Hill County

Manufacturing Thrives in Hill County

Hill County has an established and thriving industrial manufacturing sector within the Heart of Texas Region. Located between Dallas, Fort Worth and Waco, and bisected by Interstate-35, Hill County has unmatched transportation advantages to allow shipping to all points through the United States, Canada and Mexico. Additionally, the county possesses an ease of access to air transport, with Hillsboro Municipal Airport within the county and the Waco Regional Airport, Dallas Love Field and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport all within an hour’s drive. In total, the advantages make Hill County a prime location for manufacturing companies to quickly and easily import supplies and export production.

The city of Hillsboro is the primary location for manufacturing companies within the county. Available properties and buildings, specifically in the Hillsboro Industrial Park, combined with access to ample resources, utilities and a talented workforce make Hill County an excellent location to bring any industrial manufacturing operation. As an area with fertile soils and ample water supply, Hill County’s economic history lies in agriculture, resulting in a hard-working labor force available for the manufacturing companies to draw on.

Like regions across the country, unemployment in McLennan County has increased somewhat in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Workforce Commission reported that Hill County had a total Civilian Labor Force of 16,521 in November 2020, with an unemployment rate of 6.8%, lower than the Texas total of 8% unemployed. In comparison, Hill County unemployment was 3.1% in November 2019.

Hillsboro is the county seat of Hill County with a population approaching 8,500. Read this article to understand the thriving nature of the Hillsboro manufacturing industry. For more information on Hillsboro, go to the Hillsboro Texas Economic Development Corporation.

The city of Whitney is the self-proclaimed “Getaway Capital of Texas.” Although a town of only 2,118 residents, the area offers ample vacation and recreation opportunities on Lake Whitney, a dammed reservoir of the Brazos River. For more information, visit the City of Whitney.

Click on the links below for more information about cities within Hill County:

Population

Total Population

38,071

Population
Growth Rate

0.83%

Median Age

43

Diversity Index

66.100

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Housing & Income

Households

14,818

Total Housing Units

17,304


Owner Occupied

11,233

Renter Occupied

3,585

Vacant

2,486

Median Home Value

$213,700


Average Home Value

$256,434

Income
Growth Rate

Median
Household Income

0.00%


Per Capita Income

1.17%

Income Projection

Median Household

$65,555 $68,561


Average Household

$83,433 $87,594


Per Capita

$32,512 $34,456

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25

Workforce

Total Businesses

1,283

Total Employed

10,798

Workers 16+

15,387

2025 Retail Trade Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

176

Employed

1,933

2025 Educational Services - Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

48

Employed

1,488

2025 Accommodation / Food Service

cp-industries

Businesses

128

Employed

1,145

2025 Public Administration

cp-industries

Businesses

105

Employed

1,124

2025 HealthCare / Social Assistance

cp-industries

Businesses

79

Employed

1,043

2025 Food Service / Drinking Est.

cp-industries

Businesses

102

Employed

986

Some
High School

1,906

Graduated
High School

7,431

Associates
Degree

3,340

Bachelor's
Degree

3,487

Graduate
Degree

1,841

Average Commute Time

31 min.



Resident Commuters

8,756

Non-Resident Commuters

6,552

Drive Alone

12,335

Carpooled

1,698

Public

1

Work At Home

1,063

Source: ESRI, 2025-08-25