City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Ponder, TX

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

2,524
Residents
$110,714
Median income
$287,000
Median home
$1,931
Median rent (state)

Ponder - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ponder places in the 83rd percentile for household income and the 94th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

83rd
percentile, household income
63rd
percentile, home value
80th
percentile, median rent
94th
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: Ponder, TX

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,524 residents in Ponder, a small town within Texas. Median household income here is $110,714 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.5%. Ponder's housing stock carries a median value of $287,000, and the median resident age is 30.3 years. 37.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 78.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Ponder (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Ponder reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 244.3 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,931 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Texas's average monthly utility costs around $223 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 96.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

2,524 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$110,714 /yr

Poverty 0.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Ponder compare to other US cities?

Here's how Ponder stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 83% higher than other cities
Home value 63% pricier than other cities
Median rent 80% pricier than other cities
Safety 94% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Texas and the picture shifts: Ponder ranks #36 of 624 Texas cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Texas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Ponder's strongest outlier among Texas cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Ponder ranks #1 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Ponder only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#189 of 1,520
88th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 1,663
92nd percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#295 of 1,505
80th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#1,429 of 1,663
14th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#258 of 1,663
84th 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.

83rdIncome percentile
94thSafety percentile

83rd percentile nationally for median household income · 94th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Ponder's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Ponder'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 69 Avg. percentile National median
Ponder'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 Ponder's home value compares nationally

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

$287,000 37th percentile more affordable than 37% 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%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Ponder $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 - Ponder, TX Ponder, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ponder, 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 Ponder, TX median $110,714/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%
Ponder, 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 Ponder, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 37.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 78.7%

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

Population
2,524
Median Income
$110,714
Median Home Value
$287,000
Median Age
30.3
Poverty Rate
0.5%
Labor force participation
78.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
37.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
244.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
244.3
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.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,400 residents2,600 residents2,800 residents3,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,459 residents 2,863 residents ▲ +16.4%
Ponder's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 4
2020 0
2021 48
2022 63
2023 40
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.8%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
11.6%

Based on 1,309 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 Ponder sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,931/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Freer
2,524 people
Panorama
2,524 people
Mount Vernon
2,523 people
De Leon
2,512 people
Ranger
2,541 people
Fritch
2,544 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ponder's 2,524 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

China Lake Acres, CA
2,523 people
Weldon, CA
2,525 people
St. Leo, FL
2,523 people
Seneca, IL
2,525 people
Nicholson, MS
2,523 people
Sardis, MS
2,525 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ponder's $110,714 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Northfield, KY
$110,714 median income
Webster Groves, MO
$110,716 median income
South Lebanon, OH
$110,729 median income
Chester Heights, PA
$110,729 median income
Scotch Meadows, NC
$110,694 median income
West Goshen, CA
$110,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ponder, 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 Ponder, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.8% 9.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.0% White 83.8% Black or African American 3.6% Asian 1.6% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 1.1% Two or more races 9.7% 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 Ponder 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
Ponder (this city) 2,524 $110,714
Freer 2,524 $75,521
Panorama 2,524 $76,906
Mount Vernon 2,523 $67,097
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ponder, TX?

What is the population of Ponder, TX? +

2,524 people live in Ponder, TX according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Ponder is $110,714 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ponder? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ponder; 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 Ponder, TX safe? +

Ponder has a total crime rate of 244.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Ponder, TX? +

A typical home in Ponder is worth $287,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.