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

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Population

Population 2000 2010 2026 2031
Hill County 32,321 35,089 38,236 39,545

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Population by Age

Population 2026
0-4 2,193
5-9 2,304
10-14 2,345
15-19 2,424
20-24 2,203
25-29 2,164
30-34 1,960
35-39 2,164
40-44 2,491
45-49 2,101
50-54 2,191
55-59 2,235
60-64 2,714
65-69 2,620
70-74 2,245
75-79 1,740
80-84 1,264
85+ 878
18+ 29,915
Median Age 43

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Population by Race

Hill County 2026
Total 38,236.00
White Alone 71.7%
Black Alone 5.45%
American Indian Alone 1.12%
Asian Alone 0.6%
Pacific Islander Alone 0.09%
Some Other Race 10.5%
Two or More Races 10.53%
Hispanic Origin 23.61%
Diversity Index 65.50

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Growth Rate

Hill County 2026 - 2031
Population 0.68%
Households 0.93%
Families 0.78%
Median Household Income 1%
Per Capita Income 2%

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Housing

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Households

Population 2000 2010 2026 2031
Households 12,204 13,238 15,010 15,719
Housing Units 14,624 16,118 17,431 18,170
Owner Occupied Units 11,304 11,997
Renter Occupied Units 3,706 3,722
Vacant Units 2,421 2,451

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Home Value

Hill County 2026 2031
Median Home Value $227,856 $249,473
Average Home Value $265,956 $283,967
<$50,000 983 954
$50,000 - $99,999 1,621 1,577
$100,000 - $149,999 1,136 1,104
$150,000 - $199,999 1,239 1,190
$200,000 - $249,999 1,208 1,186
$250,000 - $299,999 1,586 1,795
$300,000 - $399,999 1,803 2,042
$400,000 - $499,999 728 909
$500,000 - $749,999 517 642
$1,000,000 + 51 62

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Housing Year Built

Year Range Houses Built
2010 or Later 1,795
2000-2009 2,199
1990-1999 2,474
1980-1989 2,063
1970-1979 2,131
1960-1969 1,382
1950-1959 1,317
1940-1949 1,074
1939 or Before 1,478

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Income

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Income

Hill County 2026 2031
Median Household $67,473 $72,590
Average Household $85,490 $92,005
Per Capita $33,756 $36,765

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Household Income

Hill County 2026
<$15,000 1,229
$15,000 - $24,999 1,243
$25,000 - $34,999 1,300
$35,000 - $49,999 1,834
$50,000 - $74,999 2,679
$75,000 - $99,999 2,159
$100,000 - $149,999 2,667
$150,000 - $199,999 988
$200,000+ 911

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Employees

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Commute

Category Commuters
Workers 16+ 15,687
In-County Residents 8,776
Out-of-County Residents 6,834
Drive Alone 12,385
Carpooled 1,717
Public Transport 1
Work at Home 1,135
Motorcycle 7
Bicycle 0
Walked 233
Other 209
Less than 5 minutes 767
5-9 minutes 1,828
10-14 minutes 1,562
15-19 minutes 1,524
20-24 minutes 1,412
25-29 minutes 669
30-34 minutes 1,614
35-39 minutes 465
40-44 minutes 585
45-59 minutes 1,778
60-89 minutes 1,530
90+ minutes 818
Average Travel Time 32

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Employees by NAICS

Category Number
Total Employees 10,545
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt 53
Mining 19
Utilities 74
Construction 893
Manufacturing 634
Wholesale Trade 270
   
Retail Trade 1,744
   
Transportation/Warehouse 195
Information 98
   
Finance & Insurance 254
   
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing 194
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv 357
Legal Services 62
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises 0
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt 150
Educational Services 1,388
HealthCare/Social Assist 1,095
Arts/Entertainment/Rec 153
   
Accommodation/Food Srvcs 1,309
   
Other Srv excl Pub Admin 656
Auto Repair/Maintenance 104
Public Administration Emp 993

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

Educational Attainment (25+)

Hill County 2026
<9th Grade 1,157
Some High School 1,895
GED 2,063
Graduated High School 7,187
Some College/No Degree 5,601
Associates Degree 3,568
Bachelor's Degree 3,509
Graduate Degree 1,787

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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Businesses

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Businesses by NAICS

Category Number
Total Businesses 1,312
Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus 18
Mining Bus 3
Utilities Bus 9
Construction Bus 85
Manufacturing Bus 45
Wholesale Trade Bus 43
   
Retail Trade Bus 173
   
Transportation/Warehouse Bus 43
Information Bus 17
   
Finance & Insurance Bus 57
   
Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus 55
Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus 76
Legal Services Bus 16
Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus 1
Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus 40
Educational Services Bus 47
HealthCare/Social Assist Bus 82
Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus 30
   
Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus 135
   
Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus 177
Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus 24
Public Administration Bus 100

Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31

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