Ranked from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
Driest Counties in Texas
The least rainfall in the country. Dry is easier on a building than wet, but it moves the cost somewhere else: irrigation, foundation movement in shrink-swell soils, and in the driest counties the price and reliability of water itself. Figures are NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals from the weather station nearest each county seat, so they describe a thirty-year average rather than any single year.
Where does yours land?
Every county in America is somewhere on this scale, including the one you live in.
Texas ranked
| # | County | Annual rainfall | FEMA risk rating | Median home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso County | 8.8" | Relatively High | $167,300 |
| 2 | Terrell County | 9.8" | Very Low | $152,200 |
| 3 | Culberson County | 9.8" | Very Low | $84,500 |
| 4 | Hudspeth County | 9.8" | Very Low | $57,400 |
| 5 | Reeves County | 10.1" | Very Low | $113,700 |
| 6 | Brewster County | 10.8" | Very Low | $216,000 |
| 7 | Crane County | 12.1" | Very Low | $119,900 |
| 8 | Winkler County | 12.6" | Very Low | $121,200 |
| 9 | Pecos County | 12.8" | Very Low | $142,900 |
| 10 | Ector County | 12.9" | Relatively Moderate | $190,500 |
| 11 | Ward County | 13.4" | Very Low | $138,800 |
| 12 | Martin County | 13.5" | Very Low | $162,200 |
| 13 | Midland County | 13.5" | Relatively Moderate | $293,000 |
| 14 | Andrews County | 14.0" | Very Low | $188,200 |
| 15 | Upton County | 14.8" | Very Low | $106,300 |
| 16 | Dallam County | 15.6" | Relatively Low | $140,500 |
| 17 | Hartley County | 15.6" | Very Low | $213,200 |
| 18 | Yoakum County | 16.2" | Relatively Low | $183,000 |
| 19 | Dawson County | 16.8" | Very Low | $90,800 |
| 20 | Gaines County | 17.2" | Relatively Low | $185,300 |
| 21 | Cochran County | 17.6" | Very Low | $57,700 |
| 22 | Moore County | 17.7" | Relatively Low | $135,400 |
| 23 | Bailey County | 17.9" | Very Low | $104,400 |
| 24 | Lamb County | 17.9" | Relatively Low | $76,600 |
| 25 | Terry County | 18.1" | Relatively Low | $111,200 |
| 26 | Reagan County | 18.2" | Very Low | $163,700 |
| 27 | Hockley County | 18.3" | Relatively Low | $112,700 |
| 28 | Lubbock County | 18.3" | Relatively High | $199,600 |
| 29 | Hale County | 18.4" | Relatively Low | $106,100 |
| 30 | Randall County | 18.4" | Relatively Moderate | $227,500 |
| 31 | Sherman County | 18.5" | Very Low | $125,500 |
| 32 | Hutchinson County | 18.6" | Relatively Low | $102,200 |
| 33 | Oldham County | 18.8" | Very Low | $144,800 |
| 34 | Jeff Davis County | 19.0" | Very Low | $234,400 |
| 35 | Presidio County | 19.0" | Very Low | $123,100 |
| 36 | Parmer County | 19.3" | Relatively Moderate | $127,300 |
| 37 | Deaf Smith County | 19.3" | Relatively Low | $116,000 |
| 38 | Borden County | 19.4" | Very Low | $105,400 |
| 39 | Zavala County | 19.5" | Relatively Low | $88,100 |
| 40 | Dimmit County | 19.6" | Very Low | $80,300 |
| 41 | Glasscock County | 19.6" | Very Low | $248,600 |
| 42 | Howard County | 19.6" | Relatively Low | $150,300 |
| 43 | Potter County | 19.7" | Relatively Moderate | $134,900 |
