RANK #70 / 1001 NAT · #4 / 72 TX · POP 129,996
1YR FORECAST: +1.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Wichita County, Texas, is perhaps best known for Wichita Falls, its county seat, which features a man-made waterfall in Lucy Park, recreating the original natural falls destroyed by a flood in 1886. Located in extreme north-central Texas on the Oklahoma border, Wichita County sits about 144 miles northwest of Dallas and 141 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. The area offers rolling plains and shallow valleys, drained by the Red and Wichita rivers. Residents experience a generally friendly, laid-back community with a small-town feel, even in the larger city of Wichita Falls. Commutes are typically quick, with an average travel time of 15 minutes. Outdoor recreation is accessible, with parks like Lucy Park and Lake Wichita offering trails for walking, jogging, and biking, as well as opportunities for fishing and paddleboarding.
Life in Wichita County is often characterized by its affordability and family-oriented atmosphere. The community is home to families and young professionals, with a notable presence of military personnel and retirees due to Sheppard Air Force Base. Public schools in the county are generally well-regarded. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture and oil, has diversified to include sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing. Recent economic developments have seen investments in technology infrastructure, including data centers, and continued activity in the energy sector.
Wichita County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.1% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 7.0x 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: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Wichita County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
TotalEnergies Wichita Solar (805 MW) & Battery Storage (150 MW)
TotalEnergies
|
$955M | Planned |
|
Short Creek Solar (628 MW)
|
$628M | Planned |
|
Kings Branch Data Center
KBDWFLLC (Wade Chapel)
|
$500M | Approved |
|
Copperleaf Energy Storage (307 MW)
|
$307M | Planned |
|
Wichita County Mawson Storage (154 MW)
Mawson Infrastructure Group
|
$154M | Planned |
|
Rio Star Energy Storage (144 MW)
|
$144M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Wichita County ranks #70 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 93/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 0.8% year-over-year). Median household income here is $63,524.
By national standards, Wichita County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $153,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.41 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,006/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Wichita County are both close to flat — population +0.1% YoY and jobs -0.8%. Home values shifted +2.1% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.34% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Wichita County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.