Alto is a town in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. With a population of 1,027 at the 2020 U.S. census, Alto is the closest municipality to the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site, an archaeological site dating back to 800 BC, featuring a prehistoric village and ceremonial center.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code75925

Area code936

Living in Alto

Housing in Alto

$258K▼ 9.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Alto home is worth about $258,000, down 9.6% in a year, 14% below the Texas typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Alto

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Alto's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Alto 4.7

Texas 3.5

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Alto 10.3

Texas 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Alto

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Alto for work: only 15% work in town. The top destinations are Rusk (7%), Lufkin (6%) and Nacogdoches (5%). Half commute less than 29 miles.

Rusk

Lufkin

Nacogdoches

Tyler

15%Work in townlive and work in Alto 29 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 451Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Alto →

Health in Alto

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 23% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Texas

1better than TX·11worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 14 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

77.4%More adults treating high blood pressureTX 74.1% · better 7.8%More adults with COPDTX 5.7% · worse

Care nearby

Christus Mother Frances Hospital- JacksonvilleJacksonville · 22.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Hope Community Medicine - RuskRusk · 12.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Alto · CMS · HRSAHealth in Alto →

Natural hazards in Alto

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 35% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

1Does Alto flood?paid flood claims since 2002 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Alto

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Alto →

Climate in Alto

Full climate →

Alto has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 94°, a January night drops to 38°, and snow is almost unheard of.

61° / 40°Winter

77° / 55°Spring

93° / 72°Summer

79° / 56°Fall

How much snow does Alto get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 25, with the last in spring around Mar 7.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Alto →

Schools in Alto

All Alto schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Alto’s kids attend trail 52% of Texas’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictALTO ISDSchools4

Alto El B-Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 207 students Alto Middle B-Middle · Grades 5–8 · 152 students Alto H S BHigh · Grades 9–12 · 146 students Alto Christian AcademyOther · Grades K–12 · 32 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within TX. Ratings are from neighbors.