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Living in
Palestine.
About
Life in Palestine
This small Northeast Texas city of roughly 18,500 people sits in the Piney Woods between Dallas, Houston, and Shreveport—close enough to access major metros but far enough away to keep your cost of living reasonable. The median home value hovers around $166,000 with median household income at $44,981, so you're looking at genuinely affordable housing compared to Texas's sprawling urban centers; rent runs about $1,062 a month if you're not ready to buy. The unemployment rate sits at 4.2%, which is respectable, though don't expect explosive career growth; this is a place where people come to slow down, raise families, or retire, not chase high-powered advancement.
Palestine at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Foreign-Born
9.2%
Broadband Internet
89.4%
of households
Population Growth
+5.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Palestine: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Palestine, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (54.3%), and 14.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.7%
of residents
65 and Older
15.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
38.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.1%
of households
Married Couples
41.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.77
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 24% below TX average
Rent, home values, and income in Palestine
In Palestine, rent runs 24% below the TX average, and home values are 42% below the TX average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
32.3%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,977
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $194,911 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for TX
Unemployment in Palestine
Unemployment in Anderson County, which includes Palestine, is close to the TX average.
Unemployment rate
Palestine: Anderson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Anderson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Palestine Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.7 min avg
How Palestine residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Palestine, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 43 mi
Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (TYR)
Regional airport · few flights51k passengers boarded in 2025
- 103 mi
Dallas Love Field (DAL)
Medium hub8.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 114 mi
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
Major hub41.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 41% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Palestine runs 41% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
463.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,592.4
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Palestine Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
73.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Anderson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Anderson County, which includes Palestine, the most common type is heat, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $404,000 |
| 2024 | 20 | Heat | $123,000 |
| 2023 | 23 | Hail | $595,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | Drought | $52,000 |
| 2021 | 10 | Heat | $860,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Heat | $26,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Heat | $5,500 |
| 2018 | 4 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Anderson County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Smith County, TX (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 48 miles from Palestine) is typically good — 330 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
330
per year
Moderate Days
35
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Smith County, TX (48 mi away)
Climate93°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Palestine has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
61°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
87
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
38
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
103
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 35°F | 4.05" |
| Feb | 63°F | 39°F | 3.87" |
| Mar | 70°F | 45°F | 4.11" |
| Apr | 77°F | 53°F | 4.13" |
| May | 84°F | 62°F | 4.32" |
| Jun | 90°F | 69°F | 4.50" |
| Jul | 94°F | 72°F | 2.57" |
| Aug | 95°F | 71°F | 3.66" |
| Sep | 89°F | 65°F | 3.31" |
| Oct | 80°F | 54°F | 4.23" |
| Nov | 68°F | 44°F | 3.85" |
| Dec | 60°F | 37°F | 4.20" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Palestine
Palestine has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
19.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Palestine Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Palestine
Palestine's student/teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Waco Mammoth National Monument, 90 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Palestine
Palestine has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Waco Mammoth National Monument (90 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Waco Mammoth National Monument
National Monument
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Palestine
Palestine Public Library
502 N Queen St, Palestine
Cities Near Palestine
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Palestine?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Palestine FAQ
Is Palestine, Texas affordable?⌄
Palestine's median rent is $1,062/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,981/year. Median home value is $166,000.
Is Palestine, Texas safe?⌄
Palestine's violent crime rate was 464 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1592 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Palestine, Texas?⌄
Anderson County, which includes Palestine, has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Palestine, Texas?⌄
The cost of living in Palestine is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,062/month and median household income is $44,981/year. The median home value is $166,000. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Palestine, Texas?⌄
The average commute in Palestine is 21 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from