Texas small towns offer something you cannot find in the suburbs anymore. You get actual land at prices that make sense. From North Texas ranch country down to the Piney Woods of East Texas, these communities give you room to breathe, build what you want, and live how you choose. The towns we work in at HRC Ranch have stayed true to their roots while still providing the basics you need for comfortable living.
These are working communities where cattle ranchers, small business owners, and folks looking for elbow room have made their homes for generations. Land here serves a purpose, from running a few head of cattle to building that workshop you have always wanted, or just having enough space that you cannot see your neighbors from the porch.
What Makes These Texas Towns Work for Land Buyers
When we help clients find land in small Texas towns, certain factors keep coming up that separate good investments from money pits. These are the real considerations that matter when you are buying acreage outside the city.
- Water access and rights matter more than anything else. Towns near lakes or with good well water hold value better.
- Distance to a regional hospital becomes vital as you age. An hour drive is manageable, three hours is not.
- County roads and maintenance affect your daily life. Some counties maintain their roads in better condition than others.
- Local ag exemptions can cut your property taxes significantly if you run cattle or grow hay.
- Internet and cell service vary wildly. Starlink has helped, but some areas still struggle with basic connectivity.
Below is a list of our top picks with convenient access to the DFW metroplex.
East Texas Timber and Lake Country
Ben Wheeler (Van Zandt County)
- Population: 2,300 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $118,174 (2023)
- Location: Approximately 73 miles east of Dallas
- County: Van Zandt County
- Key features: Rural community, arts district, feral hog festival
Ben Wheeler began as a farming community in the 1840s and has retained its rural character while attracting folks who want land without being too far from city amenities. The town has developed a small arts district that attracts weekend visitors, but the surrounding area remains agricultural. Properties here range from 5 to 50 acres, suitable sizes for people who want a country place but still need to commute. The area celebrates its feral hog population with an annual festival, which tells you something about the local sense of humor and the reality of living in East Texas. Land here works well for small cattle operations, horses, or just having space.
Athens (Henderson County)
- Population: 13,575 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $70,601 (2023)
- Location: Approximately 73 miles southeast of Dallas
- County: Henderson County
- Key features: Cedar Creek Lake, county seat, community college
Athens serves as the county seat of Henderson County and sits near Cedar Creek Lake, one of the largest reservoirs in North Texas. The town offers the services you need, including a hospital, a community college, and regular shopping. Land around Athens ranges from lakefront lots to larger agricultural tracts further from town. Properties typically run 10 to 100 acres, depending on location and lake access. The area attracts a mix of retirees, weekenders with lake places, and working ranchers. Soil quality varies across the county from sandy to clay, affecting both building costs and agricultural use. Tyler sits about 40 miles northeast of additional services.
Mineola (Wood County)
- Population: 5,283 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $42,231 (2023)
- Location: Approximately 85 miles east of Dallas.
- County: Wood County
- Key features: Railroad history, timber land, Lake Fork access
Mineola grew up as a railroad town in the 1870s, when two rail lines raced to reach it first. That railroad heritage still shows in the downtown historic district. The city sits in proper pine timber country, and many properties include merchantable timber that can provide income. Lake Fork, one of the best bass fishing lakes in Texas, sits about 20 miles north, making this area popular with anglers looking for weekend places. Land typically runs 10 to 50 acres and features a mix of pasture and timber. The community college provides some educational opportunities locally. Property taxes stay reasonable with agricultural exemptions, and the timber market adds value to wooded tracts.
Mount Vernon (Franklin County)
- Population: 2,601 (2024)
- Location: 100 miles east of Dallas
- County: Franklin County
- Key features: Lake Cypress Springs, historic downtown square
Mount Vernon gets overlooked, which keeps prices reasonable for what you get. Lake Cypress Springs has some of the clearest water in Texas, making lakefront property here actually worth the premium. The historic downtown stays busy with antique shops that draw weekend visitors, supporting local businesses. Agricultural exemptions are easy to qualify for with cattle or hay production. Most available land runs 10 to 50 acres, manageable sizes for part-time ranching or recreational use.
