The index considers the resources women need to participate in the workforce, care for their families and pursue opportunities
Collin County ranked fourth in Texas for women’s economic opportunity, according to a new statewide index examining the conditions that help women build financial security, access health care and advance in their careers.
Released by Texas Women’s Foundation in partnership with Every Texan, the Texas Women’s Economic Opportunity Index compares 252 counties across the state. The interactive tool scores counties on a scale of 1 to 100, measuring factors that influence women’s economic well-being and highlighting areas where additional support may be needed.
Rockwall County took the top spot, followed by Galveston and Denton counties. Collin County’s No. 4 ranking places it among the highest-performing counties in Texas, though the statewide findings show that economic opportunity can look very different depending on where a woman lives.
The index builds on more than a decade of research published through Texas Women’s Foundation’s Economic Issues for Women in Texas reports. It evaluates 12 measures across four categories: work and economic security, health and well-being, child care and family, and education and workforce development.
What The Ranking Means
Collin County’s fourth-place finish offers a broad measure of the conditions affecting women who live and work in the area. The index considers the resources women need to participate in the workforce, care for their families and pursue opportunities for advancement.
The tool also allows users to compare counties and explore the four categories individually, offering a more detailed look at where economic conditions are stronger and where challenges remain.
The statewide results make clear that a high ranking does not mean every barrier has disappeared. Child care, access to maternity care, wage disparities and the gap between women’s educational achievements and their representation in leadership remain concerns across Texas.
The index will be updated as new data becomes available, allowing policymakers, employers and community organizations to track changes over time.
Child Care And Health Care Remain Statewide Challenges
Among the index’s findings, child care stands out as one of the most persistent obstacles to women’s economic opportunity. It was the weakest category in most Texas counties, and seven of the state’s 10 largest counties ranked in the bottom half statewide for child care.
The cost of care can place a significant strain on working families. Across Texas, infant care expenses consume an average of 22% of a working mother’s earnings. Meanwhile, just 33% of 3- and 4-year-olds are enrolled in public pre-K.
Access to maternity care is another concern. The report found that 63% of Texas counties qualify as maternity care deserts or have low access to maternity care. In addition, 36% of Texas women who gave birth in 2024 did not receive prenatal care during their first trimester.
Women Are Earning Degrees but Still Face Workplace Gaps
Education and professional advancement tell another complicated story. Texas women ages 25 and older are more likely than men to hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, with 35% of women earning at least that level of education compared with 33% of men. Women also account for 45% of employed Texans in management, business, science and arts occupations, compared with 37% of men.
Yet those numbers have not translated into equal representation in leadership. Women hold just 22% of management positions within professional occupations, compared with 34% held by men.
Pay remains another dividing line. Texas women working full time, year-round earn 81 cents for every dollar earned by men, down from 83 cents in 2024, according to the index. Three in 10 women ages 18 to 64 also live below 200% of the federal poverty level.
In 2024, a study by Chamberofcommerce.org, showed that Frisco, McKinney and Plano had some of the largest gender pay gaps in the country.
In Frisco, women earned just 56% of what men do, marking the city with the most significant gender pay gap in the U.S. The disparity amounts to $52,216, nearly five times the national average, increasing $12,357 since 2023. McKinney and Plano held the fifth and sixth positions among cities with the most substantial pay gaps. In McKinney, women earned $62,079, equivalent to 72% of men’s earnings, resulting in a pay disparity of $24,568. Meanwhile, in Plano, women earned $60,190 compared to men’s $83,605, a pay gap of $23,415.
Business ownership shows a similar disconnect between participation and financial returns. Women own 42% of privately held businesses in Texas but generate only 14% of their revenue. Among businesses without employees, women own 44% of firms but receive just 26% of receipts.
“As the state with the nation’s strongest economy, Texas has the potential to make economic opportunity accessible to women and their families,” said Karen Hughes White, president and CEO of Texas Women’s Foundation. “This index helps identify where progress is being made, where gaps remain and where targeted action can help create a strong and vibrant Texas for all.”
Explore How Collin County Compares
The Texas Women’s Economic Opportunity Index gives residents, employers and community leaders a way to examine how their counties compare with others across the state. Scores are available for 252 counties; Loving and Kennedy counties were excluded because there was not enough data.
For Collin County, the fourth-place ranking offers a useful starting point for understanding the local conditions that support women’s economic success, as well as the broader issues that can affect families throughout North Texas.
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