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Ponder vs Palmhurst

481 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+75.3 pts in Ponder) and rent (2.6× in Ponder).

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Ponder, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 2,626 people
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Palmhurst, TXA regional job hubTexas · 2,601 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.

PonderKnown for its schools
Schools#147 for schools in TXof 583 towns Housing$310K typical home4% above the TX typical home HealthHealthier than 87%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Ponder →
PalmhurstA regional job hub
Work1,496 jobsbased in Palmhurst, a regional job hub Health73% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 2%of U.S. towns we grade All about Palmhurst →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

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

Growth since 2010+75.3 pts
Ponder has grown faster since 2010
Ponder +75.1%Palmhurst -0.2%
Rent2.6×
Rent runs higher in Ponder
Ponder $2,158Palmhurst $823
Jobs per worker4.2×
Palmhurst is more of a job hub
Palmhurst 1.62Ponder 0.39
Trails3.3×
Ponder has more miles of trail
Ponder 1.0 miPalmhurst 0.3 mi
Average commute12 min
Palmhurst has the shorter commute
Ponder 30 minPalmhurst 18 min
Seasonal homes+10.6 pts
Palmhurst has more second homes
Palmhurst 10.6%Ponder 0%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Ponder places higher on 14 of 19 TX lists

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
APonderSafer than 94% of U.S. towns D−PalmhurstSafer than 2% of U.S. towns
Schools
A−PonderBetter than 75% of districts in the state CPalmhurstBetter than 32% of districts in the state
Health
APonderHealthier than 87% of U.S. towns CPalmhurstHealthier than 27% of U.S. towns
14Ponder
5Palmhurst

Lists won, of 19 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

SafestSafety · 470 towns #6#463 Cheapest rentCost of living · 624 towns #576#73 Best schoolsSchools · 583 towns #147#568 Lowest depressionHealth · 652 towns #476#18 Fastest growingGrowth · 640 towns #40#473 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 652 towns #69#510 Shortest commuteGetting around · 653 towns #489#80 Most activeHealth · 652 towns #34#423

Left end = #1 in Texas. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Ponder’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $200 more a month in Ponder

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.

Ponder$2,090/mo
Typical home $310K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.79% · or rent about $2,158/mo · Housing →
Palmhurst$1,890/mo
Typical home $286K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.64% · or rent about $823/mo · Housing →

The difference: $200 a month, about $2,400 a year, between Ponder and Palmhurst.

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
PonderPalmhurst
Snow a year0″0″
January low—49°F
July high—98°F
Growing season (days)—365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)42nd68th
Outdoors & history
PonderPalmhurst
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land0%—
Community
PonderPalmhurst
Library hours a week27 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

481 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PonderTXPalmhurstTX
Ponder ↔ Palmhurst481 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.

PonderPalmhurst
People
Population 2,626Highest 2,601Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +75.1%Highest TX: +15.9% -0.2%Lowest TX: +15.9%
Median age 33.2±2.8Lowest 7% below TX 35.2±4.7Highest about the TX average
Palmhurst and Ponder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 33.1%±7.6Highest TX: 25% 30.5%±6.8Lowest TX: 25%
Ponder and Palmhurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.7%±4.1Lowest TX: 13.4% 13.1%±3.8Highest TX: 13.4%
Palmhurst and Ponder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 33.5%Lowest TX: 33.8% 39.2%Highest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.6%±1.7Lowest TX: 6.2% 7.8%±4.1Highest TX: 6.2%
Palmhurst and Ponder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $106,250±$15kHighest 35% above TX $98,125±$26kLowest 25% above TX
Ponder and Palmhurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $321,000±$20kLowest 13% above TX $375,000±$149kHighest 32% above TX
Palmhurst and Ponder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,158±$88Highest 54% above TX $823±$557Lowest 41% below TX
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,742Lowest 36% above TX $6,164Highest 46% above TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 50.9%±20.6Highest TX: 51.7% 40.2%±45.5Lowest TX: 51.7%
Ponder and Palmhurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 1%Lowest TX: 13.8% 4.3%Highest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 87.5%Highest TX: 62.6% 80.3%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2008Highest 16 yrs newer than TX 1999Lowest 7 yrs newer than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minHighest 13% above TX 18 minLowest 32% below TX
Work from home 12.8%±5.7Highest TX: 14.4% 10.7%±5.6Lowest TX: 14.4%
Ponder and Palmhurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.4%Lowest 2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.8 miHighest 6.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.39Lowest 1.62Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Fort Worth (12%)McAllen (29%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in PalmhurstFew work in Ponder
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 1.0 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 27.8Highest 21.9Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #147 of 583 in TX#568 of 583 in TX
School district PONDER ISDMISSION CISD
High school in town Ponder H SNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 12.4 —
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.

Ponder neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ponder’s Town Square.

Palmhurst neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Palmhurst’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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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