RANK #973 / 1001 NAT · #69 / 72 TX · POP 268,638
1YR FORECAST: -4.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +10%
Hays County, Texas, is often recognized for Jacob's Well Natural Area, a significant artesian spring and the headwaters of Cypress Creek, offering swimming and hiking opportunities. Located in south-central Texas, approximately 23 miles southwest of Austin, the county blends hilly, tree-covered ranch land with agricultural plains. Commuting to Austin is common, with Interstate 35 serving as a primary route. The community offers access to numerous parks and natural areas like Blue Hole Regional Park and Spring Lake Natural Area, providing trails for walking, running, birding, and swimming.
Life in Hays County attracts a mix of families and professionals, many of whom commute to nearby cities. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in commercial and residential development. Educational institutions, including Texas State University in San Marcos, contribute to a skilled workforce. The county has also seen expansion in industrial and logistics sectors, alongside some manufacturing activity. Public schools in Hays County are generally well-regarded.
Hays County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -5.5% runs below the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 19.2x — 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: 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Border States Tenant Improvement
Firecracker 6 Industrial Owner LLC
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Hays CISD Bond Program (Educational Facilities, Athletics, Technology)
Hays CISD
|
$969M | Planned |
|
Waterstone Unit A
DRP TX3, LLC
|
$603M | Under Construction |
|
Texas State Hilltop Housing Phase II
Texas State University System
|
$228M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Fulfillment and Logistics Centers (Multiple Locations)
Amazon
|
$191M | Operating |
|
CloudBurst Data Centers - San Marcos Data Center I (Phase 1)
CloudBurst Data Centers / Evolve Holdings
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Hays County scores just 2/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #973 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +3.0% and median household income of $89,097 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Hays County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $399,800 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,495/month on average.
Hays County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +4.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.0% clip. Home values shifted -5.5% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 9.17% of Hays 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.
Home values fell -5.5% over the past year in Hays County, bringing the median down to $399,800. A drop of that magnitude usually reflects weakening demand or population outflow — worth watching if you're considering buying here.