Parker County
TX · Pop. 158,079 · Mixed County
Parker County is a mixed rural-suburban county in Texas, spanning 904 square miles with 158,079 residents at a density of 174.9 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, wheat. A median home price of $344,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.45% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 219-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.8°F and average winter lows of 31.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 35.8 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Medical City Weatherford is 2.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 219-day growing season in USDA zone 8a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Medical City Weatherford, with an emergency room, is just 2.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.5% reflects a stable local job base.
- A low poverty rate of 7.8% 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.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.45% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Parker County, TX is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 33/100
- Median home price
- $344k
- Property tax
- 1.45%
- Growing season
- 219 days (zone 8a)
- Annual rainfall
- 35.8"
- Broadband
- 95.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Medical City Weatherford, 2.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Parker County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Parker County?
- Parker County is in USDA hardiness zone 8a with a 219-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.8°F, and average winter lows of 31.7°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, wheat.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $344,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.45%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Medical City Weatherford is 2.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
Explore Texas Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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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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