Henderson
RANK #160 / 996 NAT · #10 / 69 TX · POP 52,755
1YR FORECAST: +3.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
Rusk County, Texas, is often recognized for its deep ties to the East Texas Oil Field, a discovery in 1930 that dramatically reshaped the area. Located in the Piney Woods of East Texas, about 120 miles southeast of Dallas and 75 miles west-southwest of Shreveport, Louisiana, the county offers a rural feel with rolling hills, narrow valleys, and abundant forests. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for hiking, camping, fishing, and paddling at places like Martin Creek Lake State Park and the Texas State Railroad State Park. The county seat, Henderson, serves as a central hub, and residents generally experience a commute time around 23 minutes.
Life in Rusk County blends a sense of community with access to natural amenities. Families are served by several school districts, including Henderson ISD and Tatum ISD. While many residents own their homes, public transportation options like GoBus Transit provide curb-to-curb service within the county and to nearby urban areas like Longview and Tyler. The economy, historically driven by agriculture and oil, is seeing new developments, such as a $15 million project to revitalize the Henderson Overton Branch rail line, aiming to create jobs and enhance the county's industrial infrastructure.
Contracting economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.6x — home prices are low 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.
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 →
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Rusk County ranks #160 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 84/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 2.4% year-over-year). Median household income here is $61,661.
By national standards, Rusk County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $148,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.42 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $963/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Rusk County's job market is contracting (-2.4% YoY) while population is roughly stable (+0.4% change). Home values are +0.9% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
In significant numbers — 10.52% of Rusk 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.