Longview
RANK #363 / 996 NAT · #19 / 69 TX · POP 124,245
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
Gregg County, in northeastern Texas, is perhaps best known for its significant role in the East Texas Oil Field, a discovery in 1930 near Kilgore that dramatically boosted the county's population and economy. Longview, the county seat and largest city, lies about 125 miles east of Dallas and 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. The county is characterized by gently sloping to hilly terrain within the East Texas timberlands, with the Sabine River flowing through it. Outdoor recreation opportunities include numerous lakes within a 75-mile radius of Longview, along with local parks like Lear Park, which offers sports fields, walking trails, and a splash pad. The Longview Arboretum and Nature Center also provides a natural escape with gardens and trails. The public school system serves a large majority of students, with top-ranked schools including Hudson Elementary School and Spring Hill Intermediate School. The economy, historically tied to oil and gas, has diversified to include manufacturing, healthcare, and retail. Major employers like Eastman Chemical Company contribute to the local job market. The area continues to see economic growth, with efforts to attract more businesses and create career opportunities.
Well below national median
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 2.5x — home prices are low 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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, Gregg County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $63,811 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in TX.
By national standards, Gregg County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $171,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,008/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Gregg County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs -0.9%. Home values shifted +1.4% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
In significant numbers — 5.48% of Gregg 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.