RANK #241 / 1001 NAT · #7 / 72 TX · POP 165,168
1YR FORECAST: -0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
Parker County, Texas, is often recognized for Weatherford, its county seat, known as the "Peach Capital of Texas" and the "Cutting Horse Capital of the World." Located about 30 miles west of Fort Worth, the county offers a blend of small-town atmosphere and access to urban amenities. The landscape features rolling hills, open spaces, and trees like mesquite, oak, walnut, and pecan, particularly along streams and valleys. Outdoor recreation is available at Lake Weatherford for boating and fishing, and Lake Mineral Wells State Park for hiking and camping. The county also has parks like Holland Lake Park and Soldier Spring Park, offering trails and green spaces.
Life in Parker County appeals to families seeking a quieter lifestyle with highly-rated public schools, including districts like Aledo, Weatherford, and Brock ISDs. The community maintains a strong sense of local pride, with events such as the Parker County Peach Festival and various rodeos. The economy is experiencing growth, driven by residential and commercial development, with new communities emerging. Infrastructure investments, including transportation improvements, support this expansion. Agriculture, particularly livestock, dairy, and peaches, remains a component of the local economy.
Parker County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -0.2% YoY, population +4.5%, wages +4.2%). 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
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 24.5x — 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 Parker County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties · counties where safety is improving.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Parker County Transportation Bond Projects
Parker County
|
$2,000M | Under Construction |
|
Nabla Energy Storage I
|
$750M | Planned |
|
Nabla Energy Storage II
|
$750M | Planned |
|
Gigawatt Solar
|
$502M | Planned |
|
Walsh Ranch Master-Planned Community
Walsh Companies
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Veale Ranch Master-Planned Community
|
$500M | Under Construction |
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 76/100, Parker County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +3.3%, and median household income stands at $104,443 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in TX.
Housing in Parker County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $375,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,500/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Parker County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +4.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.3% clip. Home values shifted -0.2% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 6.28% of Parker 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.