Need more space than Dallas offers? Start looking east here

Kaufman County is home to approximately 174,000 residents spread across eighteen incorporated cities and numerous rural communities in the transition zone between Dallas's eastern suburbs and East Texas farmland. Median home values range from around $200,000 in rural areas and smaller towns to $300,000 in rapidly growing Forney, with the county median at $268,963. Multiple independent school districts serve the area, including Forney ISD, Terrell ISD, Kaufman ISD, and Kemp ISD, along with portions of several others. The county's primary economic drivers are transportation and warehousing, retail trade, and manufacturing, reflecting its position along major freight corridors and its role as a distribution hub for the Dallas metroplex.

Cities Compared

Home values vary dramatically across Kaufman County, from under $200,000 in rural towns like Scurry and Cottonwood to around $300,000 in booming Forney, with Kaufman and Terrell falling in between. The western third functions as outer-ring Dallas suburbs with newer construction and higher prices, while the eastern two-thirds remains small-town and rural with correspondingly lower costs and older housing stock.

Demographics

Kaufman County's population of 174,000 skews younger than the Texas average with a median age of 37.6, and the county is experiencing rapid growth particularly in western communities absorbing Dallas overflow. The population is 49% White, 27% Hispanic, and 18% Black, with a homeownership rate of 79% reflecting the county's affordable suburban and rural housing stock.

Economy

Transportation and warehousing employs the most workers in Kaufman County with over 5,600 jobs averaging $56,813 annually, followed closely by retail trade and manufacturing. The county's economy reflects its dual character, with logistics and distribution dominating the western corridor near Dallas while agriculture, healthcare, and local services anchor the rural eastern communities.

Schools

Forney Independent School District serves the county's largest and fastest-growing city, while Terrell ISD, Kaufman ISD, and Kemp ISD serve their respective communities, along with portions of Crandall ISD and several other districts that cross county lines. District performance varies, with growth-driven funding helping western districts while smaller rural districts face different challenges.

Cost of Living

Kaufman County offers significantly more affordable housing than the Dallas core or inner-ring suburbs, with a median home value of $268,963 and median rent of $1,401 monthly. Texas has no state income tax, and the median household income of $87,238 provides solid purchasing power in a county where housing costs remain moderate despite recent growth pressure in western communities.

About Kaufman County

Kaufman County occupies a transitional zone in Texas geography, straddling the line between the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex's eastern edge and the beginning of East Texas's rural character. Established in 1848 and named for David Spangler Kaufman, a Texas congressman who served during the republic and early statehood periods, the county has spent most of its history as agricultural territory defined by cotton fields, cattle ranches, and small railroad towns. That identity persists in much of the county's 780 square miles, but the western third has undergone dramatic transformation over the past two decades as Dallas's growth pressure finally jumped across Rockwall County and began reshaping communities that were sleepy farm towns a generation ago.

The geography divides cleanly along Highway 175, which cuts diagonally across the county from Dallas through Kaufman to Athens. West of the county seat, the landscape is increasingly suburban, with Forney and Crandall experiencing explosive residential development as they absorb families priced out of Rockwall and eastern Dallas County. Forney sits just twenty-five miles from downtown Dallas, close enough that thousands of residents make the commute daily along the widened Highway 80 corridor. The town has added entire subdivisions in the past decade, transforming former ranch land into streets lined with brick homes, elementary schools, and shopping centers anchored by national chains. Crandall, just south of Forney, follows a similar trajectory but remains slightly smaller and more affordable, attracting younger families seeking new construction at lower price points than Rockwall or Mesquite offer.

Kaufman itself, the county seat, occupies the geographic and cultural center. Founded in the 1840s and built around a traditional courthouse square, it retains the bones of a classic Texas county town even as growth pressures begin to reach it. The town's historic core includes the Carnegie Public Library, opened in 1904 through women's club advocacy and Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy, and several Victorian-era homes like the John H. Corley House, built in 1896 by a former shipbuilder using materials shipped by boat to Jefferson and then by rail to Kaufman. The town serves administrative and commercial functions for the county's rural eastern half, hosting government offices, medical facilities, and agricultural supply businesses that serve ranchers and farmers still working the land.

