RANK #661 / 1001 NAT · #36 / 72 TX · POP 66,067
1YR FORECAST: +0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
The Roma Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, distinguishes Starr County with its preserved 19th-century border town architecture, showcasing unique molded brickwork and wrought iron balconies influenced by German architect Heinrich Portscheller. Located in South Texas, Starr County sits along the Rio Grande, approximately 100 miles from larger cities like Brownsville and Laredo. The community maintains a close-knit feel, with local events like the Starr County Fair and Fourth of July Parade. Outdoor recreation opportunities are available at Falcon State Park, offering birdwatching, fishing, and lake access, and the Roma Bluffs World Birding Center.
Life in Starr County is characterized by a strong sense of community, with many families owning their homes. Public schools in the county, including those in Rio Grande City and Roma, are considered above average. Commuting within Rio Grande City averages 23.1 minutes, shorter than the national average. The local economy is experiencing investment in energy, infrastructure, and government sectors. These developments aim to create more opportunities for residents, including those seeking skilled trades and engineering professions.
Starr County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -1.5% YoY, population +0.4%, wages +5.3%). 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
Housing looks overvalued at 10.0x — 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Cascabel Wind Project
BORDAS Renewable Energy
|
$400M | Planned |
|
Mesteño Wind Project
Deriva Energy (formerly E.ON Climate & Renewables)
|
$300M | Operating |
|
State Loop 195 (SL 195) Relief Route
TxDOT and RPM xConstruction
|
$240M | Under Construction |
|
Starr Solar Farm
Lightsource bp
|
$230M | Operating |
|
Border Barrier System
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
|
$100M | Proposed |
|
Las Americas Industrial Park
City of Roma
|
$50M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 33/100, Starr County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $37,639 combined with job growth of +2.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, Starr County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $95,100, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.40 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $726/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Starr County are hiring — job growth of +2.1% — but the population is close to flat (+0.4% YoY). Home values moved -1.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.11% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Starr County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.