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Wichita County, TX

RANK #710 / 996  ·  POP 129,584  ·  TX

PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.0%

Wichita County is shedding jobs at a pace that outstrips most U.S. counties.

[01] Why Wichita County?

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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
2.8x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+0.8%

Well below national median

Home Prices
-1.0%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.8

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
9x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 2.8x — 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

Wichita County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
129,584
+0.13% YoY
Median Household Income
$58,862
Median Home Value
$129,000
-0.99% 12mo
Median Rent
$937
Average Annual Pay
$52,232
+3.8% YoY
Employment
53,210
-1.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.4563
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
4.88%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$200,000
Days on Market
86
Slower market
Months of Supply
4.8
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
94.4%
Negotiation room for buyers
Listings w/ Price Drops
23.9%
Building Permits (2024)
201
Single-Family Permits
179

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

[05] Capital Investment

$2,688M
TOTAL
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.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +0.8% 14 percentile
Population Growth +0.1% 36 percentile
Income Growth +10.5% 85 percentile
Vacancy Rate 2.8% 2 percentile
Home Price Change -1.0% 21 percentile
Rent Growth +4.7% 75 percentile
Price/Rent 9x 98 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

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

Wichita County has a Boom Town Index score of 29/100, ranking #710 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.3% and a median household income of $58,862, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Wichita County affordable?

The median home value in Wichita County is $129,000 with median rent at $937/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4563, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Wichita County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.3%. Home values changed -1.0% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Wichita County?

Yes — 4.88% of Wichita County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Douglas County, OR 39 Lauderdale County, AL 39 Walton County, GA 39 Coffee County, TN 39 Alexandria city, VA 39 Clarke County, GA 39 Yuma County, AZ 39 Sumter County, SC 39