East of Kaufman, the county becomes unmistakably rural. Terrell, the second-largest city, sits along Interstate 20 and has maintained a distinct identity shaped by its railroad heritage and the presence of Terrell State Hospital, authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1883 and opened in 1885 under Dr. D. R. Wallace. The hospital remains a significant employer, and the town's economy also draws from its position as a regional commercial hub for surrounding agricultural areas. Terrell's downtown includes the Church of the Good Shepherd, organized in 1877 by Rev. John Portmess and built in 1878, and the Robert A. Terrell Home, an unusual octagon-shaped house built in 1864 for the town's namesake pioneer. The architecture here reflects a different era, when Terrell was a prosperous railroad town serving cotton gins and cattle shipments rather than a bedroom community for Dallas commuters.

The southern portion of the county, including Kemp and Mabank, orients toward Cedar Creek Reservoir rather than Dallas. These communities draw retirees, weekend cabin owners, and families seeking lakefront property at prices far below what similar waterfront costs in more developed parts of North Texas. The lake creates a recreational economy distinct from the rest of the county, with marinas, RV parks, and fishing guide services replacing the warehousing and logistics operations that dominate the western corridor.

Transportation and warehousing now employ more people in Kaufman County than any other sector, a direct result of the county's position along Interstate 20 and Highway 175, with relatively cheap land and proximity to Dallas distribution networks. Manufacturing also maintains a strong presence, often in facilities that relocated from higher-cost areas closer to the metroplex core. The county's agricultural past hasn't disappeared entirely—ranches still operate in the eastern two-thirds, and small towns like Rosser, Scurry, and Cottonwood remain genuinely rural—but the economic center of gravity has shifted westward as population growth follows the same pattern.

This east-west divide creates a county with multiple identities. Western Kaufman County functions as outer-ring Dallas suburbs, with residents who work in the metroplex, shop at big-box stores, and live in subdivisions governed by homeowners associations. Eastern Kaufman County remains small-town Texas, where main streets still anchor community life, Friday night football draws the whole town, and neighbors know each other's names. The county seat of Kaufman tries to bridge both worlds, serving as the government center while navigating the tension between preserving historic character and accommodating growth pressure that will inevitably arrive as development marches eastward from Forney and Crandall.

Navigating Kaufman County's Cities and Towns

Forney dominates the western edge of Kaufman County with a population approaching thirty thousand, making it by far the county's largest and fastest-growing city. Twenty years ago, Forney was a quiet railroad town of five thousand; today it's a booming suburb absorbing Dallas overflow with new housing developments spreading across former farmland in every direction. The city attracts young families drawn by new construction homes priced below comparable properties in Rockwall or Mesquite, good access to Dallas via Highway 80, and Forney Independent School District schools that maintain solid reputations despite rapid enrollment growth. The housing stock skews heavily toward recent construction, with subdivisions of three- and four-bedroom homes on standard suburban lots. Older Forney, centered around the historic downtown, still exists but represents a shrinking fraction of the city's footprint as new neighborhoods push the boundaries outward. The city offers suburban amenities—chain restaurants, retail centers, youth sports leagues—but not much in the way of urban character or walkability. Forney suits families prioritizing affordability, new construction, and reasonable commute access to Dallas employment centers.

Crandall sits just south of Forney and follows a similar development pattern but at a slightly smaller scale and lower price point. With a population around four thousand, Crandall has grown rapidly from its agricultural roots as developers target buyers seeking even more affordable options than Forney offers. The town's housing stock is predominantly new construction, with many homes built in the past decade as part of master-planned communities that now account for most of the town's footprint. Crandall ISD serves the area, and while the district is smaller than Forney's, it benefits from the same growth-driven tax base expansion. The town offers less in terms of commercial development than Forney—residents typically drive to Forney or Terrell for shopping and services—but that also means less traffic and a quieter, more residential character. Crandall appeals to first-time buyers and families willing to trade some convenience for lower monthly payments and newer homes.