| 44 | Crockett County | 19.8" | Very Low | $140,000 |
| 45 | Floyd County | 20.2" | Very Low | $101,000 |
| 46 | Sterling County | 20.4" | Very Low | $143,200 |
| 47 | Zapata County | 20.4" | Very Low | $88,800 |
| 48 | Swisher County | 20.5" | Very Low | $89,200 |
| 49 | Hansford County | 20.6" | Very Low | $132,100 |
| 50 | Lynn County | 20.7" | Very Low | $130,800 |
| 51 | Val Verde County | 20.8" | Relatively Low | $151,500 |
| 52 | Maverick County | 20.8" | Relatively Low | $151,500 |
| 53 | Tom Green County | 20.9" | Relatively Low | $186,700 |
| 54 | Castro County | 21.0" | Very Low | $94,900 |
| 55 | Carson County | 21.1" | Very Low | $140,600 |
| 56 | Webb County | 21.4" | Relatively Moderate | $178,900 |
| 57 | Coke County | 21.4" | Very Low | $112,900 |
| 58 | Irion County | 21.6" | Very Low | $152,600 |
| 59 | La Salle County | 21.7" | Very Low | $101,000 |
| 60 | Briscoe County | 21.7" | Very Low | $82,900 |
| 61 | Crosby County | 21.7" | Very Low | $75,500 |
| 62 | Scurry County | 21.8" | Very Low | $110,800 |
| 63 | Schleicher County | 21.9" | Very Low | $113,400 |
| 64 | Mitchell County | 22.0" | Very Low | $85,700 |
| 65 | Collingsworth County | 22.1" | Very Low | $108,400 |
| 66 | Garza County | 22.1" | Very Low | $79,300 |
| 67 | Kimble County | 22.5" | Very Low | $173,100 |
| 68 | Starr County | 22.5" | Relatively Moderate | $93,300 |
| 69 | Dickens County | 22.5" | Very Low | $65,000 |
| 70 | Lipscomb County | 22.6" | Very Low | $128,400 |
| 71 | Armstrong County | 22.7" | Very Low | $185,700 |
| 72 | Donley County | 22.7" | Very Low | $90,500 |
| 73 | Sutton County | 22.7" | Very Low | $140,600 |
| 74 | Jim Hogg County | 22.7" | Relatively Low | $125,600 |
| 75 | Gray County | 22.8" | Relatively Low | $100,400 |
| 76 | Ochiltree County | 22.8" | Very Low | $137,200 |
| 77 | Motley County | 23.0" | Very Low | $81,100 |
| 78 | Cameron County | 23.3" | Relatively High | $120,000 |
| 79 | Kent County | 23.3" | Very Low | $108,900 |
| 80 | Runnels County | 23.4" | Very Low | $103,700 |
| 81 | Fisher County | 23.5" | Very Low | $77,600 |
| 82 | Stonewall County | 23.6" | Very Low | $54,700 |
| 83 | Hidalgo County | 23.6" | Relatively High | $124,000 |
| 84 | Childress County | 23.7" | Very Low | $115,100 |
| 85 | Hall County | 23.7" | Very Low | $80,200 |
| 86 | Cottle County | 23.9" | Very Low | $54,100 |
| 87 | Nolan County | 23.9" | Very Low | $98,300 |
| 88 | Willacy County | 24.0" | Relatively Low | $60,800 |
| 89 | Hemphill County | 24.1" | Very Low | $214,900 |
| 90 | Roberts County | 24.1" | Very Low | $176,800 |
| 91 | Kinney County | 24.3" | Very Low | $88,500 |
| 92 | Menard County | 24.3" | Very Low | $105,300 |
| 93 | Medina County | 24.9" | Relatively Low | $220,000 |
| 94 | Uvalde County | 24.9" | Relatively Low | $144,400 |
| 95 | Frio County | 25.0" | Relatively Low | $110,100 |
| 96 | Callahan County | 25.2" | Very Low | $144,800 |
| 97 | Taylor County | 25.2" | Relatively Moderate | $190,300 |
| 98 | Wheeler County | 25.3" | Very Low | $97,600 |
| 99 | Jones County | 25.4" | Very Low | $92,700 |
| 100 | Knox County | 25.4" | Very Low | $66,800 |
