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Anderson County, TX

RANK #436 / 996  ·  POP 58,077  ·  TX

PROJECTED GROWTH: +0.9%

Anderson County's economy is holding up, but population decline raises questions about long-term trajectory.

[01] Why Anderson County?

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.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
4.2x

Below national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
-1.2%

Contracting economy

Home Prices
-4.6%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
1.1

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
13x

Below national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 4.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Anderson County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
58,077
-0.1% YoY
Median Household Income
$57,445
Median Home Value
$154,600
-4.6% 12mo
Median Rent
$972
Average Annual Pay
$59,154
-0.2% YoY
Employment
20,139
+0.3% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3716
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
8.91%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$240,000
Days on Market
48
Moderate pace
Months of Supply
7.2
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
94.1%
Negotiation room for buyers
Listings w/ Price Drops
24.0%
Building Permits (2024)
27
Single-Family Permits
18

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$17,094M
TOTAL
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.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth -1.2% 4 percentile
Population Growth -0.1% 25 percentile
Income Growth +15.5% 100 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.9% 66 percentile
Home Price Change -4.6% 3 percentile
Price/Rent 13x 52 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anderson County, TX a good place to move to?

Anderson County has a Boom Town Index score of 56/100, ranking #436 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.3% and a median household income of $57,445, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is Anderson County affordable?

The median home value in Anderson County is $154,600 with median rent at $972/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3716, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Anderson County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.3%. Home values changed -4.6% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Anderson County?

Yes — 8.91% of Anderson County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

Fayette County, KY 66 Plymouth County, MA 66 Wright County, MN 66 Washington County, NY 66 Floyd County, IN 66 Kalamazoo County, MI 66 Warren County, OH 66 Nacogdoches County, TX 66