Panhandle, Texas, downtown IMG 0645 · The original uploader was Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 3.0BNSF container train led by GE Dash 9-44CW locomotives at Winslow, Arizona · Flickr user Clay Gilliland / CC BY-SA 2.0Panhandle, TX, High School sign IMG 0632 · Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Panhandle is a small town of 2,743 in Texas, with a median household income of $83,867
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Panhandle stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Panhandle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Panhandle city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.8
Panhandle's overall cost of living index is 90.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Panhandle costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Panhandle, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$135,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$956
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$83,867
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Panhandle's violent crime rate is 303.7 per 100,000 residents
— 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
303.7 /100k
Property Crime
286.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Panhandle is served primarily by PANHANDLE ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Panhandle, TX
National Avg
School District
PANHANDLE ISD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Panhandle sees average highs of 50.1°F in January
and 93.4°F in July,
with 21.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 13.6 inches of snow per year.
Panhandle's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Panhandle roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $135,400 and median rent is $956/month.
Panhandle's violent crime rate is 303.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 286.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Panhandle are operated by PANHANDLE ISD.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 32.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Panhandle, TX has a population of 2,743, a median household income of $83,867, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Panhandle averages 50.1°F in January and 93.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.1 inches
with about 13.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Panhandle, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 79068.
The population of Panhandle, Texas is 2,743 with a median age of 43.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Panhandle: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $135,400, median household income $83,867, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Panhandle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
