The Town FilesPalestine, Texas
City in Anderson County · population 18,544 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,000
- Household income
- $44,981
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.7
Palestine is a city of 18,544 people in Anderson County, Texas. The median home is worth $166,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more vibrant than 83% of Texas towns, more walkable than 81% of Texas towns, better transit than 78% of Texas towns.
How Palestine ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palestine is worth $166,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $44,981, which is more affordable than 22% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,062 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palestine | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,062 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $44,981 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Palestine
| People | Palestine | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.2% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 89.2% |
Weather in Palestine
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 35.2°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 87 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palestine since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 15, 1987 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 63 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 6, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 4, 2025.
Severe weather in Anderson County since 1996
Anderson County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 21, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4705: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Anderson County
Anderson County had 20,139 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,154 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Palestine itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Palestine
13 public schools with 5,171 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PALESTINE H S | 9-12 | 1,016 | 12.9 |
| STORY INT | 4-6 | 673 | 17.3 |
| SOUTHSIDE EL | 2-3 | 460 | 15.9 |
| NORTHSIDE PRI | K-1 | 441 | 17.0 |
| PALESTINE J H | 7-8 | 440 | 11.3 |
| WESTWOOD H S | 9-12 | 404 | 11.2 |
| WESTWOOD PRI | PK-2 | 384 | 16.7 |
| WESTWOOD EL | 3-6 | 375 | 14.4 |
| UT TYLER UNIVERSITY ACADEMY AT PALESTINE (charter) | K-12 | 233 | 13.7 |
| WASHINGTON EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | PK-PK | 217 | 16.7 |
| WESTWOOD J H | 7-8 | 202 | 10.6 |
| NECHES EL | PK-6 | 180 | 12.0 |
Towns near Palestine
- Jacksonville, TX26.5 mi · 13,997 people · home $119,800
- Rusk, TX29.4 mi · 5,285 people · home $157,400
Palestine questions
Is Palestine, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palestine scores better for retirees than 28% of Texas towns and quieter than 20%. 15.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Palestine?
The median owner-occupied home in Palestine is valued at $166,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,981, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,062 a month.
What is the weather like in Palestine?
July highs average 93.9°F and January lows 35.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Palestine get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palestine since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 15, 1987. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)