Abilene
RANK #99 / 996 NAT · #6 / 69 TX · POP 143,029
1YR FORECAST: +7.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +36%
Taylor County, Texas, is perhaps best known for Abilene, its county seat, which is 151 miles west of Fort Worth. The county is characterized by its Rolling Plains topography, featuring grasses, mesquite, and live oak trees, and is traversed by the Callahan Divide, a line of hills separating two major river watersheds. Residents and visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation at Lake Abilene, Kirby Lake, Lytle Lake, and Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir, which offer opportunities for water activities. The county also boasts parks like Murphy Park, with a fishing lake and one of North America's largest egret rookeries, and Abilene State Park, providing hiking and biking trails.
Life in Taylor County offers a blend of small-town atmosphere with access to urban amenities, attracting families and young professionals. Commute times to nearby cities like Austin can range from 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Public education is served by several school districts, including Abilene ISD and Wylie ISD. The economy is experiencing growth, particularly with significant investments in data centers and energy projects. These developments are expected to contribute to the local economy and create jobs in the region.
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.1x — 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Stargate AI Data Center Campus (OpenAI & Oracle)
Crusoe, OpenAI, Oracle
|
$3,500M | Under Construction |
|
Microsoft AI Factory Campus Expansion
Crusoe, Microsoft
|
$900M | Planned |
|
KDC Project Comal Data Center
KDC Real Estate Development and Investments
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Blueprint Projects Data Center
Blueprint Data Centers
|
$225M | Planned |
|
Taylor County Paul Storage (205 MW Battery)
DM-TCP, LLC
|
$205M | Planned |
|
Forts Trail Solar (201 MW Solar)
Undisclosed
|
$201M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Taylor County ranks #99 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 90/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.4% and a median household income of $61,806 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Taylor County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $169,800, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,063/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Taylor County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.4% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +4.2% over the past 12 months.
In significant numbers — 5.4% of Taylor 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.