Bowie County
TX · Pop. 92,321 · Mixed County
Bowie County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Texas, spanning 885 square miles with 92,321 residents at a density of 104.3 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $161,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.3% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 226-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.3°F and average winter lows of 33.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 50.6 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Christus St Michael Health System is 20 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93% 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 226-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A median home price of $161,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 93% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
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 1.3% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Bowie County, TX is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 39/100
- Median home price
- $161k
- Property tax
- 1.3%
- Growing season
- 226 days (zone 8b)
- Annual rainfall
- 50.6"
- Broadband
- 93%
- Nearest hospital
- Christus St Michael Health System, 20 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Bowie County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Bowie County?
- Bowie County is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 226-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.3°F, and average winter lows of 33.5°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $161,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.3%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 93% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Christus St Michael Health System is 20 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 6 hospitals in the county.
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More counties in Texas
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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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