Positioned strategically on the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio, the county is an ideal location for businesses requiring excellent roadway connectivity.
Hays County stands as the second-fastest-growing large county in the nation, experiencing an impressive 16.4% population surge from 2020 to 2023. Positioned strategically on the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio, the county is an ideal location for businesses requiring excellent roadway connectivity.
Benefiting from the presence of Texas State University in San Marcos, the state’s fourth-largest public university, the area boasts a vibrant and well-educated workforce. Additionally, the region serves as a robust retail center, hosting the nation’s largest outlet mall complex south of San Marcos along the I-35 corridor.
Thriving communities further enhance Hays County’s appeal, with Kyle and Buda emerging as dynamic cities along the I-35 corridor. For businesses seeking a picturesque setting, Dripping Springs, located 24 miles west of Austin in the scenic Hill Country, offers a unique opportunity for growth.
HAYS COUNTY | AUSTIN MSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Population 2023 | 280,486 | 2,473,275 | |
| Population growth 2013-2023 | 59.4% | 31.3% | |
| Land area (sq. mi.) 2020 | 676.9 | 4,219.5 | |
| Median age 2024 | 33.6 | 35.5 | |
| Households 2024 | 105,242 | 992,698 | |
| Home ownership rate 2024 | 65.1% | 58.0% | |
| Median household income 2024 | $91,785 | $98,368 | |
| Per capita income 2024 | $45,807 | $54,422 | |
| High school grads 2024 | 92.5% | 92.9% | |
| College grads 2024 | 44.0% | 51.9% | |
| Labor force 2023 | 144,229 | 1,454,802 | |
| Unemployment rate 2023 | 3.3% | 3.3% | |
| Public school enrollment 2021-2022 | 39,946 | 328,852 | |
| High school graduates 2022 | 2,185 | 22,140 | |
| Retail sales 2023 | $5,040 mil. | $48,390 mil. | |
| Business 2023 | Establishments | 6,080 | 76,406 |
| Employment | 90,486 | 1,248,890 | |
| Average salary | $53,093 | $84,375 | |
| Mfg.business 2023 | Establishments | 258 | 2,239 |
| Employment | 5,281 | 72,133 | |
| Average salary | $72,327 | $126,226 | |
Source: Texas Comptroller for retail sales; Texas Workforce Commission for labor force, unemployment, businesses, employees, and salaries; Texas Education Agency for public school enrollment and graduates; ESRI for 2024 demographic estimates; and U.S. Census Bureau for all other data.
| LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTY | LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY |
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