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

38,236

Population
Growth Rate

0.68%

Median Age

43

Diversity Index

65.500

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Housing & Income

Households

15,010

Total Housing Units

17,431


Owner Occupied

11,304

Renter Occupied

3,706

Vacant

2,421

Median Home Value

$227,856


Average Home Value

$265,956

Income
Growth Rate

Median
Household Income

0.00%


Per Capita Income

1.72%

Income Projection

Median Household

$67,473 $72,590


Average Household

$85,490 $92,005


Per Capita

$33,756 $36,765

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Workforce

Total Businesses

1,312

Total Employed

10,545

Workers 16+

15,687

2026 Retail Trade Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

173

Employed

1,744

2026 Educational Services - Businesses

cp-industries

Businesses

47

Employed

1,388

2026 Accommodation / Food Service

cp-industries

Businesses

135

Employed

1,309

2026 Food Service / Drinking Est.

cp-industries

Businesses

108

Employed

1,163

2026 HealthCare / Social Assistance

cp-industries

Businesses

82

Employed

1,095

2026 Public Administration

cp-industries

Businesses

100

Employed

993

Some
High School

1,895

Graduated
High School

7,187

Associates
Degree

3,568

Bachelor's
Degree

3,509

Graduate
Degree

1,787

Average Commute Time

32 min.



Resident Commuters

8,776

Non-Resident Commuters

6,834

Drive Alone

12,385

Carpooled

1,717

Public

1

Work At Home

1,135

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31