Lufkin
RANK #358 / 996 NAT · #18 / 69 TX · POP 86,608
1YR FORECAST: +0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
Angelina County, located in the East Texas Pineywoods, is notable as the only Texas county named for a woman—a Hasinai Native American known as Angelina who assisted early Spanish missionaries. The county seat, Lufkin, is about 120 miles northeast of Houston, offering a small-town atmosphere while serving as a regional hub. The area is characterized by gently rolling hills and dense forests of pine and hardwoods. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with access to the Angelina and Davy Crockett National Forests, Lake Sam Rayburn, and the Angelina and Neches rivers, providing opportunities for fishing, hiking, biking, and camping. Life in Angelina County offers a blend of community and access to natural amenities. Public schools in the county, including districts like Hudson, Lufkin, and Diboll, are generally well-regarded. The economy, historically tied to the timber industry, has seen recent investments in manufacturing, with companies like Georgia-Pacific and Altec Manufacturing present. Local economic development efforts focus on attracting new industries and supporting existing businesses.
Below national median
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.4x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Project Lufkin Data Center Campus
Amp Z
|
$2,000M | Planned |
|
Long Leaf Generating Natural Gas Power Plant
Long Leaf Generating LLC
|
$690M | Proposed |
|
Azalea Springs Solar Park
EDP Renewables
|
$300M | Under Construction |
|
Solar Star North Herty Storage (Battery)
Undisclosed
|
$126M | Planned |
|
Gattefosse Lipid Production Facility
Gattefosse Texas Inc.
|
$55M | Completed |
|
Lufkin ISD Middle School
Lufkin Independent School District
|
$50M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Angelina County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.9%, and median household income stands at $57,055 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in TX.
By national standards, Angelina County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $138,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.41 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $985/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Angelina County are hiring — job growth of +1.9% — but the population is close to flat (+0.0% YoY). Home values moved +0.4% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
In significant numbers — 5.52% of Angelina County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.