Palmview receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Alton
Palmview
Opportunity
39 · Bottom 16%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Growth
74 · Top 12%
vs80 · Top 5%
Climate
69 · Bottom 44%
vs69 · Bottom 44%
Physical resilience
23 · Bottom 18%
vs23 · Bottom 18%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 38%
vs99 · Top 11%
Access
71 · Bottom 13%
vs68 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 13%
vs19 · Bottom 1%
Measured values
| Metric | Alton | Palmview | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,214 | 15,921 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $52,715 | $43,963 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $18,575 | $20,918 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,661/sq mi | 2,101/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $156,300 | $113,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,038 | $678 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.0% | 76.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0% | 7.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.1% | 0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 13.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 27.5% | 30.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 293 | 155 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 14.5 | 9.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -1.7% | 131.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 99°F | 99°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 53°F | 53°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 22.2" | 22.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 41 mi | 45 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 21.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 26.1 | 38.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Alton
Elevated or high exposure: cold wave, hurricane, hail.
Palmview
Elevated or high exposure: cold wave, hurricane, hail.
Full profiles: Alton, TX · Palmview, TX · How this is calculated: methodology