Alvin-Pearland
RANK #795 / 996 NAT · #41 / 69 TX · POP 374,600
1YR FORECAST: +0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
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.
Above national median (4.7x)
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.3x 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 20/100, Brazoria County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $91,972 combined with job growth of +2.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, Brazoria County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $256,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,333/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Brazoria County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.6% clip. Home values shifted -0.9% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.71% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Brazoria County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.