Best counties to raise a family in Texas

Written by:
September 19, 2025
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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+)

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