| 101 | Hardeman County | 25.6" | Very Low | $76,500 |
| 102 | McMullen County | 25.6" | Very Low | $108,800 |
| 103 | Edwards County | 26.0" | Very Low | $78,300 |
| 104 | Foard County | 26.3" | Very Low | $71,400 |
| 105 | Concho County | 26.5" | Very Low | $105,800 |
| 106 | Live Oak County | 26.5" | Very Low | $142,300 |
| 107 | Haskell County | 26.9" | Very Low | $92,000 |
| 108 | Duval County | 27.0" | Relatively Low | $86,400 |
| 109 | Kleberg County | 27.0" | Relatively Moderate | $152,200 |
| 110 | Jim Wells County | 27.1" | Relatively Moderate | $104,800 |
| 111 | McCulloch County | 27.4" | Very Low | $104,400 |
| 112 | Brooks County | 27.4" | Relatively Low | $82,700 |
| 113 | Llano County | 27.6" | Relatively Low | $322,300 |
| 114 | Coleman County | 27.9" | Very Low | $91,200 |
| 115 | Wichita County | 27.9" | Relatively Moderate | $141,600 |
| 116 | Wilbarger County | 28.4" | Relatively Low | $98,800 |
| 117 | Aransas County | 28.4" | Relatively Low | $236,800 |
| 118 | Burnet County | 28.4" | Relatively Low | $310,500 |
| 119 | San Saba County | 28.6" | Very Low | $161,800 |
| 120 | Mason County | 28.9" | Very Low | $274,600 |
| 121 | Shackelford County | 28.9" | Very Low | $176,900 |
| 122 | Baylor County | 29.0" | Very Low | $93,300 |
| 123 | Eastland County | 29.2" | Very Low | $121,700 |
| 124 | Throckmorton County | 29.5" | Very Low | $84,200 |
| 125 | Stephens County | 29.7" | Very Low | $105,700 |
| 126 | Young County | 30.0" | Very Low | $165,300 |
| 127 | Mills County | 30.4" | Very Low | $200,200 |
| 128 | Gillespie County | 30.6" | Relatively Low | $432,300 |
| 129 | Brown County | 30.6" | Relatively Low | $149,900 |
| 130 | Bexar County | 31.3" | Relatively High | $244,100 |
| 131 | Guadalupe County | 31.3" | Relatively Moderate | $285,900 |
| 132 | Atascosa County | 31.5" | Relatively Low | $157,400 |
| 133 | Hamilton County | 31.6" | Very Low | $124,800 |
| 134 | Karnes County | 31.6" | Relatively Low | $136,900 |
| 135 | Wilson County | 31.6" | Relatively Low | $286,300 |
| 136 | Nueces County | 31.7" | Relatively High | $194,700 |
| 137 | Comanche County | 31.8" | Relatively Low | $137,800 |
| 138 | Bee County | 31.9" | Relatively Low | $102,800 |
| 139 | Clay County | 32.0" | Very Low | $161,300 |
| 140 | Lampasas County | 32.2" | Very Low | $236,000 |
| 141 | Archer County | 32.5" | Very Low | $175,300 |
| 142 | Jack County | 32.7" | Very Low | $174,800 |
| 143 | San Patricio County | 33.0" | Relatively Moderate | $180,400 |
| 144 | Blanco County | 33.0" | Very Low | $396,200 |
| 145 | Erath County | 34.1" | Relatively Low | $251,900 |
| 146 | Palo Pinto County | 34.1" | Relatively Low | $167,300 |
| 147 | DeWitt County | 34.2" | Relatively Moderate | $167,200 |
| 148 | Somervell County | 34.3" | Very Low | $253,600 |
| 149 | Refugio County | 34.8" | Very Low | $94,400 |
| 150 | Parker County | 35.2" | Relatively Moderate | $343,600 |
| 151 | Hood County | 35.2" | Relatively Low | $281,300 |
| 152 | Montague County | 35.4" | Relatively Low | $189,400 |
| 153 | Caldwell County | 35.4" | Relatively Low | $215,600 |
| 154 | Travis County | 35.6" | Relatively High | $487,600 |
