RANK #353 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 72 TX · POP 65,162
1YR FORECAST: +0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +19%
Nacogdoches, known as "The Oldest Town in Texas," offers a distinctive blend of history and natural beauty. Located in East Texas, it sits about 140 miles northeast of Houston and 58 miles southeast of Tyler. The community maintains a relaxed atmosphere, with a typical commute time around 17 minutes. The area is heavily forested with pine, cypress, and oak, contributing to its high natural amenity rating. Residents and visitors can explore the 7-mile Lanana Creek Trail, enjoy Lake Nacogdoches for fishing and boating, or visit the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden, which boasts one of the most diverse azalea collections in the United States.
Life in Nacogdoches County is characterized by a close-knit community feel and a lower cost of living compared to larger metropolitan areas. Public schools in the county are generally above average, with several independent school districts serving the area, including Nacogdoches ISD and Central Heights ISD. The local economy is significantly influenced by Stephen F. Austin State University, which contributes to local economic activity and employment. Beyond the university, the economy is supported by sectors such as agriculture, particularly blueberry production, and manufacturing. Recent economic developments show continued investment in these established industries.
Nacogdoches County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +4.0% YoY, population +0.4%, wages +5.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.7x — 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 Nacogdoches County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Middlebrook Creek Solar and BESS
Solar Proponent LLC
|
$912M | Planned |
|
Spindletop (Banita Creek) Solar Farm with Battery Storage
Parliament Energy
|
$429M | Planned |
|
Sunlit Pines BESS SLF
Undisclosed
|
$208M | Planned |
|
Timberline Storage
Undisclosed
|
$101M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 64/100, Nacogdoches County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $53,555 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in TX.
Housing in Nacogdoches County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $169,200 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $965/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Nacogdoches County are both close to flat — population +0.4% YoY and jobs -0.2%. Home values shifted +4.0% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
In significant numbers — 7.47% of Nacogdoches 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.