RANK #228 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 72 TX · POP 62,649
1YR FORECAST: -0.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +33%
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.
Van Zandt County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.0% YoY, population +2.2%, wages +3.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 22.9x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
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 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 77/100, Van Zandt County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +0.7%, and median household income stands at $69,475 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in TX.
Housing in Van Zandt County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $222,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,066/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Van Zandt County's population is growing — up +2.2% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.7%). Home values shifted +1.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 6.31% of Van Zandt 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.