RANK #944 / 1001 NAT · #60 / 72 TX · POP 75,005
1YR FORECAST: -3.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +15%
Wise County, Texas, is often recognized first for its historic Wise County Courthouse in Decatur, a Romanesque Revival structure built in 1896 that anchors the county seat. Located in North Texas, approximately 35-40 miles northwest of Fort Worth, the county offers a blend of rural landscapes and small-town communities. Commutes to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are common, with options including personal vehicles on major highways like US 81/287 and US 380, and commuter vanpool programs. The area features rolling hills and natural scenery, with outdoor recreation centered around Lake Bridgeport and the LBJ National Grasslands, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, and camping.
Life in Wise County appeals to families and those seeking a slower pace, while still having access to urban amenities. The community is experiencing growth, with new residential developments. The economy is expanding, driven by investment in commercial and residential properties, as well as activity in sectors such as energy and infrastructure. This growth presents both opportunities and challenges for the county's towns.
Wise County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices -2.0% YoY, population +3.7%, wages +4.5%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 16.9x — 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 |
|---|---|---|
|
New Residential Developments (25,000+ homes)
Multiple Developers
|
$2,500M | Planned |
|
Wise County Battery Storage Portfolio (4 projects)
Multiple (e.g., Cleanview tracked projects)
|
$889M | Planned |
|
CyrusOne Data Center Campus
CyrusOne
|
$600M | Planned |
|
Wise Innovation Hub Data Center Complex
Wise Innovation Hub LLC / Red Post Energy
|
$500M | Proposed |
|
Wise Moves Thoroughfare Master Plan
Wise County
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Sandford Solar and Storage
Belltown Power Texas 2, LLC
|
$126M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Wise County scores just 5/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #944 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +2.8% and median household income of $93,421 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Wise County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $304,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,299/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Wise County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +3.7% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.8% clip. Home values shifted -2.0% in the past year.
In significant numbers — 5.66% of Wise 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.