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Johnson County, TX

RANK #570 / 1001 NAT  ·  #31 / 72 TX  ·  POP 195,597

1YR FORECAST: -1.7%

5YR OUTLOOK: +27%

#30 Fastest Growing
Johnson County's housing market is projected to grow -1.7% over the next year, below the national average.

[01] Why Johnson County?

Cleburne, the county seat, anchors Johnson County with its historic downtown and the distinctive 1912 Johnson County Courthouse, a Classical Revival building with Prairie-style elements. Located on the southwestern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Cleburne is about 29 miles south of downtown Fort Worth and 55 miles southwest of downtown Dallas. Commutes to Fort Worth are facilitated by Texas Highway 174, a four-lane divided highway, while U.S. Highway 67 connects to Dallas. The community offers a blend of small-town atmosphere with access to larger city amenities. Outdoor recreation is available at Cleburne State Park, featuring a spring-fed lake, dense forests, and nearly 13 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. Hamm Creek Park also provides public access to the Brazos River.

Life in Johnson County appeals to families and individuals seeking a balance between rural charm and metropolitan access. The county's public school districts, including Burleson, Godley, Grandview, and Joshua, serve over 39,500 students. City/County Transportation provides demand-response services throughout the county and a commuter bus route into downtown Fort Worth. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by investments in residential and commercial development. Local industries include manufacturing, healthcare, and education, with a focus on providing a skilled workforce.

MARKET PROFILE

Idiosyncratic Markets

Johnson County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -2.3% YoY, population +3.6%, wages +3.7%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.

See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
15.4x

Overvalued relative to economy

Home Prices
-2.3%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.1

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Below national median (15x)

Housing looks overvalued at 15.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Top Employers

  1. 1
    Cleburne Independent School District Education
    1,000+
  2. 2
    Walmart Distribution Center Logistics
    500+
  3. 3
    Johnson County Government
  4. 4
    Johns Manville Corp. Manufacturing
    250+
  5. 5
    James Hardie Building Products Manufacturing
  6. 6
    Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne Healthcare
  7. 7
    City of Cleburne Government
  8. 8
    Walmart Supercenter Retail
  9. 9
    Technical Chemical Manufacturing
  10. 10
    Halliburton Energy

Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Johnson County U.S. National

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).

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
195,597
+3.59% YoY
Median Household Income
$84,859
Median Home Value
$285,900
-2.32% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,398
Average Annual Pay
$59,681
+3.7% YoY
Employment
60,921
+1.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2968
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.23%
of pop. from another state
Bachelor's Degree+
25.2%
of residents (national avg: 33%)

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$335,000
Days on Market
68
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.9
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.6%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
17.2%
Listings w/ Price Drops
37.7%
Building Permits (2025)
2,356
Single-Family Permits
1,952

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Crime & Safety

B
SAFETY
GRADE
Homicide Rate
3.2
per 100K · nat avg 6.3
Firearm Fatalities
12.4
per 100K · nat avg 14.8
Injury Deaths
72.0
per 100K · nat avg 76.3
vs National Average
Below national avg
based on homicide rate

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 →

[06] Air Quality

B
AIR QUALITY
GRADE
Median AQI (3yr)
38.7
Good
Good Air Days
80%
875 of 1,087 days
Unhealthy+ Days (3yr)
28
Sensitive groups affected
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Ground-level ozone
Yearly Trend
2021
37
2022
41
2023
38
Median AQI · lower is better

Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →

[07] Capital Investment

$1,766M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Blue Bird Solar Farm
Undisclosed (Planned)
$773M Planned
Hyperscale Data Center Land Development (Potential)
Undisclosed Developers
$500M Proposed
Johnson County Power Plant (Natural Gas)
Johnson County Power LLC
$283M Operating
Residential Master-Planned Communities (Combined)
Various Developers
$150M Under Construction
Johnson County Transportation Bond
Johnson County
$60M Proposed

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[08] Score Breakdown

Population Growth +3.6% 97 percentile
Income Growth +3.7% 73 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.6% 14 percentile
Home Price Change -2.3% 10 percentile
Rent Growth +0.7% 17 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 56 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.

[09] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Johnson County, TX a good place to move to?

Johnson County scores 43/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#570). Median household income is $84,859 and job growth is running at +1.6%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.

Is Johnson County affordable?

Housing in Johnson County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $285,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $1,398/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.

Is Johnson County growing or shrinking?

Johnson County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.6% clip. Home values shifted -2.3% in the past year.

Are people moving to Johnson County?

There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.23% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Johnson County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.

[10] Similar Counties by Size & Score

Atascosa County, TX 43 Burnet County, TX 44 Brazoria County, TX 45 Brazos County, TX 41 Lubbock County, TX 46 Wilson County, TX 40 Kenton County, KY 43 Berkeley County, SC 43