Palestine
RANK #111 / 996 NAT · #7 / 69 TX · POP 58,077
1YR FORECAST: +3.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +35%
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.
Below national median (4.7x)
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.2x 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| 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 996 counties.
Anderson County ranks #111 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 89/100, placing it in the top tier nationally. Median household income is $57,445 and the underlying growth metrics (housing, migration, income) hold up against peer counties.
By national standards, Anderson County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $154,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $972/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Anderson County are both close to flat — population -0.1% YoY and jobs +0.3%. Home values shifted -4.6% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
In significant numbers — 8.91% 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.