RANK #974 / 1001 NAT · #63 / 72 TX · POP 50,669
1YR FORECAST: -0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +6%
Lamar County, Texas, is perhaps best known for its county seat, Paris, which features a 65-foot-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower, uniquely topped with a red cowboy hat. Located in Northeast Texas, approximately 100 miles northeast of Dallas, the county offers a blend of small-town living and access to natural scenery. The gently rolling terrain is characterized by pasture and farmlands, with scattered timber. Residents and visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation at Pat Mayse Lake, a 6,000-acre reservoir popular for boating, fishing, and camping, as well as Lake Crook. The Trail de Paris, part of the larger Northeast Texas Trail, provides opportunities for walking, running, and non-powered wheeled activities.
Life in Lamar County generally offers a tranquil community atmosphere, with a mix of single-family homes and other housing options. The average commute time is under 20 minutes, and public schools in the county are rated above average. The local economy is supported by various sectors, including a notable concentration in manufacturing. Healthcare support occupations are also projected to see growth in the coming year. The county's workforce draws from a broad regional radius, contributing to its economic activity.
Lamar County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.9% YoY, population +0.5%, wages +2.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.5x — 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Lamar County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Mockingbird Solar Center
Ørsted
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Bug Tussle Wind Ranch
Bug Tussle Wind, LLC (Cielo Wind Power, LLC affiliate)
|
$300M | Planned |
|
Delilah I Solar Energy Center
Invenergy (majority owned by WEC Energy Group)
|
$300M | Operating |
|
Huhtamaki Expansion
Huhtamaki
|
$75M | Planned |
|
Ametsa Packaging, LLC Plant
Ametsa Packaging, LLC
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Universal Fabricating US Location
Universal Fabricating
|
$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 — Lamar County scores just 2/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #974 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -0.6% and median household income of $61,880 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Lamar County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $200,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $949/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Lamar County are both close to flat — population +0.5% YoY and jobs -0.6%. Home values shifted +1.9% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.86% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lamar County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.