RANK #503 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 72 TX · POP 58,439
1YR FORECAST: -0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Anderson County, Texas, is characterized by its East Texas landscape, featuring rolling hills and pine trees, situated between the Trinity and Neches rivers. Palestine, the county seat, is located about 108 miles southeast of Dallas and 153 miles north of Houston, with U.S. Highways 287, 79, and 84 providing key transportation routes. The community offers a blend of rural charm and outdoor opportunities, including the 25,600-acre Lake Palestine for fishing and boating, and Davey Dogwood Park, known for its scenic trails and spring blooms. The Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area provides nearly 11,000 acres for public hunting, hiking, and bird watching.
Life in Anderson County often involves a reliance on personal vehicles, with an average commute time of 24.1 minutes. Public transportation options exist, including local bus services in Palestine and a microtransit program. The county is served by several independent school districts, including Palestine, Elkhart, and Frankston ISDs. The local economy is supported by various sectors, with recent investments in energy production and manufacturing. Healthcare is also a significant employer, offering a range of career opportunities within the region.
Anderson County is one of 75 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.3% runs above the profile's typical +0.8%.
See all 75 Affordable Slow Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.5x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Anderson County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Natural Gas Generation Plant
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$16,000M | Under Construction |
|
Permian Energy Center (Solar + Battery Storage)
Orsted
|
$460M | Operating |
|
Lumen Farm Solar SLF
Neches Solar, LLC
|
$201M | Planned |
|
Brotherton Storage (Battery)
BT Brotherton Storage, LLC
|
$176M | Planned |
|
Skull Creek Solar
Undisclosed
|
$137M | Planned |
|
Alwest Power LLC Energy Storage Facility
Alwest Power LLC
|
$120M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Anderson County scores 49/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#503). Median household income is $62,068 and job growth is running at +2.1%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Anderson County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $185,300 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.34, with rents averaging $1,041/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Anderson County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.1% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.1% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +3.3% over the past 12 months.
In significant numbers — 8.53% of Anderson County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.