Mount Pleasant (Titus County)
- Population: 16,238 (2024)
- Median household income: $53,039 (2023)
- Location: 60 miles from Tyler
- County: Titus County
- Key features: Bob Sandlin Lake, Lake Monticello, timber land
Mount Pleasant anchors a region of small lakes and timberland in Northeast Texas. The economy runs on a mix of manufacturing, agriculture, and lake tourism, keeping it more stable than single-industry towns. Land here often includes timber rights, providing potential income from pine harvests. Bob Sandlin Lake and Lake Monticello offer different personalities, from party coves to quiet fishing spots. Properties range from 5-acre homesites to 500-acre timber tracts. The local hospital serves the region, and you can access most services without needing to drive to a larger city.
Gilmer (Upshur County)
- Population: 5,207 (2024)
- Location: 40 miles from Tyler
- County: Upshur County
- Key features: East Texas Yamboree Festival, pine timber land
Gilmer sits in proper East Texas pine country, where the land grows timber as naturally as grass grows elsewhere. The Yamboree Festival celebrates sweet potatoes, but timber and cattle drive the rural economy. Properties here often come with merchantable timber, providing immediate value. The rolling hills and sandy soil work well for certain crops and excellent for horses. Town services stay basic but functional, with Tyler about 40 minutes away for major needs.
Hallsville (Harrison County)
- Population: 4,896 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $71,369 (2023)
- Location: 10 miles west of Marshall, 138 miles east of Dallas
- County: Harrison County
- Key features: Growing community, good schools, proximity to Longview
Hallsville sits just outside Longview and has seen steady growth as people look for land near the city without city prices. The school district gets high marks, which attracts families. Properties here are typically smaller than in more remote areas —5 to 20 acres —but land values remain reasonable compared to suburbs. The proximity to Longview means you have access to a hospital and shopping within 15 minutes. Most land buyers here want a place to build a house with some elbow room rather than working ranches. The area has natural gas activity, and some properties can generate lease income. Soil quality varies, so septic system considerations matter when looking at tracts.
Rolling Plains
Albany (Shackelford County)
- Population: 1,892 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $48,182 (2023)
- Location: 35 miles northeast of Abilene
- County: Shackelford County
- Key features: Fort Griffin Fandangle, historic ranching community, recreational hunting
Albany sits in classic West Texas ranch country with a history that goes back to the frontier days. Fort Griffin State Historic Site is nearby, and the town hosts the Fort Griffin Fandangle every June, an outdoor musical about the area’s frontier past that has run since 1938. The land here looks different from East Texas, with more open prairies, mesquite, and rocky terrain. Properties typically run larger, 50 acres and up, because you need more land per cow in this drier climate. Deer and turkey hunting stays popular, and some landowners lease hunting rights for extra income. Abilene sits 35 miles southwest, close enough for hospital access and major shopping. The town itself has kept its historic downtown and stays small, with around 1,900 people.
Baird (Callahan County)
- Population: 1,545 (2024)
- Location: 20 miles east of Abilene on I-20
- County: Callahan County
- Key features: Historic antique district, wind lease potential
Baird represents old-school Texas ranching, sitting along Interstate 20 east of Abilene. The antique shops downtown tell you this town values its history. Land here runs larger, often 50 to 200 acres, because you need more acreage per animal unit in this drier country. Wind lease potential offers additional income opportunities on suitable properties. The proximity to Abilene, just 20 minutes away, meets healthcare and shopping needs while maintaining authentic rural living.
Coleman (Coleman County)
- Population: 4,042 (2024)
- Location: 55 miles south of Abilene
- County: Coleman County
- Key features: Top deer hunting county, Colorado River access
Coleman County consistently ranks among the top deer hunting destinations in Texas, driving land values and lease rates. The town itself serves as a rural hub, offering services that include a hospital and decent shopping. Properties mix open pasture with oak motts, creating an ideal habitat for wildlife. Stock tanks dot the landscape, providing water for cattle and attracting game. Land typically sells in parcels of 20 to 100 acres, sizes that work well for hunting leases or small cattle operations.
