Kilgore, TX Homes for Rent

Kilgore, a Main Street oil town in East Texas, is transitioning with new job opportunities and a diversifying industrial market. The downtown area is marked by twelve retired oil derricks and features a mix of historical buildings from the 1930s and ’40s alongside new developments. Major employers now include Yamaha, Wagner Tuning, Orgill, and UTZ Chips, with Synergy Business Park offering a walking trail around a lake. Housing options range from new builds and renovated oil boom-era properties to slab homes and empty lots. Downtown Kilgore is enlivened by new and restored murals, game stores, cafes, cantinas, museums, and two historic theaters. Local attractions and things to do include the Texas Shakespeare Festival, NASA-themed programs at the Kilgore Public Library, and a popular Oktoberfest. Kilgore ISD, serving around 3,800 students, is constructing a new high school to replace the old one from the 1930s. Outdoor activities are plentiful with mountain biking trails along Big Head Creek, Meadowbrook Golf Course, and Kilgore City Park’s splash pad and public pool. The city is located in the Texas Piney Woods, offering a densely forested environment with wildlife sightings. Kilgore is connected to major cities via Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 259, and the East Texas Regional Airport provides flights to major airports. Crime rates in Kilgore are below state and national averages for violent crime, although property crime has seen an increase since 2022. Federal grants have been allocated to improve safety through new crisis intervention programs and enhanced officer training.