| 155 | Hays County | 35.7" | Relatively Moderate | $371,400 |
| 156 | Gonzales County | 35.9" | Relatively Moderate | $158,900 |
| 157 | Bandera County | 36.3" | Relatively Low | $249,800 |
| 158 | Kerr County | 36.3" | Relatively Low | $285,100 |
| 159 | Bosque County | 36.4" | Very Low | $184,500 |
| 160 | McLennan County | 36.4" | Relatively Moderate | $219,200 |
| 161 | Bell County | 37.0" | Relatively Moderate | $221,100 |
| 162 | Coryell County | 37.0" | Relatively Low | $177,400 |
| 163 | Williamson County | 37.1" | Relatively Moderate | $414,600 |
| 164 | Bastrop County | 37.1" | Relatively Moderate | $269,500 |
| 165 | Goliad County | 37.2" | Very Low | $182,800 |
| 166 | Kendall County | 37.5" | Relatively Low | $489,800 |
| 167 | Johnson County | 37.7" | Relatively Moderate | $254,600 |
| 168 | Lee County | 37.7" | Very Low | $247,500 |
| 169 | Comal County | 37.8" | Relatively Moderate | $398,800 |
| 170 | Collin County | 38.3" | Relatively High | $447,600 |
| 171 | Dallas County | 38.3" | Very High | $277,900 |
| 172 | Tarrant County | 38.3" | Relatively High | $294,100 |
| 173 | Kaufman County | 38.4" | Relatively Low | $290,800 |
| 174 | Rockwall County | 38.4" | Relatively Low | $386,000 |
| 175 | Van Zandt County | 38.4" | Relatively Low | $199,500 |
| 176 | Denton County | 38.4" | Relatively High | $403,400 |
| 177 | Milam County | 38.6" | Relatively Low | $168,900 |
| 178 | Hill County | 38.7" | Relatively Low | $163,100 |
| 179 | Wise County | 38.9" | Relatively Low | $277,200 |
| 180 | Falls County | 39.1" | Very Low | $97,300 |
| 181 | Limestone County | 39.3" | Relatively Low | $154,400 |
| 182 | Navarro County | 39.3" | Relatively Low | $159,900 |
| 183 | Calhoun County | 39.6" | Relatively Low | $150,000 |
| 184 | Fayette County | 39.6" | Relatively Low | $271,100 |
| 185 | Jackson County | 40.4" | Relatively Low | $175,500 |
| 186 | Victoria County | 40.4" | Relatively Moderate | $197,600 |
| 187 | Lavaca County | 40.4" | Relatively Low | $220,900 |
| 188 | Robertson County | 40.6" | Very Low | $172,700 |
| 189 | Ellis County | 40.8" | Relatively Moderate | $306,400 |
| 190 | Brazos County | 41.8" | Relatively Moderate | $279,700 |
| 191 | Burleson County | 41.8" | Very Low | $174,000 |
| 192 | Grimes County | 41.8" | Relatively Low | $226,600 |
| 193 | Smith County | 42.1" | Relatively Moderate | $220,800 |
| 194 | Leon County | 42.4" | Relatively Low | $177,400 |
| 195 | Cooke County | 42.8" | Relatively Low | $224,600 |
| 196 | Freestone County | 43.5" | Relatively Low | $164,400 |
| 197 | Walker County | 43.6" | Relatively Low | $207,900 |
| 198 | Austin County | 43.9" | Relatively Low | $270,900 |
| 199 | Grayson County | 44.3" | Relatively Low | $228,300 |
| 200 | Matagorda County | 44.5" | Relatively Low | $162,200 |
| 201 | Henderson County | 44.8" | Relatively Moderate | $189,600 |
| 202 | Colorado County | 45.0" | Relatively Low | $194,000 |
| 203 | Wood County | 45.1" | Relatively Low | $195,100 |
| 204 | Gregg County | 45.3" | Relatively Moderate | $185,800 |
| 205 | Rains County | 45.4" | Very Low | $214,900 |
