RANK #679 / 1001 NAT · #37 / 72 TX · POP 266,067
1YR FORECAST: -1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
McLennan County, Texas, offers a blend of urban amenities and natural beauty, centrally located along the I-35 corridor, roughly halfway between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin. The county seat, Waco, is home to Baylor University and the historic Waco Suspension Bridge. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Cameron Park, one of Texas's largest municipal parks, featuring miles of trails along the Brazos and Bosque Rivers, or enjoy activities on Lake Waco, notable for being the largest lake entirely within a single city's municipal boundaries. The community offers a small-town feel with access to city conveniences.
Life in McLennan County appeals to families and young professionals, with many residents owning their homes. The area's economy is experiencing growth, with new investments in sectors such as manufacturing and technology. Educational opportunities are extensive, with 20 school districts, charter schools, and private schools, alongside institutions like Baylor University, McLennan Community College, and Texas State Technical College. Commute times average around 21.2 minutes, and rural transit options connect smaller communities to Waco for essential services.
McLennan County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -0.7% YoY, population +0.9%, wages +4.8%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.3x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Infrakey Data Center Campus
Infrakey
|
$10,000M | Proposed |
|
Prairie Hill Wind Farm
ENGIE
|
$300M | Operating |
|
Jaguar Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Perfect Power, LLC
|
$270M | Under Construction |
|
Markum Solar Farm
Scout Clean Energy (in partnership with Mortenson)
|
$209M | Operating |
|
Finch Storage Battery Project
Undisclosed
|
$201M | Planned |
|
Pepper Solar Power Plant
Sabanci Renewables
|
$156M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 32/100, McLennan County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $66,643 combined with job growth of +0.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in McLennan County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $243,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,173/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
McLennan County's population is growing — up +0.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.2%). Home values shifted -0.7% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.03% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests McLennan County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.