Wood County
TX · Pop. 46,094 · Suburban County
Wood County is a suburban county in Texas, spanning 645 square miles with 46,094 residents at a density of 71.5 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, melons. A median home price of $195,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.93% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 250-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.8°F and average winter lows of 35.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 44.6 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. UT Health East Texas Quitman Hospital is 3.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 250-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.93% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $195,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 96.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- UT Health East Texas Quitman Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 3.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- Flood risk is high, so low-lying parcels deserve careful evaluation before purchase.
At a glance
Wood County, TX is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 70/100
- Median home price
- $195k
- Property tax
- 0.93%
- Growing season
- 250 days (zone 8b)
- Annual rainfall
- 44.6"
- Broadband
- 96.7%
- Nearest hospital
- UT Health East Texas Quitman Hospital, 3.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Wood County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Wood County?
- Wood County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 250-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.8°F, and average winter lows of 35.4°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, melons.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $195,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.93%. 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?
- UT Health East Texas Quitman Hospital is 3.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
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More counties in Texas
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The closest counties to Wood County by distance, including across state lines.
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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