RANK #676 / 1001 NAT · #18 / 72 TX · POP 51,886
1YR FORECAST: +0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
Cherokee County, located in East Texas, is perhaps best known for Jacksonville, once dubbed the "Tomato Capital of the World." This city, roughly 130 miles southeast of Dallas and 160 miles north of Houston, still celebrates its agricultural heritage with an annual Tomato Fest. The county offers a relaxed, rural lifestyle amidst piney woods and rolling hills, with outdoor recreation centered around Lake Jacksonville, Lake Palestine, and Striker Creek Reservoir, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and hiking. Commutes within the county average around 24.4 minutes, shorter than the national average.
Life in Cherokee County often appeals to families and those seeking a quieter pace. Public schools in the county are generally rated above average. While agriculture remains a component of the economy, the region has seen investments in sectors such as timber, oil, and natural gas. The cost of living in Cherokee County is lower than the national average, particularly for housing.
Cherokee County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -1.8% YoY, population +1.4%, wages +2.7%). 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 11.2x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Cherokee County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
FGE Eagle Pines Natural Gas Electrical Generation Facility
FGE Power and FGE Power Management Corp.
|
$2,100M | Proposed |
|
Rainbow Springs Solar Farm
Clearway Energy Group
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Cherokee Tree Farm Retreat and Conference Center
TRC Companies (developer for water features)
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 32/100, Cherokee County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $61,261 combined with job growth of +0.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, Cherokee County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $169,300, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $933/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Cherokee County's population is growing — up +1.4% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.2%). Home values shifted -1.8% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 6.46% of Cherokee 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.