| 206 | Fannin County | 45.5" | Relatively Low | $213,500 |
| 207 | Hopkins County | 46.5" | Relatively Low | $193,200 |
| 208 | Madison County | 46.8" | Very Low | $149,100 |
| 209 | Anderson County | 46.8" | Relatively Low | $173,400 |
| 210 | Hunt County | 47.0" | Relatively Moderate | $210,900 |
| 211 | Morris County | 47.1" | Very Low | $110,200 |
| 212 | Galveston County | 47.2" | Relatively High | $284,900 |
| 213 | Houston County | 47.3" | Relatively Low | $155,100 |
| 214 | San Jacinto County | 47.6" | Relatively Low | $183,100 |
| 215 | Upshur County | 47.9" | Relatively Low | $171,200 |
| 216 | Washington County | 48.0" | Relatively Low | $270,100 |
| 217 | Franklin County | 48.2" | Very Low | $213,200 |
| 218 | Camp County | 48.6" | Very Low | $159,900 |
| 219 | Titus County | 48.6" | Relatively Low | $157,900 |
| 220 | Lamar County | 48.9" | Relatively Low | $175,500 |
| 221 | Delta County | 49.3" | Very Low | $149,400 |
| 222 | Red River County | 49.4" | Relatively Low | $133,800 |
| 223 | Wharton County | 49.6" | Relatively Moderate | $182,700 |
| 224 | Fort Bend County | 49.7" | Relatively High | $350,300 |
| 225 | Marion County | 49.7" | Very Low | $110,500 |
| 226 | Nacogdoches County | 49.9" | Relatively Low | $158,200 |
| 227 | Cherokee County | 50.1" | Relatively Low | $160,300 |
| 228 | Angelina County | 50.3" | Relatively Low | $149,800 |
| 229 | Trinity County | 50.3" | Relatively Low | $110,100 |
| 230 | Cass County | 50.3" | Relatively Low | $133,500 |
| 231 | Rusk County | 50.4" | Relatively Low | $166,900 |
| 232 | Waller County | 50.8" | Relatively Low | $292,000 |
| 233 | Polk County | 51.0" | Relatively Low | $154,000 |
| 234 | Montgomery County | 51.0" | Relatively High | $317,500 |
| 235 | Harrison County | 51.3" | Relatively Low | $178,200 |
| 236 | Harris County | 51.8" | Very High | $255,000 |
| 237 | Panola County | 52.3" | Relatively Low | $146,000 |
| 238 | Bowie County | 52.8" | Relatively Low | $161,300 |
| 239 | Brazoria County | 53.4" | Relatively Moderate | $276,800 |
| 240 | San Augustine County | 55.6" | Very Low | $83,500 |
| 241 | Shelby County | 56.5" | Relatively Low | $111,700 |
| 242 | Newton County | 57.3" | Very Low | $83,100 |
| 243 | Sabine County | 57.3" | Very Low | $131,900 |
| 244 | Jasper County | 59.1" | Relatively Low | $125,900 |
| 245 | Tyler County | 59.1" | Relatively Low | $138,400 |
| 246 | Chambers County | 59.7" | Relatively Low | $289,900 |
| 247 | Jefferson County | 62.1" | Relatively High | $159,600 |
| 248 | Orange County | 62.1" | Relatively Moderate | $163,400 |
| 249 | Liberty County | 62.8" | Relatively Low | $167,100 |
| 250 | Hardin County | 63.2" | Relatively Low | $188,200 |
Every figure is modelled on the county's own median home with 20% down at 7.03%. Property tax and electricity are county and state specific; homeowners insurance uses the NAIC average premium for that state, which ranges from 0.16% of home value in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma. Maintenance and water are national estimates. Full methodology.
Nationwide
Driest Counties across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Texas