Best counties to live in Texas

- Overall Rank: 319
- Population: 42,788
- Median household income: $59,654
- Median home value: $219,600 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,070 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Dublin Elementary School (grade A), Henderson Junior High School (grade A), Hook Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Stephenville Christian School (grade unavailable), SILVER SADDLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Stephenville (grade A minus), Dublin (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 317
- Population: 372,821
- Median household income: $62,858
- Median home value: $196,300 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,095 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Holland Middle School (grade A), Lakewood Elementary School (grade A), Sparta Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Central Texas Christian School (grade A minus), Holy Trinity Catholic High School (grade A minus), Memorial Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Morgan's Point Resort (grade A), Harker Heights (grade A minus), Nolanville (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 298
- Population: 13,556
- Median household income: $65,768
- Median home value: $139,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $814 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Madisonville Intermediate School (grade A minus), Madisonville Junior High School (grade A minus), Madisonville High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Madisonville (grade A minus), Midway (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 294
- Population: 374,600
- Median household income: $91,972
- Median home value: $256,900 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,333 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Glenda Dawson High School (grade A+), Silvercrest Elementary School (grade A), Challenger Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Brazosport Christian School (grade B+), Angleton Christian School (grade B+), Living Stones Christian School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Pearland (grade A+), Lake Jackson (grade A), Manvel (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 284
- Population: 2,604,053
- Median household income: $70,732
- Median home value: $252,200 (51% own)
- Median rent: $1,374 (49% rent)
- Top public schools: School for the Talented & Gifted (grade A+), School of Science & Engineering (grade A+), Coppell High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Mark's School of Texas (grade A+), Greenhill School (grade A+), The Hockaday School (grade A+)
- Top places: Coppell (grade A+), University Park (grade A+), Sherrill Park North/Foxboro Addition (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 281
- Population: 35,807
- Median household income: $70,043
- Median home value: $248,300 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,025 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Dripping Springs High School (grade A+), Burton Elementary School (grade A minus), Harper Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: First Baptist Church School (grade unavailable), St. Paul's Christian Day School (grade unavailable), Citadel Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Brenham (grade A minus), Burton (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 257
- Population: 350,801
- Median household income: $83,913
- Median home value: $260,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,301 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Friendswood High School (grade A+), Westwood Elementary School (grade A), Windsong Intermediate School (grade A)
- Top private schools: O'Connell College Preparatory School (grade A), Bay Area Christian School (grade B+), Trinity Episcopal School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Friendswood (grade A+), League City (grade A+), Kemah (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 254
- Population: 234,667
- Median household income: $69,053
- Median home value: $201,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,129 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Stanton-Smith Elementary School (grade A), Lindale Junior High School (grade A), Gus Winston Cain Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Brook Hill School (grade A+), Bishop Thomas K. Gorman Catholic School (grade A+), All Saints Episcopal School (grade A+)
- Top places: Bullard (grade A minus), Tyler (grade A minus), Hideaway (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 246
- Population: 16,912
- Median household income: $59,410
- Median home value: $156,800 (75% own)
- Median rent: $781 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Franklin Middle School (grade A), Mumford Elementary School (grade A), Roland Reynolds Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Hearne (grade B minus), Franklin (grade A minus), Calvert (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 245
- Population: 4,726,177
- Median household income: $70,789
- Median home value: $235,300 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,269 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Carnegie Vanguard High School (grade A+), Debakey H.S. for Health Prof (grade A+), Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. John's School (grade A+), The Awty International School (grade A+), The Village School (grade A+)
- Top places: Washington Avenue Coalition / Memorial Park (grade A+), Neartown - Montrose (grade A+), Memorial (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 238
- Population: 119,276
- Median household income: $67,215
- Median home value: $177,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,024 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Wall Middle School (grade A), Wall Elementary School (grade A), Wall High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cornerstone Christian School (grade A), San Angelo Christian Academy (grade A minus), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: San Angelo (grade A minus), Carlsbad (grade B+), Christoval (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 233
- Population: 5,270
- Median household income: $62,350
- Median home value: $101,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $823 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Gruver Junior High School (grade A), Gruver Elementary School (grade A), Spearman Junior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Spearman (grade A minus), Gruver (grade A minus), Morse (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 224
- Population: 9,337
- Median household income: $87,899
- Median home value: $246,600 (82% own)
- Median rent: $853 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Glen Rose Intermediate School (grade A), Glen Rose Junior High School (grade A minus), Glen Rose High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Glen Rose (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 217
- Population: 261,090
- Median household income: $59,781
- Median home value: $196,400 (60% own)
- Median rent: $1,048 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Midway High School (grade A+), River Valley Middle School (grade A), South Bosque Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Vanguard College Preparatory School (grade A+), Live Oak Classical School (grade A), Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School (grade A)
- Top places: Woodway (grade A+), Hewitt (grade A), Lorena (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 213
- Population: 17,958
- Median household income: $71,745
- Median home value: $154,700 (79% own)
- Median rent: $977 (21% rent)
- Top public schools: Caldwell Middle School (grade A minus), Snook Elementary School (grade A minus), Caldwell Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: First Baptist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Caldwell (grade A minus), Snook (grade B+), Somerville (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 208
- Population: 143,029
- Median household income: $61,806
- Median home value: $169,800 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,063 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: Academy for Technology, Engineering, Math & Science (ATEMS) (grade A), Wylie East J.H. (grade A), Wylie West Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. John's Episcopal School (grade unavailable), Cornerstone Christian School (grade unavailable), A Habitat for Learning (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Potosi (grade A), Abilene (grade A minus), Tye (grade B)

