RANK #642 / 1001 NAT · #35 / 72 TX · POP 65,894
1YR FORECAST: -1.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
Lake Granbury, an 8,700-acre reservoir on the Brazos River, defines much of Hood County, Texas, offering residents and visitors opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. Granbury, the county seat, is located about 41 miles southwest of Fort Worth, with a typical commute to downtown Fort Worth taking around 45 minutes via US-377. The community maintains a small-town feel, particularly around the historic Granbury Square, which features preserved 19th-century buildings, shops, and restaurants. Beyond the lake, outdoor recreation includes hiking and biking trails at the Acton Nature Center.
Hood County attracts a mix of families seeking smaller school communities and retirees drawn to the lakeside lifestyle and community events. The local economy, while historically rooted in agriculture, is experiencing a shift. Recent developments include significant investment in data centers and energy infrastructure, with several such projects proposed or underway. These industrial projects are influencing the county's economic landscape and prompting discussions about growth and resource management. The county is served by school districts including Granbury ISD, Lipan ISD, and Tolar ISD.
Hood County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -0.3% runs above the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 19.9x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
NRG Tolar Power Center (Natural Gas Plant)
NRG
|
$2,000M | Proposed |
|
MARA Granbury Digital Asset Data Center
MARA
|
$1,200M | Operating |
|
Comanche Circle Project (Data Center Campus)
Sailfish
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Fort Spunky Data Center and Power Plant
Pacifico Energy
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Rain Lily Solar and Storage Project
EE North America
|
$191M | Planned |
|
Apache Hill Energy Centre (Battery Energy Storage System)
Vitis Energy
|
$155M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 35/100, Hood County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $88,160 combined with job growth of +1.3% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Hood County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $306,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $1,428/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Hood County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.3% clip. Home values shifted -0.3% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.68% of Hood 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.