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Brazoria County, TX

RANK #597 / 996  ·  POP 374,600  ·  TX

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.4%

Brazoria County shows below-average economic momentum. Growth signals are flat or softening.

[01] Why Brazoria County?

Brazoria County, Texas, offers a blend of coastal living and historical significance, notably as the site of the first Anglo-American settlement in Texas and an early capital of the Republic of Texas. Located south of Houston, the county provides access to urban amenities while maintaining a more relaxed atmosphere. Commutes to Houston are manageable, with major highways like State Highways 6, 35, 36, and 288 serving the area. The community offers diverse natural scenery, from 23 miles of Gulf Coast beaches to bottomland hardwood forests and coastal prairies. Outdoor recreation includes fishing, birdwatching, camping, and hiking in areas like Quintana Beach County Park and the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.

Life in Brazoria County appeals to families and individuals seeking a balance of suburban and rural environments. The county has seen consistent population growth, with a median age of 37. Educational opportunities include several independent school districts, such as Pearland, Alvin, and Brazosport ISDs, which offer various programs. The economy is driven by sectors including petrochemical production, manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture. Recent economic developments include ongoing investments in industrial growth and the expansion of Port Freeport, which handles significant foreign waterborne tonnage.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.3x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+5.3%

Well above national median

Home Prices
-0.9%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
1.3

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
13x

Below national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 5.3x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Brazoria County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
374,600
+1.63% YoY
Median Household Income
$91,972
Median Home Value
$256,900
-0.91% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,333
Average Annual Pay
$68,223
+1.6% YoY
Employment
122,793
+2.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.358
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.71%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$343,750
Days on Market
88
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.6
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.3%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
11.1%
Listings w/ Price Drops
35.8%
Building Permits (2024)
3,963
Single-Family Permits
3,363

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$5,731M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Old Ocean Data Center & Bulldog Power Plant
Nightpeak Energy
$3,000M Proposed
Hecate Energy Orem Wind
Hecate Energy
$1,542M Planned
CleanSpark Data Center Campus
CleanSpark, Inc.
$600M Planned
Brazoria County Solar PV Park (Golden Buckle Solar Project)
Plenitude (Eni New Energy US, Inc. and Renantis North America, Inc.)
$263M Completed
Second Division Solar Farm
Lightsource bp
$176M Operating
Bocanova Power (Battery Storage)
Nightpeak Energy
$150M Operating

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +5.3% 86 percentile
Population Growth +1.6% 85 percentile
Income Growth +4.6% 3 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.9% 11 percentile
Home Price Change -0.9% 22 percentile
Rent Growth +1.8% 31 percentile
Price/Rent 13x 58 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brazoria County, TX a good place to move to?

Brazoria County has a Boom Town Index score of 40/100, ranking #597 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.6% and a median household income of $91,972, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Brazoria County affordable?

The median home value in Brazoria County is $256,900 with median rent at $1,333/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.358, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Brazoria County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.6%. Home values changed -0.9% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Brazoria County?

Yes — 4.71% of Brazoria County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Chemung County, NY 50 Philadelphia County, PA 50 Dane County, WI 50 Whitfield County, GA 50 Angelina County, TX 50 Coconino County, AZ 50 Tulare County, CA 50 Kennebec County, ME 50