RANK #4 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 72 TX · POP 145,863
1YR FORECAST: +6.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +44%
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.
Taylor County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +6.1% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 7.2x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
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 1001 counties.
Taylor County ranks #4 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 100/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +0.9% and a median household income of $67,139 point to a county with active economic momentum.
Housing in Taylor County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $198,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $1,159/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Taylor County's population is growing — up +1.1% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.9%). Home values shifted +6.1% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.89% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Taylor County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.1% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Taylor County is now valued at $198,600. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.