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Compare towns

Panhandle vs Albany

217 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (+88% in Albany) and growth since 2010 (+5.8 pts in Panhandle).

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Panhandle, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 2,505 people
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Albany, TXHomes around $172KTexas · 1,849 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

PanhandleKnown for its schools
Schools#20 for schools in TXof 583 towns Outdoors#92 most walkable in TX0.0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves Housing$210K typical home30% below the TX typical home All about Panhandle →
AlbanyHomes around $172K
Housing$172K typical home43% below the TX typical home All about Albany →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker+88%
Albany is more of a job hub
Albany 0.77Panhandle 0.41
Growth since 2010+5.8 pts
Panhandle has grown faster since 2010
Panhandle -3%Albany -8.8%
Property tax bill+21%
Tax bills are bigger in Albany
Albany $2,372Panhandle $1,957
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Texas ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
A+PanhandleBetter than 99% of districts in the state B−AlbanyBetter than 53% of districts in the state
Health
B+PanhandleHealthier than 73% of U.S. towns BAlbanyHealthier than 62% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $220 more a month in Panhandle

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Panhandle$1,320/mo
Typical home $210K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.22% · or rent about $1,038/mo · Housing →
Albany$1,100/mo
Typical home $172K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.37% · or rent about $726/mo · Housing →

The difference: $220 a month, about $2,600 a year, between Panhandle and Albany.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
PanhandleAlbany
Snow a year14″2″
January low24°F32°F
July high93°F95°F
Growing season (days)196d225d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)75th48th
Outdoors & history
PanhandleAlbany
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land1.3%0%
Settled—1874
National Register places31
Archive photos—1
Famous people born here—7
Community
PanhandleAlbany
Library hours a week42 hrs34 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

217 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PanhandleTXAlbanyTX
Panhandle ↔ Albany217 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

PanhandleAlbany
People
Population 2,505Highest 1,849Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3%Highest TX: +15.9% -8.8%Lowest TX: +15.9%
Median age 48.2±6.7Highest 35% above TX 42.3±3Lowest 19% above TX
Panhandle and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 18%±4.4Lowest TX: 25% 19.1%±3.9Highest TX: 25%
Albany and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 23.7%±5.7Highest TX: 13.4% 21.3%±4.4Lowest TX: 13.4%
Panhandle and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 33.1%Lowest TX: 33.8% 35.3%Highest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.1%±2.4Lowest TX: 6.2% 6.1%±3.2Highest TX: 6.2%
Albany and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $85,870±$6kHighest 9% above TX $68,000±$14kLowest 13% below TX
Panhandle and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $161,000±$19kLowest 43% below TX $173,600±$41kHighest 39% below TX
Albany and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,038±$519Highest 26% below TX $726±$210Lowest 48% below TX
Panhandle and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,957Lowest 54% below TX $2,372Highest 44% below TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 31.8%±24.1Lowest TX: 51.7% 40.3%±13Highest TX: 51.7%
Albany and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 5.8%Lowest TX: 13.8% 10.5%Highest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 77.1%Highest TX: 62.6% 76.4%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 34 yrs older than TX 1961Highest 31 yrs older than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 23% below TX 22 minHighest 16% below TX
Work from home 9.2%±5.3Lowest TX: 14.4% 9.7%±6.2Highest TX: 14.4%
Albany and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 7.2%Lowest 15%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.8 miLowest 34.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.41Lowest 0.77Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Amarillo (31%)Abilene (19%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in AlbanyFew work in Panhandle
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.3%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 101Lowest 133Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 583 in TX—
School district PANHANDLE ISDALBANY ISD
High school in town Panhandle H SAlbany Jr.-Sr. H S
Students per teacherat that high school 9.2Lowest 9.5Highest
Texas average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Panhandle neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Panhandle’s Town Square.

Albany neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Albany’s Town Square.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Texas towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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