Bolthole Index

Texas · Off-grid & homestead potential

Medina County

64Index Score / 100
#70 of 254 in Texas

Medina County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths are low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. The trade-offs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and workable self-sufficiency basics (28.5″/yr rainfall).

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County locator

Medina County in Texas

64
County map
Medina County highlighted among the Texas counties · colored by Index score

How Medina County scores

Seclusion51100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency4296% ev.
Admin Boringness8790% ev.
Durability42100% ev.
Property Autonomy71100% ev.
Carry Cost73100% ev.

Evidence strength: 97%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$325kTypical home
1.3%Property tax
$3,805Land / acre
28.5"Annual rain
43.7% of yrsSevere drought
46.2 / yr (+30.5)Mid-century 100°F days
28.6 daysMid-century dry spell
2.22" (+6.7%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.37×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$2,029Home insurance / yr
0.8% / yrInsurance growth
0%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
7,923People within 30 min
3,143,084People within 2 hr
20,616Radius comparison (15 mi)
41.3People / sq mi
0.2%Federal land
90.1%Land at 15% slope or less
15.7%Septic soil without severe limits
123,211 acWorkable land screen
29.2%Wooded land
14.1 tonsBiomass / forest ac
69.4°FAvg temp

Scout Medina County

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Property hunt

Find land. Bring the promising ones back.

Search live inventory elsewhere, then cost and vet each candidate here. No copied listings, account, or paid data feed.

Each button opens a current land search for Medina County. Listing sites control their own results and filters.

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A planning estimate, not a valuation or contractor quote. The USDA benchmark includes farm land and buildings; it is context, not a parcel comp.

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Building & land-use rules in Medina County

What it takes to build here — permits, zoning, and septic — scouted from Medina County’s own official sources.

  • Building permitNot required

    The county's official 'What Type of Permits Are Required' document lists only 911 addressing, water well, floodplain, septic, and driveway/utility permits; no county building permit is required in unincorporated areas, consistent with Texas counties lacking building-code authority.

    Medina County - What Type of Permits Are Required
  • County zoningNone county-wide

    Texas counties have no zoning authority in unincorporated areas; Medina County regulates land via subdivision rules, not zoning.

    Medina County - What Type of Permits Are Required
  • Septic permittingMedina County Environmental Health Department (TCEQ authorized agent)

    All on-site sewage systems (OSSF) in Medina County must be permitted through the county Environmental Health Department, the local TCEQ authorized agent.

    Medina County Environmental Health
  • Owner-builderNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Building inspectionsNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Occupancy certificateNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic permitNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Septic inspectionNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

  • Off-grid sanitationNot published

    Not published on an official source — confirm with the county.

Always confirm current rules with Medina County Environmental Health Department before you buy or build. Scouted Jul 2026 from official county sources.

Living off-grid in Medina County, Texas

Is Medina County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Medina County scores 64/100 on the Bolthole Index, a strong county profile. Its strengths: low administrative friction for a quiet rural property and manageable long-term carry cost. Watch-outs: elevated mid-century heat, water, rain, or wildfire exposure and workable self-sufficiency basics (28.5″/yr rainfall).

Do you need a building permit in Medina County, Texas?

Medina County does not require a county building permit for a home in unincorporated areas, and it has no county-wide zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Medina County Environmental Health Department (TCEQ authorized agent). Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Medina County, Texas?

Land in Medina County runs about $3,805 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Medina County?

Medina County gets about 28.5" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 43.7% of years.

How remote is Medina County?

A representative private-land location has about 7,923 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,143,084 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Medina County means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

WaterCrystal QuestFilter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.PowerBluettiSolar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.

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How Medina compares in Texas

Compare side-by-side →See all 254 Texas counties ranked →