- Overall Rank: 195
- Population: 245,351
- Median household income: $79,990
- Median home value: $335,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,355 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Sycamore Springs Elementary School (grade A+), Sycamore Springs Middle School (grade A), Dripping Springs Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: San Marcos Academy (grade A+), AESA Prep Academy (grade A), Hill Country Christian School of San Marcos (grade B)
- Top places: Dripping Springs (grade A), Buda (grade A minus), Wimberley (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 154
- Population: 234,548
- Median household income: $57,562
- Median home value: $260,800 (47% own)
- Median rent: $1,120 (53% rent)
- Top public schools: College Station High School (grade A+), Wellborn Middle (grade A+), A&M Consolidated High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Allen Academy (grade A+), Brazos Christian School (grade A), Brazos Valley Cornerstone Christian Academy (grade A)
- Top places: College Station (grade A), Bryan (grade A minus), Wixon Valley (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 139
- Population: 629,989
- Median household income: $95,946
- Median home value: $293,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,416 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: The Woodlands High School (grade A+), College Park High School (grade A+), Sam Houston State University Charter School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The John Cooper School (grade A+), The Woodlands Christian Academy (grade A+), Esprit International School (grade A)
- Top places: The Woodlands (grade A+), Oak Ridge North (grade A+), Conroe (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 127
- Population: 9,454
- Median household income: $47,747
- Median home value: $200,500 (60% own)
- Median rent: $780 (40% rent)
- Top public schools: Alpine Middle School (grade B+), Alpine High School (grade B+), Alpine Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Alpine Christian School (grade unavailable), Alpine Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Alpine (grade A), Marathon (grade B+), Study Butte (grade unavailable)

- Overall Rank: 120
- Population: 141,489
- Median household income: $78,038
- Median home value: $209,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Hillside Elementary School (grade A), Reeves-Hinger Elementary School (grade A), Canyon Junior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Ascension Academy (grade A+), Holy Cross Catholic Academy (grade A minus), St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Canyon (grade A+), Timbercreek Canyon (grade A), Lake Tanglewood (grade B+)

- Overall Rank: 111
- Population: 165,201
- Median household income: $93,744
- Median home value: $369,400 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,390 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Rahe Bulverde Elementary School (grade A), Hoffmann Lane Elementary School (grade A), Smithson Valley Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. John Paul II Catholic High School (grade A), Living Rock Academy (grade A), New Braunfels Christian Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places: Fair Oaks Ranch (grade A), Garden Ridge (grade A), New Braunfels (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 97
- Population: 311,509
- Median household income: $61,911
- Median home value: $183,700 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,087 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: Crestview Elementary School (grade A+), Talkington School for Young Women Leaders (grade A+), Bennett Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: All Saints Episcopal School (grade A+), Christ the King Diocesan Schools (grade A+), Lubbock Christian School (grade A)
- Top places: Wolfforth (grade A), Lubbock (grade A), Shallowater (grade A minus)

- Overall Rank: 93
- Population: 45,376
- Median household income: $104,196
- Median home value: $464,100 (76% own)
- Median rent: $1,455 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Voss Middle School (grade A), Herff Elementary School (grade A), Boerne-Samuel V. Champion High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Geneva School of Boerne (grade A+), Crestmont Christian Preparatory School (grade A), Hill Country Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Boerne (grade A), Comfort (grade B minus)

- Overall Rank: 57
- Population: 617,396
- Median household income: $102,851
- Median home value: $370,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,597 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Westwood High IB World School (grade A+), Meridian World School (grade A+), Round Rock High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Hill Country Christian School of Austin (grade A+), Round Rock Christian Academy (grade A), St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School (grade A)
- Top places: Brushy Creek (grade A+), Cedar Park (grade A+), Leander (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 36
- Population: 1,289,054
- Median household income: $92,731
- Median home value: $444,800 (53% own)
- Median rent: $1,561 (47% rent)
- Top public schools: Liberal Arts & Science Academy (grade A+), Westlake High School (grade A+), Vandegrift High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: St. Stephen's Episcopal School (grade A+), Austin Peace Academy (grade A+), St. Andrew's Episcopal School (grade A+)
- Top places: Triangle State (grade A+), Downtown (grade A+), Hyde Park (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 34
- Population: 110,631
- Median household income: $121,303
- Median home value: $363,500 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,779 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: New El #15 (grade A), New Elementary School (grade A), Rockwall-Heath High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Heritage Christian Academy (grade A), The Fulton School (grade unavailable), Providence Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Heath (grade A+), Rockwall (grade A+), Fate (grade A)

- Overall Rank: 33
- Population: 914,870
- Median household income: $104,180
- Median home value: $377,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,496 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Flower Mound High School (grade A+), Reedy High School (grade A+), Wakeland High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Clariden School (grade A+), Liberty Christian School (grade A+), Selwyn School (grade A)
- Top places: Flower Mound (grade A+), Trophy Club (grade A+), Highland Village (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 15
- Population: 832,607
- Median household income: $109,987
- Median home value: $329,600 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,669 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Seven Lakes High School (grade A+), Obra D. Tompkins High School (grade A+), Clements High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Fort Bend Christian Academy (grade A+), Logos Preparatory Academy (grade A), Calvary Episcopal Preparatory (grade A)
- Top places: Cinco Ranch (grade A+), Sugar Land (grade A+), New Territory (grade A+)

- Overall Rank: 4
- Population: 1,079,153
- Median household income: $113,255
- Median home value: $411,100 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,689 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Liberty High School (grade A+), Plano East Senior High School (grade A+), Jasper High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: John Paul II High School (grade A+), Prince of Peace Christian School (grade A+), Spring Creek Academy (grade A)
- Top places: Timberbrook (grade A+), Preston Highlands (grade A+), Frisco (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.