City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Penelope, TX

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

223
Residents
$65,938
Median income
$96,300
Median home
$1,023
Median rent (state)

Penelope - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Penelope lands in the 44th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

44th
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
22nd
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Penelope, TX

Penelope is a small town in Texas, home to 223 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $65,938 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.6%. Penelope's housing stock carries a median value of $96,300, and the median resident age is 42.7 years. 18.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 57.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Texas at 97.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,023 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $223 across Texas, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 73.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

223 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$65,938 /yr

Poverty 3.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Penelope compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 44% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 22% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Texas-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Penelope toward the bottom of Texas's cities

Among the 1,505 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Penelope ranks #1,162 - the 23rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Penelope only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#690 of 1,520
55th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1,195 of 1,663
27th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#1,162 of 1,505
23rd percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#1,230 of 1,663
26th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#729 of 1,663
56th 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.

44thIncome percentile

44th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Penelope's home value compares nationally

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

$96,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Penelope $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 - Penelope, TX Penelope, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Penelope, 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 Penelope, TX median $65,938/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%
Penelope, 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 Penelope, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.3%

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

Population
223
Median Income
$65,938
Median Home Value
$96,300
Median Age
42.7
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Labor force participation
57.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
175 residents180 residents185 residents190 residents195 residents200 residents 202020212022202320242025 180 residents 196 residents ▲ +8.9%
Penelope's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.7%
Carpool
16.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
3.2%
Other
2.0%

Based on 94 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 Penelope sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,023/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
73.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Ellinger
222 people
Megargel
224 people
Montague
224 people
Bynum
225 people
Dickens
225 people
Sadler
221 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Penelope's 223 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Rutledge, AL
223 people
New Edinburg, AR
223 people
Lindcove, CA
223 people
Surrency, GA
223 people
Acequia, ID
223 people
Crossgate, KY
223 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Penelope's $65,938 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Plainview, CA
$65,938 median income
Farragut, IA
$65,938 median income
Marble Rock, IA
$65,938 median income
Reading, KS
$65,938 median income
Jonesport, ME
$65,938 median income
Amherst, MA
$65,938 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Penelope, 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 Penelope, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 78.5% 15.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 32.7% White 78.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.4% Two or more races 15.3% 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 Penelope 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
Penelope (this city) 223 $65,938
Ellinger 222 $59,625
Megargel 224 $95,066
Montague 224 $53,984
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Penelope, TX?

What is the population of Penelope, TX? +

The population of Penelope, TX stands at 223 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Penelope is $65,938 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Penelope? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Penelope; 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.

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

The median home value in Penelope is $96,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.