51 / 100

Lamar County, TX

RANK #485 / 996  ·  POP 50,149  ·  TX

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.8%

Lamar County sits in the middle of the pack — stable but not accelerating.

[01] Why Lamar County?

Lamar County, Texas, is perhaps best known for its county seat, Paris, which features a 65-foot-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower, uniquely topped with a red cowboy hat. Located in Northeast Texas, approximately 100 miles northeast of Dallas, the county offers a blend of small-town living and access to natural scenery. The gently rolling terrain is characterized by pasture and farmlands, with scattered timber. Residents and visitors can enjoy outdoor recreation at Pat Mayse Lake, a 6,000-acre reservoir popular for boating, fishing, and camping, as well as Lake Crook. The Trail de Paris, part of the larger Northeast Texas Trail, provides opportunities for walking, running, and non-powered wheeled activities.

Life in Lamar County generally offers a tranquil community atmosphere, with a mix of single-family homes and other housing options. The average commute time is under 20 minutes, and public schools in the county are rated above average. The local economy is supported by various sectors, including a notable concentration in manufacturing. Healthcare support occupations are also projected to see growth in the coming year. The county's workforce draws from a broad regional radius, contributing to its economic activity.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
2.7x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+1.3%

Well below national median

Home Prices
+3.2%

Outpacing national median

Climate & Terrain
0.4

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Above national median (13x)

Housing looks undervalued at 2.7x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Lamar County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
50,149
+0.43% YoY
Median Household Income
$58,246
Median Home Value
$152,800
+3.22% 12mo
Median Rent
$847
Average Annual Pay
$52,468
-0.5% YoY
Employment
22,350
+1.6% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3812
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
3.72%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$228,000
Days on Market
105
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.6
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
93.3%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
8.1%
Listings w/ Price Drops
34.1%
Building Permits (2024)
117
Single-Family Permits
30

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,275M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Mockingbird Solar Center
Ørsted
$500M Under Construction
Bug Tussle Wind Ranch
Bug Tussle Wind, LLC (Cielo Wind Power, LLC affiliate)
$300M Planned
Delilah I Solar Energy Center
Invenergy (majority owned by WEC Energy Group)
$300M Operating
Huhtamaki Expansion
Huhtamaki
$75M Planned
Ametsa Packaging, LLC Plant
Ametsa Packaging, LLC
$50M Operating
Universal Fabricating US Location
Universal Fabricating
$50M Under Construction

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +1.3% 23 percentile
Population Growth +0.4% 49 percentile
Income Growth +13.0% 97 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.3% 30 percentile
Home Price Change +3.2% 74 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 35 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lamar County, TX a good place to move to?

Lamar County has a Boom Town Index score of 51/100, ranking #485 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.6% and a median household income of $58,246, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Lamar County affordable?

The median home value in Lamar County is $152,800 with median rent at $847/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3812, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Lamar County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.6%. Home values changed +3.2% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Lamar County?

Yes — 3.72% of Lamar County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Bedford County, TN 61 Douglas County, NE 61 Lawrence County, PA 61 Carroll County, NH 61 Barnstable County, MA 61 Cumberland County, TN 61 Washington County, VA 61 Crow Wing County, MN 61