Erath County
TX · Pop. 43,244 · Suburban County
Erath County sits in Texas across 1,083 square miles, home to 43,244 people at 39.9 per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. The median home price is $252,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.13%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 228-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.9°F and average winter lows of 32.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 31.5 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville is 1.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.5% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 228-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- Broadband reaches 96.5% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville, with an emergency room, is just 1.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.6% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
At a glance
Erath County, TX is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 60/100
- Median home price
- $252k
- Property tax
- 1.13%
- Growing season
- 228 days (zone 8a)
- Annual rainfall
- 31.5"
- Broadband
- 96.5%
- Nearest hospital
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville, 1.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Erath County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Erath County?
- Erath County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 228-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.9°F, and average winter lows of 32.7°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $252,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.13%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.5% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville is 1.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Texas Resources
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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