Marshall
RANK #176 / 996 NAT · #11 / 69 TX · POP 69,098
1YR FORECAST: +2.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
Harrison County, Texas, is defined by its East Texas timberlands and the historic city of Marshall, its county seat. Marshall, 152 miles east of Dallas and 39 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana, offers a small-town feel with access to larger cities. The county is heavily forested with pine, cypress, and oak, and its northern and eastern parts are drained by Little Cypress Creek, Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake. Caddo Lake State Park provides opportunities for paddling under bald cypress trees, fishing, hiking, and camping. The county also maintains numerous historic sites, including the 1901 Harrison County Courthouse.
Life in Harrison County combines a rural atmosphere with community amenities. The county has several school districts, including Marshall ISD, which offers competitive teacher salaries and facilities. Commute times are generally shorter than the national average, with Marshall's average one-way commute at 16.5 minutes. Public transportation, including a flex bus route system in Marshall, is available for local and out-of-county travel. The local economy is experiencing growth, with recent investments across various sectors.
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Peregrine Energy Solutions Battery Energy Storage Facility
Peregrine Energy Solutions (Rocky Mountain Energy Development, LLC)
|
$400M | Planned |
|
Harrison Battery/Storage Project
Undisclosed
|
$300M | Planned |
|
Harrison Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$180M | Planned |
|
Loop 390 / US 59 / I-369 Corridor Development
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Harrison County ranks #176 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 82/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 2.5% year-over-year). Median household income here is $63,427.
By national standards, Harrison County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $164,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.39 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $912/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Harrison County is attracting residents (population +0.6% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -2.5%. Housing values changed -1.7% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.67% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Harrison County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.