Kaufman, the county seat, maintains a population around eight thousand and serves as the governmental and historical heart of the county. Unlike Forney and Crandall, Kaufman retains a traditional small-town structure built around a courthouse square, with historic buildings including the Carnegie Library and Victorian homes that reflect the town's nineteenth-century prosperity. The town's economy centers on county government, agricultural services, and small businesses serving the surrounding rural areas rather than Dallas commuters. Housing in Kaufman spans a wide range, from historic homes near downtown to modest mid-century neighborhoods and some newer subdivisions on the edges. Prices run lower than the western suburbs, and the lifestyle is decidedly small-town rather than suburban. Kaufman suits buyers seeking affordability, a slower pace, and genuine community character, though it requires accepting a longer commute to Dallas employment and fewer amenities than the growing western cities offer.

Terrell, positioned along Interstate 20 in the county's eastern section, holds a population around nineteen thousand and functions as a regional hub for the county's rural eastern half. The city's economy historically centered on the railroad and agriculture, supplemented by Terrell State Hospital, which remains a significant employer. Terrell maintains a distinct identity separate from the Dallas orbit, with residents who work locally rather than commuting to the metroplex. The housing market includes historic homes near downtown, mid-century neighborhoods, and some newer development on the city's edges, all priced well below the western county suburbs. Terrell ISD serves the area with multiple campuses. The city offers more services and amenities than smaller county towns—medical facilities, retail options, restaurants—while maintaining a small-city character. Terrell suits buyers seeking affordability and local employment without the growth pressure and traffic that define Forney and Crandall.

Kemp and Mabank anchor the county's southern tier along Cedar Creek Reservoir, drawing a different demographic than the Dallas-oriented cities. Both towns attract retirees, lake enthusiasts, and families seeking waterfront or water-access property at prices far below what similar locations cost closer to the metroplex. Kemp, with a population around thirteen hundred, maintains a small-town character with limited services, while Mabank, slightly larger, offers more commercial options and serves as a hub for the lake communities. Housing ranges from modest lakefront cabins to newer waterfront homes, with prices varying widely based on water access and property condition. These towns suit buyers prioritizing recreational lifestyle and affordability over employment access and urban amenities, though the commute to Dallas is substantial enough that most residents work locally or are retired.

The remaining communities—Combine, Talty, Grays Prairie, Rosser, Scurry, Cottonwood, Elmo, Oak Grove, Oak Ridge, Post Oak Bend, Heartland, and Travis Ranch—range from small incorporated towns to rural communities and newer residential developments. Combine and Talty, positioned in the county's western section, are experiencing growth pressure as development spreads from Forney, while the others remain genuinely rural with populations measured in hundreds rather than thousands. These areas suit buyers seeking land, privacy, and rural character, accepting limited services and longer drives to employment and amenities as trade-offs for space and lower costs.

Identifiers

GEOID

48257

State FIPS

48

County FIPS

257

Statistics

Neighborhoods

1

Population

87,145

Geography

Type

polygon

Area

2,091 km²

Data Source

Primary Source

tiger

Census Reference

QuickFacts

Frequently Asked Questions About Kaufman County

What is Kaufman known for?

Kaufman County is known as the transition zone where Dallas's eastern sprawl meets East Texas's rural character, creating a county with dramatically different identities in its western and eastern sections. The western third, anchored by Forney and Crandall, has transformed over the past two decades from farmland into booming suburbs absorbing families priced out of closer-in Dallas communities, while the eastern two-thirds remains genuinely rural with small towns, working ranches, and agricultural operations that have defined the area since its 1848 founding. The county seat of Kaufman preserves its historic courthouse square and Victorian-era architecture, including the Carnegie Public Library opened in 1904 and homes built by nineteenth-century settlers like the unusual octagon-shaped Robert A. Terrell House from 1864. Terrell, along Interstate 20, maintains its identity as a railroad town and regional hub, home to Terrell State Hospital since 1885. The southern tier around Cedar Creek Reservoir has developed a recreational economy drawing retirees and weekend visitors seeking affordable lakefront property. Transportation and warehousing now dominate employment as the county's position along Interstate 20 and Highway 175 makes it attractive for distribution centers serving Dallas, but agriculture and small-town economies persist in communities that remain outside the metroplex's gravitational pull.

