Barndominium with a wraparound porch and a shop on open pasture, typical of acreage in Wise County

Wise County · North Texas · County seat: Decatur

Wise County, TX homes, land & communities

Decatur, Rhome and Lake Bridgeport — room to roam northwest of Fort Worth.

County seat
Decatur
Towns we serve
15
Population
83,778Census estimate, July 2025
Main routes
US-81/287, US-380, SH-114
Best for
Acreage, Lake living, Ranches

Living in Wise County

Is Wise County a good place to live?

Wise County, northwest of Fort Worth, grew about 22% from 2020 to roughly 83,800 residents in July 2025. Decatur, the county seat, sits on US-287, with Rhome and Boyd growing on the Fort Worth side.

It is known for room to roam: ranches and acreage, Lake Bridgeport and the LBJ National Grassland, plus the Barnett Shale gas field that began here.

AcreageLake livingRanches

Why people move here

  • Acreage, ranches and hunting land
  • Lake Bridgeport, about 11,700 acres
  • The LBJ National Grassland for riding and recreation
  • US-287 access to Fort Worth

Buying land

Buying land & acreage in Wise County

Outside city limits, county land is mostly unincorporated, so the rules come from the county, the deed and the utility providers rather than a city. That makes due diligence before you make an offer especially important.

Texas counties generally can’t zone land outside city limits, so deed restrictions, HOA rules, floodplain maps, septic permits and nearby cities’ ETJ subdivision rules decide what you can build.

  • Survey and boundary lines
  • Legal, recorded road access
  • Water: city, water supply corporation or well
  • Septic suitability (OSSF permit)
  • FEMA floodplain
  • Deed restrictions and HOA
  • Mineral rights
  • Ag or wildlife valuation

Rural electric: Wise Electric Cooperative (based in Decatur) and Tri-County Electric serve much of the county.

Our land & acreage guide

Taxes & schools

Property taxes & school districts

Your total property tax rate is the sum of the county, city (if inside city limits), school district and any special districts (MUD, PID, hospital or college district). The county rate itself is$0.265 for tax years 2025 and 2026 per $100 of value.

Look up any property’s value, exemptions and taxing units at the Wise County Appraisal District.

School districts

Decatur ISDBridgeport ISDBoyd ISDParadise ISDChico ISDAlvord ISDSlidell ISD

Lakes & outdoors

  • Lake Bridgeport, 11,712 acres
  • LBJ National Grassland, about 20,300 acres

For sale now

Homes & land for sale in Wise County

See all

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the Wise County tax rate?

The county’s rate is $0.265 per $100 for 2026 (general plus FM/lateral road), unchanged from 2025.

Is there public land for recreation in Wise County?

Yes. The LBJ National Grassland (about 20,300 acres in Wise and Montague counties) and Lake Bridgeport (about 11,700 acres) are open for public recreation.

What towns are in Wise County, Texas?

Ten Twenty Realty serves the whole county, includingAlvord, Aurora, Boyd, Bridgeport, Chico, Decatur, Fort Worth, Lake Bridgeport, New Fairview, Newark, Paradise, Rhome, Runaway Bay, Slidell and Westlake. Some towns straddle the county line, so we confirm the county, school district and tax rate for every address.

What is the county seat of Wise County?

Decatur is the county seat. The courthouse, appraisal district and most county offices are there.

Can I buy land or acreage in Wise County?

Yes. It is one of the areas our land buyers ask about most. Before you buy, we check the survey, legal access, water, septic, floodplain, deed restrictions and ag valuation. See our land & acreage guide.

Which Ten Twenty agents serve Wise County?

Shayla Eadler works the county regularly, and every inquiry is answered by a local agent, usually within the hour during business hours.