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Harper vs Cresson

184 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+70.4 pts in Cresson) and street grid (6.1× in Cresson).

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Harper, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 1,214 people
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Cresson, TXHomes around $424KTexas · 1,313 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.

HarperKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 84%of TX districts Housing$419K typical home40% above the TX typical home All about Harper →
CressonHomes around $424K
Housing$424K typical home42% above the TX typical home HealthHealthier than 80%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Cresson →
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.

Growth since 2010+70.4 pts
Cresson has grown faster since 2010
Cresson +82.1%Harper +11.7%
Street grid6.1×
Cresson has the more walkable street grid
Cresson 11.6Harper 1.9
Average commute23 min
Harper has the shorter commute
Cresson 52 minHarper 29 min
★ What stands out · 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
A−HarperBetter than 84% of districts in the state –CressonNot graded
Health
B−HarperHealthier than 52% of U.S. towns A−CressonHealthier than 80% of U.S. towns
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.

Harper$2,390/mo
Typical home $419K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.54% · Housing →
Cresson$2,500/mo
Typical home $424K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.78% · or rent about $1,680/mo · Housing →

The difference: $120 a month, about $1,400 a year, between Cresson and Harper.

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.

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
HarperCresson
Snow a year0″0″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)32nd50th
Outdoors & history
HarperCresson
Trails4 mi4 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled—2001
Community
HarperCresson
Library hours a week32 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

184 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

HarperTXCressonTX
Harper ↔ Cresson184 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.

HarperCresson
People
Population 1,214Lowest 1,313Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +11.7%Lowest TX: +15.9% +82.1%Highest TX: +15.9%
Median age 34.6±15.2Highest about the TX average 34.2±3.9Lowest 4% below TX
Harper and Cresson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.6%±9Highest TX: 25% 26.6%±8.5Lowest TX: 25%
Harper and Cresson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.7%±7.5Highest TX: 13.4% 13.6%±2.8Lowest TX: 13.4%
Harper and Cresson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.1%Lowest TX: 33.8% 30.2%Highest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.3%±2.2Lowest TX: 6.2% 4.8%±2.7Highest TX: 6.2%
Cresson and Harper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian — $91,518±$15k 17% above TX
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $434,600±$142kHighest 53% above TX $293,200±$55kLowest 3% above TX
Harper and Cresson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $1,680±$62 20% above TX
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,355Highest 44% below TX $2,296Lowest 46% below TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 90.1%±46.8Highest TX: 51.7% 37.1%±22.3Lowest TX: 51.7%
Harper and Cresson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.3%Highest TX: 13.8% 12%Lowest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 73.7%Lowest TX: 62.6% 73.8%Highest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1991Lowest 1 yr older than TX 2002Highest 10 yrs newer than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minLowest 7% above TX 52 minHighest 94% above TX
Work from home 19.6%±14.9Highest TX: 14.4% 10.9%±9.3Lowest TX: 14.4%
Harper and Cresson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 7.1%Highest 0.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.3 miHighest 21.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.65Highest 0.59Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Fredericksburg (16%)Fort Worth (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CressonFew work in Harper
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 3.5 miLowest 4.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.4 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.9Lowest 11.6Highest
Schools
School district HARPER ISD—
High school in town Harper H S—
Students per teacherat that high school 8.8 —
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.

Harper neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Harper’s Town Square.

Cresson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Cresson’s Town Square.

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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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