What cities are in Kaufman County?

Kaufman County includes eighteen incorporated cities ranging from booming suburbs to tiny rural towns. Forney, approaching thirty thousand residents, is by far the largest and fastest-growing, transforming from a railroad town of five thousand into a major suburb in just two decades with subdivisions spreading across former farmland. Terrell, with around nineteen thousand residents, sits along Interstate 20 and functions as a regional hub with its own employment base rather than serving as a Dallas bedroom community. Kaufman, the county seat with about eight thousand residents, maintains its traditional small-town character built around a courthouse square and historic buildings. Crandall, with around four thousand residents, mirrors Forney's suburban growth pattern at a slightly smaller scale and lower price point. Kemp and Mabank anchor the southern lake communities with populations around thirteen hundred and two thousand respectively, drawing retirees and recreational buyers. Combine and Talty are experiencing growth pressure in the western corridor, while Grays Prairie, Rosser, Scurry, Cottonwood, Elmo, Oak Grove, Oak Ridge, Post Oak Bend, Heartland, and Travis Ranch remain small communities with populations measured in hundreds, preserving rural character in the county's eastern and southern sections.

Is Kaufman County growing?

Kaufman County is growing rapidly, particularly in its western third where Forney and Crandall absorb Dallas overflow as families seek affordable new construction within reasonable commuting distance of metroplex employment. Forney has quintupled in population over two decades, and Crandall follows a similar trajectory, with both cities adding entire subdivisions annually as developers target the remaining farmland between them and the Rockwall County line. The county's overall population has increased substantially as this western growth outpaces the stable or slowly declining populations in rural eastern communities. Growth follows transportation corridors, with Highway 80 and Highway 175 serving as the primary development axes pushing eastward from Dallas, while Interstate 20 through Terrell sees less residential growth but increasing commercial and industrial development. The southern lake communities grow more slowly, adding retirees and second homes rather than young families, while truly rural areas in the eastern county see minimal growth or slight population declines as agricultural consolidation continues. This uneven growth pattern creates tension between preserving the county's rural character and accommodating development pressure that will inevitably continue spreading eastward from the metroplex.

What is the cost of living in Kaufman?

Kaufman County offers significantly lower housing costs than Dallas or inner-ring suburbs, with a median home value of $268,963 compared to over $400,000 in many closer-in communities, though prices vary dramatically across the county's geography. Forney's median approaches $300,000 for newer construction, while rural towns and older neighborhoods in Kaufman and Terrell offer homes well under $200,000, and lakefront properties span a wide range depending on water access and condition. The median household income of $87,238 provides solid purchasing power at these price points. Texas has no state income tax, reducing the overall tax burden compared to many states, though property taxes fund local services and schools. The county's 79% homeownership rate reflects this affordability, as families can purchase homes that would require significantly higher incomes in closer-in locations. Median rent of $1,401 monthly also runs below Dallas averages. Daily expenses like groceries and gas align with state averages, and the county's mix of chain retailers and local businesses provides options at various price points, though selection is more limited in rural areas where residents often drive to Forney, Terrell, or Dallas for major shopping.

How are the schools in Kaufman?

