RANK #545 / 1001 NAT · #28 / 72 TX · POP 391,255
1YR FORECAST: -1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
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.
Brazoria County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -0.8% YoY, population +2.5%, wages +3.3%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 13.4x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
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 1001 counties.
Brazoria County scores 45/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#545). Median household income is $97,993 and job growth is running at +1.6%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Brazoria County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $301,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,454/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Brazoria County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.6% clip. Home values shifted -0.8% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.44% 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.