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Panhandle vs Tool

366 miles apart. The biggest differences: average commute (27 min in Panhandle) and seasonal homes (+20.5 pts in Tool).

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Panhandle, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 2,505 people
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Tool, TXOne of the healthiest townsTexas · 2,367 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 →
ToolOne of the healthiest towns
Health78% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 75%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 75%of TX districts All about Tool →
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.

Average commute27 min
Panhandle has the shorter commute
Tool 47 minPanhandle 21 min
Seasonal homes+20.5 pts
Tool has more second homes
Tool 20.5%Panhandle 0%
Typical home built25 yrs
Panhandle’s homes are older
Tool 1983Panhandle 1958
Street grid+71%
Panhandle has the more walkable street grid
Panhandle 101Tool 59.0
Jobs per worker+64%
Panhandle is more of a job hub
Panhandle 0.41Tool 0.25
★ 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.

Safety
–PanhandleNot graded A−ToolSafer than 75% of U.S. towns
Schools
A+PanhandleBetter than 99% of districts in the state A−ToolBetter than 75% of districts in the state
Health
B+PanhandleHealthier than 73% of U.S. towns C−ToolHealthier than 22% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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 →
Tool$1,280/mo
Typical home $213K (Census) · tax rate 0.92% · or rent about $1,386/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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
PanhandleTool
Snow a year14″0″
January low24°F35°F
July high93°F95°F
Growing season (days)196d246d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)75th37th
Outdoors & history
PanhandleTool
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land1.3%—
National Register places3—
Community
PanhandleTool
Library hours a week42 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

366 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PanhandleTXToolTX
Panhandle ↔ Tool366 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.

PanhandleTool
People
Population 2,505Highest 2,367Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3%Lowest TX: +15.9% -2.9%Highest TX: +15.9%
Median age 48.2±6.7Lowest 35% above TX 49.6±5.9Highest 39% above TX
Tool and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 18%±4.4Highest TX: 25% 16.7%±4.2Lowest TX: 25%
Panhandle and Tool 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% 22.9%±3Lowest TX: 13.4%
Panhandle and Tool are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 33.1%Highest TX: 33.8% 26.8%Lowest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.1%±2.4Highest TX: 6.2% 1.4%±1.2Lowest TX: 6.2%
Panhandle and Tool 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 $71,333±$17kLowest 9% below TX
Panhandle and Tool 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 $213,300±$57kHighest 25% below TX
Tool and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,038±$519Lowest 26% below TX $1,386±$260Highest about the TX average
Tool and Panhandle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,957Highest 54% below TX $1,952Lowest 54% below TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 31.8%±24.1Lowest TX: 51.7% 62.9%±66.6Highest TX: 51.7%
Tool 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% 17.3%Highest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 77.1%Lowest TX: 62.6% 81.1%Highest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 34 yrs older than TX 1983Highest 9 yrs older than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 23% below TX 47 minHighest 77% above TX
Work from home 9.2%±5.3Lowest TX: 14.4% 11.3%±11Highest TX: 14.4%
Tool 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%Highest 3.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.8 miLowest 40.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.41Highest 0.25Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Amarillo (31%)Mabank (7%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ToolFew work in Panhandle
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.3%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 101Highest 59.0Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 583 in TX—
School district PANHANDLE ISDMALAKOFF ISD
High school in town Panhandle H SNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 9.2 —
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.

Tool neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Tool’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Panhandle

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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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