Best counties to raise a family in Texas
Best counties to raise a family in Texas
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Texas using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Galveston County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 354,721
– Median household income: $85,348
– Median home value: $284,900
– Top places to live: Friendswood (A+), League City (A+), Kemah (A)
#24. Ellis County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 203,927
– Median household income: $95,898
– Median home value: $306,400
– Top places to live: Oak Leaf (A), Midlothian (A-), Ovilla (A-)
#23. Chambers County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 49,178
– Median household income: $108,114
– Median home value: $289,900
– Top places to live: Mont Belvieu (A), Old River-Winfree (A), Winnie (B)
#22. Titus County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 31,284
– Median household income: $59,220
– Median home value: $157,900
– Top places to live: Mount Pleasant (B), Winfield (B), Talco (C)
#21. Bell County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 379,811
– Median household income: $66,051
– Median home value: $221,100
– Top places to live: Nolanville (A), Morgan’s Point Resort (A-), Harker Heights (A-)
#20. Dallas County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 2,603,816
– Median household income: $74,149
– Median home value: $277,900
– Top places to live: Coppell (A+), University Park (A+), Sherrill Park North/Foxboro Addition (A+)
#19. Randall County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (B), weather (A), outdoor activities (C)
– Population: 143,791
– Median household income: $80,905
– Median home value: $227,500
– Top places to live: Canyon (A+), Timbercreek Canyon (A), Lake Tanglewood (B)
#18. Smith County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 238,014
– Median household income: $71,923
– Median home value: $220,800
– Top places to live: Bullard (A), Emerald Bay (A), Tyler (A-)
#17. Burleson County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 18,327
– Median household income: $72,888
– Median home value: $174,000
– Top places to live: Caldwell (A), Somerville (B+), Snook (B+)
#16. Lubbock County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (A), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 314,633
– Median household income: $63,367
– Median home value: $199,600
– Top places to live: Wolfforth (A), Lubbock (A-), Shallowater (A-)
#15. Hays County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 256,429
– Median household income: $85,827
– Median home value: $371,400
– Top places to live: Dripping Springs (A), Buda (A), Kyle (B+)
#14. McLennan County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 263,608
– Median household income: $63,888
– Median home value: $219,200
– Top places to live: Woodway (A+), Hewitt (A), Lorena (A-)
#13. Brazoria County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 381,650
– Median household income: $95,155
– Median home value: $276,800
– Top places to live: Pearland (A+), Manvel (A-), Lake Jackson (A-)
#12. Harris County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 4,758,579
– Median household income: $73,104
– Median home value: $255,000
– Top places to live: Taylor Lake Village (A+), Museum Park (A+), Neartown – Montrose (A+)
#11. Travis County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (C), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 1,307,625
– Median household income: $97,169
– Median home value: $487,600
– Top places to live: Triangle State (A+), North Shoal Creek (A+), East Cesar Chavez (A+)
#10. Montgomery County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), cost of living (B-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 654,722
– Median household income: $97,266
– Median home value: $317,500
– Top places to live: The Woodlands (A+), Oak Ridge North (A+), Conroe (A-)
#9. Robertson County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (A), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 16,973
– Median household income: $66,250
– Median home value: $172,700
– Top places to live: Hearne (C+), Franklin (A-), Calvert (A-)
#8. Kendall County
– Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 46,971
– Median household income: $110,498
– Median home value: $489,800
– Top places to live: Boerne (A), Comfort (B-)
#7. Comal County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 174,552
– Median household income: $99,015
– Median home value: $398,800
– Top places to live: Fair Oaks Ranch (A), Bulverde (A), Garden Ridge (A)
#6. Williamson County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A-), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 643,889
– Median household income: $108,309
– Median home value: $414,600
– Top places to live: Brushy Creek (A+), Cedar Park (A+), Leander (A+)
#5. Hansford County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C-)
– Population: 5,182
– Median household income: $68,299
– Median home value: $132,100
– Top places to live: Spearman (A), Gruver (A), Morse (B)
#4. Denton County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
– Population: 945,644
– Median household income: $108,185
– Median home value: $403,400
– Top places to live: Flower Mound (A+), Trophy Club (A+), Highland Village (A+)
#3. Rockwall County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
– Population: 116,931
– Median household income: $124,917
– Median home value: $386,000
– Top places to live: Heath (A+), Rockwall (A+), McLendon-Chisholm (A)
#2. Collin County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
– Population: 1,116,601
– Median household income: $117,588
– Median home value: $447,600
– Top places to live: Preston Highlands (A+), Frisco (A+), Timberbrook (A+)
#1. Fort Bend County
– Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A+), cost of living (C+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (A-)
– Population: 859,721
– Median household income: $113,409
– Median home value: $350,300
– Top places to live: Cinco Ranch (A+), Sugar Land (A+), Fulshear (A+)
