City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Palestine, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Palestine - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

18,888
Residents
$46,228
Median income
$153,400
Median home
$1,117
Median rent (state)

Palestine - the verdict

Nationally, Palestine sits in the 14th percentile for household income and the 35th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

14th
percentile, household income
28th
percentile, home value
30th
percentile, median rent
35th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Palestine, TX

Palestine is a small town in Texas, home to 18,888 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Palestine brings in $46,228 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.1%. Home values in Palestine run a median of $153,400, and the median resident age is 35.4 years. About 16.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 58.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 25 residential building permits were authorized in Palestine (Construction Slowdown), down 84% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1862.7 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 65.6°F with 46.8 inches of precipitation per year and 0.1 inches of snowfall.

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Texas scores 97.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,117 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Texas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 73.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

18,888 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$46,228 /yr

Poverty 14.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Palestine compare to other US cities?

Where Palestine sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 14% higher than other cities
Home value 28% pricier than other cities
Median rent 30% pricier than other cities
Safety 35% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Texas, Palestine ranks #426 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Palestine against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Texas's city distribution

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Palestine ranks #542 - the 67th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Palestine only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,228 of 1,520
19th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#868 of 1,663
47th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#790 of 1,505
47th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#542 of 1,663
67th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#878 of 1,663
47th percentile in Texas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

14thIncome percentile
35thSafety percentile

14th percentile nationally for median household income · 35th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Palestine's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Palestine's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 40 Avg. percentile National median
Palestine's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Palestine's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$153,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 72% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Palestine $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Palestine, TX Palestine, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Palestine, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Palestine, TX median $46,228/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Palestine, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Palestine, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
18,888
Median Income
$46,228
Median Home Value
$153,400
Median Age
35.4
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Labor force participation
58.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1862.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
417.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1445.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
65.6°F
Annual Precipitation
46.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
18,000 residents18,500 residents19,000 residents19,500 residents20,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 18,585 residents 19,555 residents ▲ +5.2%
Palestine's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
25
housing units authorized
Single-Family
16
detached homes
Multifamily
9
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 155
2020 174
2021 219
2022 183
2023 14
2024 25

Permit volume decreased 84% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.4%
Carpool
9.2%
Public Transit
2.2%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.4%
Other
2.8%

Based on 8,587 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Palestine sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,117/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
73.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

La Marque
18,833 people
Seagoville
18,968 people
Brownwood
18,805 people
Crowley
19,007 people
Terrell
19,019 people
Steiner Ranch
18,683 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Palestine's 18,888 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cullman, AL
18,894 people
Mebane, NC
18,899 people
Chowchilla, CA
18,876 people
Onalaska, WI
18,909 people
Lansdale, PA
18,865 people
Ellensburg, WA
18,913 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Palestine's $46,228 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kenly, NC
$46,229 median income
Rio Communities, NM
$46,223 median income
Duncan, MS
$46,219 median income
Buhl, ID
$46,217 median income
Eastman, GA
$46,214 median income
Jackson, AL
$46,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Palestine, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Palestine, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 50.2% 28.1% 16.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 24.4% White 50.2% Black or African American 28.1% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 4.9% Two or more races 16.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Palestine compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Palestine (this city) 18,888 $46,228
La Marque 18,833 $70,632
Seagoville 18,968 $68,020
Brownwood 18,805 $47,821
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Palestine, TX?

What is the population of Palestine, TX? +

Palestine, TX counts 18,888 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Palestine, TX? +

Median annual household income in Palestine runs $46,228, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Palestine? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Palestine; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

Is Palestine, TX safe? +

Palestine has a total crime rate of 1862.7 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Palestine, TX? +

A typical home in Palestine is worth $153,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Palestine? +

The average annual temperature in Palestine runs 65.6°F, 46.8 inches of precipitation, and 0.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.