Central Texas Gateway to the Hill Country
Hico (Hamilton County)
- Population: 1,541 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $52,250 (2023)
- Location: 75 miles southwest of Fort Worth
- County: Hamilton County
- Key features: Billy the Kid Museum, Bosque River, historic downtown
Hico sits on the rolling terrain where Central Texas begins to transition into the Hill Country. The town claims a connection to Billy the Kid, with a museum dedicated to a man who lived here in the 1940s and claimed to be the famous outlaw. The Bosque River runs through the area, though flooding has been a recurring issue. Properties here typically run 20 to 100 acres, mixing pasture with some wooded creek bottoms. The land is well-suited for cattle, and the area has decent deer and turkey populations for hunting. Stephenville sits about 20 miles northwest of a university and a hospital. The town itself remains small, with around 1,500 residents, and a historic downtown that attracts some weekend visitors.
Meridian (Bosque County)
- Population: 1,423 (2024)
- Median household income: $61,607 (2023)
- Location: 65 miles southwest of Fort Worth
- County: Bosque County
- Key features: Meridian State Park, historic courthouse, limestone hills
Meridian serves as the Bosque County seat, with a courthouse dating to 1886. The state park nearby offers camping and lake access. The limestone hills and native grasses create habitat for white-tailed deer and various game birds. Properties in the area range from small acreage homesites to larger ranches. The county has kept a strong agricultural base while also attracting retirees and weekenders. Waco sits about an hour south of significant services.
North Texas Cross Timbers Ranch Country
Muenster (Cooke County)
- Population: 1,725 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $93,224 (2023)
- Location: 75 miles north of Dallas
- County: Cooke County
- Key features: German heritage, agricultural community, Gainesville nearby
Muenster sits in the rolling prairies of North Texas with German roots that still show in its churches and community events. The town was established in the 1880s when German Catholic settlers arrived and built farms that their descendants continue to work today. You will find good ranch land here, mainly used for cattle and hay production. Properties range from 10 to 100 acres, making them ideal for part-time ranchers or individuals seeking sufficient land for hunting and raising a few cattle. The soil handles cattle well, and rainfall stays decent most years. Gainesville sits 10 miles west with a hospital and regular shopping.
Saint Jo (Montague County)
- Population: 964 (2024 data)
- Median household income: $68,750 (2023)
- Location: 80 miles northwest of Fort Worth
- County: Montague County
- Key features: Chisholm Trail history, Red River Station area, ranching country
Saint Jo grew up around the cattle drives that ran through here in the 1870s. The town sits near where the Chisholm Trail crossed into Indian Territory, and that ranching culture never left. Land prices stay lower than in areas closer to the Metroplex, making it possible to buy 50 to 200 acres at prices that work for working ranches. The terrain mixes grassland with some wooded creek bottoms. Water can be hit-or-miss depending on where your property sits, so well quality matters when looking at land. Montague, the county seat, is about 25 miles north and offers basic services.
Breckenridge (Stephens County)
- Population: 5,190 (2024 data).
- Median household income: $46,989 (2023)
- Location: 120 miles west of Fort Worth
- County: Stephens County
- Key features: Between Hubbard Creek Lake and Possum Kingdom Lake
Breckenridge is situated between two major recreational lakes, Hubbard Creek and Possum Kingdom, offering waterfront and near-water properties at various price points. This old oil town has transitioned to ranching and recreation, with land prices that reflect its distance from the Metroplex. Most parcels in this area range from 20 to 100 acres near town, with larger ranches scattered throughout the county and surrounding areas, making them ideal for running a cattle or horse operation. The city itself offers basic services, a hospital, and enough restaurants to keep you well-fed. Deer hunting leases provide an additional income source on larger properties, and the combination of rocky terrain and pastureland offers diverse land-use options.
Finding Your Piece of Texas with HRC
We work across all these counties, and dozens more, helping people find land that matches their plans and budget. Each area has its unique quirks, ranging from deed restrictions to mineral rights issues to flood zones that dictate what you can build and where. Our team is familiar with which counties have cooperative appraisal districts, where the best well water sources are located, and which areas have fiber internet available for rural properties.
The best places to live in Texas are not always the most famous or the most beautiful. They are the towns where land still serves a purpose, where you can build the life you want without HOA restrictions or city ordinances telling you what color to paint your barn. We help you navigate the details that matter: soil types for septic systems, fencing laws for livestock, and tax strategies that keep your land affordable in the long term.
Discover large Texas ranches for sale in highly desirable areas around the state.