RANK #445 / 1001 NAT · #20 / 72 TX · POP 213,160
1YR FORECAST: -1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Ellis County, Texas, is often recognized for its historic charm, particularly the elaborate Richardsonian Romanesque architecture of the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie, the county seat. Located in North Central Texas, approximately 30 miles south of Dallas, the county offers a blend of historic character and modern amenities. Commuting to Dallas is feasible, with an average one-way trip of around 29.3 minutes. The community maintains a relaxed pace, with rolling prairies and wildflowers contributing to its natural scenery. Outdoor recreation opportunities include Lake Waxahachie and Lake Bardwell for fishing and boating, alongside various parks and trails like the Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail.
Life in Ellis County appeals to families and professionals seeking a suburban lifestyle with access to urban amenities. The county's public schools are generally well-regarded, with districts like Midlothian, Palmer, and Waxahachie Independent School Districts noted for their quality. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in sectors such as data centers and energy. This economic activity contributes to job creation and an increased demand for local services, supporting the county's expanding communities and infrastructure.
Ellis County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -1.6% YoY, population +4.5%, wages +2.5%). 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
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 19.4x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Google Data Center Expansion (Midlothian & Red Oak)
Google
|
$40,000M | Under Construction |
|
PowerHouse Data Centers & Provident Data Centers Hyperscale Campus (Grand Prairie)
PowerHouse Data Centers & Provident Data Centers
|
$1,800M | Planned |
|
Sharka Data Center Buildings 4 & 5 (Midlothian)
Sharka LLC
|
$1,230M | Under Construction |
|
Ellis County Solar & Battery Storage Portfolio
Lightsource bp, RWE, 174 Power Global Corp., Key Capture Energy, Apex Clean Energy, Undisclosed Developers
|
$1,150M | Operating, Under Construction, Planned |
|
Databank Red Oak Data Centers (DFW11, DFW12, DFW13)
Databank
|
$975M | Under Construction |
|
Compass Datacenters Red Oak Campus Phase 2
Compass Datacenters, LLC
|
$500M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Ellis County scores 55/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#445). Median household income is $99,595 and job growth is running at +2.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Ellis County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $348,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,594/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Ellis County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +4.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.9% clip. Home values shifted -1.6% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.74% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Ellis County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.