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Earth vs Rule

162 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (2.5× in Rule) and property tax bill (+45% in Earth).

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Earth, TXHomes around $95KTexas · 925 people

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Rule, TXHomes around $83KTexas · 823 people

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.

EarthHomes around $95K

Housing$95K typical home68% below the TX typical home All about Earth →

RuleHomes around $83K

Housing$83K typical home72% below the TX typical home SchoolsBetter than 22%of TX districts All about Rule →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Street grid2.5×

Rule has the more walkable street grid

Rule 147Earth 59.7

Property tax bill+45%

Tax bills are bigger in Earth

Earth $1,050Rule $722

Jobs per worker+56%

Rule is more of a job hub

Rule 0.53Earth 0.34

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Down paymentRate%

Earth$600/mo

Typical home $95K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.34% · or rent about $750/mo · Housing →

Rule$510/mo

Typical home $83K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.02% · or rent about $1,027/mo · Housing →

The difference: $100 a month, about $1,200 a year, between Earth and Rule.

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.

Schools

–EarthNot graded C−RuleBetter than 22% of districts in the state

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

EarthRule

Snow a year8″3″

January low25°F 29°F

July high90°F 95°F

Growing season (days)206d 225d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)49th 30th

Outdoors & history

EarthRule

Conserved land—0%

Settled1924 —

Archive photos6 —

Community

EarthRule

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

162 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

EarthTX RuleTX

Earth ↔ Rule162 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.

Only big differences vs Texas average

EarthRule

People

Population 925Highest 823Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -15.4%Lowest TX: +15.9% -11.8%Highest TX: +15.9%

Median age 40.6±13.9Highest 14% above TX 40±7.4Lowest 12% above TX

Earth and Rule are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 30.3%±6.6Highest TX: 25% 24.1%±4Lowest TX: 25%

Earth and Rule are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 23.4%±5.7Highest TX: 13.4% 21.6%±5Lowest TX: 13.4%

Earth and Rule are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 10.4%Lowest TX: 33.8% 11.7%Highest TX: 33.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.5%±1.8 TX: 6.2% 0.5%±2 TX: 6.2%

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $47,574±$18kHighest 39% below TX $34,792±$15kLowest 56% below TX

Earth and Rule are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $78,300±$17kHighest 72% below TX $71,000±$28kLowest 75% below TX

Earth and Rule are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $750±$107Lowest 47% below TX $1,027±$345Highest 27% below TX

Rule and Earth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,050Highest 75% below TX $722Lowest 83% below TX

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 61.7%±25.5Lowest TX: 51.7% 78.9%±33Highest TX: 51.7%

Rule and Earth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 14.4%Lowest TX: 13.8% 38.3%Highest TX: 13.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 71.6%Lowest TX: 62.6% 76.4%Highest TX: 62.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1964Highest 28 yrs older than TX 1961Lowest 31 yrs older than TX

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 18 minHighest 33% below TX 17 minLowest 36% below TX

Work from home 2%±3.2Lowest TX: 14.4% 6.9%±7.7Highest TX: 14.4%

Rule and Earth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 6.5%Highest 5%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 46.8 miLowest 55.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.34Lowest 0.53Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Lubbock (14%)Haskell (14%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RuleFew work in Earth

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.7Lowest 147Highest

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.

Earth neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Earth’s Town Square.

Rule neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rule’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Earth and Rule

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Towns like Earth

Iraan1,038 people · $95K homes

Seven Points1,167 people · $91K homes

Rogers1,303 people · $97K homes

Stinnett1,170 people · $98K homes

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.