rent: $948 (53% rent)
- Median household income: $49,181
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Canva
#11. Randall County
- Population: 134,026
- Median home value: $167,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $917 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $68,261
- Median home value: $167,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $917 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $68,261
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Canva
#10. Comal County
- Population: 141,642
- Median home value: $282,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,144 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $79,936
- Median home value: $282,300 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,144 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $79,936
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Patriarca12 // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Brewster County
- Population: 9,231
- Median home value: $151,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $703 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $47,080
- Median home value: $151,400 (58% own)
- Median rent: $703 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $47,080
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Elred // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Lubbock County
- Population: 304,808
- Median home value: $140,600 (55% own)
- Median rent: $940 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $52,429
- Median home value: $140,600 (55% own)
- Median rent: $940 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $52,429
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Montgomery County
- Population: 571,949
- Median home value: $235,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,203 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $80,902
- Median home value: $235,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,203 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $80,902
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Williamson County
- Population: 547,604
- Median home value: $262,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,327 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $87,337
- Median home value: $262,300 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,327 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $87,337
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Rockwall County
- Population: 97,175
- Median home value: $266,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,429 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $100,920
- Median home value: $266,200 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,429 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $100,920
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ċ¤İçĉ // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Travis County
- Population: 1,226,805
- Median home value: $324,800 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,289 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $75,887
- Median home value: $324,800 (52% own)
- Median rent: $1,289 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $75,887
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Mick Watson from Atascocita, Texas // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Denton County
- Population: 833,822
- Median home value: $277,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,218 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $86,913
- Median home value: $277,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,218 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $86,913
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Fort Bend County
- Population: 765,394
- Median home value: $265,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,431 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $97,743
- Median home value: $265,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,431 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $97,743
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Collin County
- Population: 973,977
- Median home value: $315,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,389 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $96,913
- Median home value: $315,300 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,389 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $96,913
