Mount Pleasant receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lufkin
Mount Pleasant
Opportunity
21 · Bottom 2%
vs34 · Bottom 10%
Growth
55 · Top 41%
vs53 · Top 45%
Climate
75 · Top 29%
vs69 · Bottom 45%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 36%
vs66 · Top 42%
Housing affordability
88 · Top 37%
vs87 · Top 38%
Schools
71 · Top 25%
vs76 · Top 19%
Access
58 · Bottom 6%
vs69 · Bottom 12%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 16%
vs51 · Bottom 33%
Measured values
| Metric | Lufkin | Mount Pleasant | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,251 | 16,136 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,048 | $50,515 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,636 | $23,814 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,001/sq mi | 794/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $179,600 | $170,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,079 | $910 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.6% | 58.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.6% | 1.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 12.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 18.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 111 | 137 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.2 | 8.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 65.7% | -37.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.3" | 48.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 73 mi | 56 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 17.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.6 | 30.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 27 | 15 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.83 | 12.54 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 49.8% | 50.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 45.5% | 47.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 74.3% | 72.6% | 2024-25 school 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
Lufkin
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, tornado.
Mount Pleasant
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lufkin
60
Your Score
59
Area Score
Mount Pleasant
63
Your Score
61
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lufkin, TX · Mount Pleasant, TX · How this is calculated: methodology