Kaufman County students attend multiple independent school districts, with quality and resources varying based on district size and tax base. Forney ISD serves the county's largest city and benefits from rapid growth that expands its tax base, operating multiple campuses including Forney High School and several elementary schools to accommodate enrollment increases. Terrell ISD serves the eastern city with its own high school and multiple campuses, drawing on a more stable but smaller tax base. Kaufman ISD serves the county seat and surrounding areas, while Kemp ISD serves the southern lake communities. Portions of the county also fall within Crandall ISD, Mabank ISD, and several other districts that cross county lines. District performance varies, with some schools earning solid state ratings while others face challenges common to rapidly growing or economically diverse districts. Families prioritizing schools should research specific campuses and attendance zones, as quality can vary significantly even within a single district, and the county's growth means some schools are brand new while others operate in older facilities serving different demographics.

What is the job market like in Kaufman?

Kaufman County's job market is dominated by transportation and warehousing, which employs over 5,600 workers at an average salary of $56,813 across 120 establishments, reflecting the county's strategic position along Interstate 20 and Highway 175 for distribution centers serving Dallas. Retail trade employs over 5,400 workers across 319 establishments, while manufacturing maintains a strong presence with nearly 4,700 jobs averaging $72,057 annually. Healthcare and social assistance employs nearly 3,700 workers, anchored by Terrell State Hospital and smaller medical facilities, while construction employs nearly 3,000 workers as residential and commercial development continues. Professional and technical services offer the highest average pay at $129,157 but employ only about 1,400 workers across 279 mostly small establishments. Many residents commute to Dallas for employment, particularly from western communities like Forney and Crandall, while Terrell and eastern towns have more residents working locally in healthcare, government, retail, and agricultural services. The job market reflects the county's dual character, with logistics and distribution growing in the western corridor while traditional small-town employment anchors the eastern communities.

Is Kaufman good for families?

Kaufman County offers family-friendly options particularly in growing western communities like Forney and Crandall, where new subdivisions provide modern homes with yards, good school access through Forney ISD and Crandall ISD, and suburban amenities including parks, youth sports leagues, and family-oriented retail and dining. Housing affordability allows families to purchase larger homes than comparable budgets would afford closer to Dallas, and the high homeownership rate of 79% reflects stable family neighborhoods. Safety varies by community, with newer suburban areas generally reporting lower crime than older commercial corridors, though the county overall maintains a small-town character where many residents know their neighbors. The county seat of Kaufman and eastern towns like Terrell offer different family environments with historic downtowns, Friday night football culture, and tight-knit communities, though fewer amenities and older housing stock. Lake communities appeal to families seeking recreational lifestyles with water access. The main trade-off for families is commute time, as many jobs remain in Dallas requiring thirty to sixty minute drives from western suburbs and longer from eastern communities, though local employment exists particularly in Terrell and Kaufman for families prioritizing short commutes over higher salaries.

How does Kaufman compare to nearby areas?

Kaufman County offers significantly lower housing costs than adjacent Rockwall County to the west, which has become an affluent suburb with median home values well over $400,000, while Kaufman's median sits at $268,963 with rural areas and smaller towns offering even lower prices. Dallas County to the northwest provides more urban amenities, employment density, and cultural options but at substantially higher costs and with traffic congestion that Kaufman largely avoids. Henderson County to the east is more uniformly rural without Kaufman's western suburban development, offering even lower costs but less growth and fewer services. Van Zandt County to the northeast shares Kaufman's rural character in its eastern sections but lacks the booming western suburbs and Dallas employment access. Ellis County to the southwest has similar dynamics with growth spreading south from Dallas, but Kaufman's position along Interstate 20 and Highway 175 provides different employment access serving the eastern metroplex and freight corridors. Kaufman essentially offers a middle ground between Rockwall's expensive suburbs and the truly rural counties to the east, with the added dimension of lake communities in the south that provide recreational options not available in all adjacent counties.

Find Your Place in Kaufman County

Whether you're drawn to Forney's suburban growth, Kaufman's historic character, or a lakefront retreat near Kemp, Kaufman County's diversity requires local expertise to navigate effectively. Connect with a Texas Ally advisor who knows the difference between the county's rapidly developing western corridor and its rural eastern communities, and can match you with the right town for your priorities and budget.