RANK #412 / 996 · POP 60,053 · TX
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.0%
Van Zandt County, Texas, often called the "Free State of Van Zandt," is known for its independent spirit, a moniker that some attribute to its separation from a debt-laden Henderson County in 1848. Located about 50 miles east of Dallas, it serves as a gateway to East Texas, characterized by diverse topography ranging from prairies to post oak belts and piney woods. Canton, the county seat, hosts the First Monday Trade Days, a large and historic flea market that draws significant crowds monthly. The county offers outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, and picnicking, with local attractions like Lake Tawakoni.
Life in Van Zandt County offers a rural feel, with many residents owning their homes. Commuting options include a demand-response public transit system, GoBus, which provides in-county service and routes to nearby Tyler. The public school system includes several independent school districts, such as Canton ISD and Van ISD, with some schools ranking above average. The local economy is driven by sectors like retail trade, educational services, and construction. There is also ongoing activity in natural resource extraction, including oil, gas, and salt, with recent developments in energy-related projects.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Whiskey BESS (2 projects combined)
UR-Silo DevCo LLC
|
$358M | Planned |
|
Goldfinch Solar and Storage
BT DJ4M Solar LLC
|
$250M | Planned |
|
Wood Fern Wind Project
ACEDev for AES
|
$197M | Planned |
|
Amador Energy Storage Project
Taaleri Energia
|
$100M | Under Construction |
|
Caney Creek Solar
Taaleri Energia (Finland)
|
$60M | Planned |
|
Kellam Solar
Kellam Solar, LLC (under Belltown Power Texas)
|
$59M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Van Zandt County has a Boom Town Index score of 59/100, ranking #412 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.2% and a median household income of $62,334, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Van Zandt County is $181,300 with median rent at $981/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3438, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +2.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.2%. Home values changed +0.2% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 7.84% of Van Zandt County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.