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Hays County

TX · Pop. 256,429 · Mixed County

15/100Homestead Score

Hays County sits in Texas across 677 square miles, home to 256,429 people at 378.8 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, peppers. The median home price is $371,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.73%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 243-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.3°F and average winter lows of 39.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 37.6 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Ascension Seton Hays is 11.2 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.7% 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.

Property Tax: 1.73%
Growing Season: 243 days
Broadband: 96.7%
Density: 378.8/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 243-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • Broadband reaches 96.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Ascension Seton Hays, with an emergency room, is just 11.2 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.4% reflects a stable local job base.
  • A low poverty rate of 12% signals a relatively stable local economy.

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.
  • An effective property tax rate of 1.73% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.

At a glance

Hays County, TX is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
15/100
Median home price
$371k
Property tax
1.73%
Growing season
243 days (zone 8b)
Annual rainfall
37.6"
Broadband
96.7%
Nearest hospital
Ascension Seton Hays, 11.2 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate1.73%
Median Household Income$85,827
Poverty Rate12%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$371K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone8b
Growing Season243 days
Annual Rainfall37.6 inches
Avg Summer High92.3°F
Avg Winter Low39.8°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Peppers

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire9/10
Tornado10/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalAscension Seton Hays (11.2 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities5

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage96.7%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.4%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Hays County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Hays County?
Hays County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 243-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.3°F, and average winter lows of 39.8°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, peppers.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $371,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.73%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 96.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Ascension Seton Hays is 11.2 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 5 hospitals in the county.

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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.