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Compare towns

Dawson vs Meridian

55 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.2× in Meridian) and average commute (14 min in Meridian).

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Dawson, TXOne of the healthiest townsTexas · 1,322 people
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Meridian, TXOne of the safest townsTexas · 1,638 people
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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.

DawsonOne of the healthiest towns
Health87% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$196K typical home35% below the TX typical home SchoolsBetter than 35%of TX districts All about Dawson →
MeridianOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 86%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 29%of TX districts Health70% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Meridian →
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.

Jobs per worker3.2×
Meridian is more of a job hub
Meridian 0.55Dawson 0.17
Average commute14 min
Meridian has the shorter commute
Dawson 36 minMeridian 22 min
Growth since 2010+7.5 pts
Dawson has grown faster since 2010
Dawson +1%Meridian -6.5%
Age 65++8.2 pts
Meridian has more people 65 and up
Meridian 22.6%Dawson 14.4%
Work in town+10.3 pts
More of Meridian’s workers stay in town
Meridian 12%Dawson 1.7%
Street grid+50%
Meridian has the more walkable street grid
Meridian 61.9Dawson 41.3
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $480 more a month in Meridian

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.

Dawson$1,290/mo
Typical home $196K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.60% · or rent about $748/mo · Housing →
Meridian$1,760/mo
Typical home $260K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.86% · or rent about $738/mo · Housing →

The difference: $480 a month, about $5,700 a year, between Meridian and Dawson.

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.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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
–DawsonNot graded AMeridianSafer than 86% of U.S. towns
Schools
C+DawsonBetter than 35% of districts in the state CMeridianBetter than 29% of districts in the state
Health
DDawsonHealthier than 13% of U.S. towns CMeridianHealthier than 30% of U.S. towns
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
DawsonMeridian
Snow a year0″0″
January low35°F—
July high95°F—
Growing season (days)250d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)26th21st
Outdoors & history
DawsonMeridian
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—0%
Settled1847—
National Register places—5
Community
DawsonMeridian
Library hours a week—23 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

55 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

DawsonTXMeridianTX
Dawson ↔ Meridian55 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.

DawsonMeridian
People
Population 1,322Lowest 1,638Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1%Highest TX: +15.9% -6.5%Lowest TX: +15.9%
Median age 40.7±9.2Lowest 14% above TX 42±8.6Highest 18% above TX
Meridian and Dawson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.5%±3.9Highest TX: 25% 22.2%±4.2Lowest TX: 25%
Dawson and Meridian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.4%±3.4Lowest TX: 13.4% 22.6%±3.9Highest TX: 13.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13%Highest TX: 33.8% 12%Lowest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.6%±2.5Lowest TX: 6.2% 3.7%±3.6Highest TX: 6.2%
Meridian and Dawson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $51,042±$24kLowest 35% below TX $65,625±$15kHighest 16% below TX
Meridian and Dawson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $140,700±$30kHighest 50% below TX $116,700±$6kLowest 59% below TX
Dawson and Meridian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $748±$145Highest 47% below TX $738±$167Lowest 47% below TX
Dawson and Meridian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,253Highest 47% below TX $2,167Lowest 49% below TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 43.5%±20.6Highest TX: 51.7% 43.4%±14Lowest TX: 51.7%
Dawson and Meridian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 21.7%Highest TX: 13.8% 7.7%Lowest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 57.8%Highest TX: 62.6% 50.9%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1967Lowest 25 yrs older than TX 1968Highest 24 yrs older than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 36 minHighest 34% above TX 22 minLowest 17% below TX
Work from home 18.6%±10.8Highest TX: 14.4% 6.2%±4.8Lowest TX: 14.4%
Dawson and Meridian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.7%Lowest 12%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 52.3 miHighest 51.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.17Lowest 0.55Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Corsicana (19%)Fort Worth (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MeridianFew work in Dawson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 41.3Lowest 61.9Highest
Schools
School district —MERIDIAN ISD
High school in town —Meridian H S
Students per teacherat that high school — 8.5
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.

Dawson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dawson’s Town Square.

Meridian neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Meridian’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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