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Kirby vs Rusk

251 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (19× in Rusk) and property tax bill (+78% in Kirby).

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Kirby, TXAn outdoors townTexas · 8,117 people

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Rusk, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 5,477 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.

KirbyAn outdoors town

Outdoors#93 most conserved land in TX0.1 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves Housing$172K typical home43% below the TX typical home SafetySafer than 12%of U.S. towns we grade All about Kirby →

RuskKnown for its schools

Schools#209 for schools in TXof 583 towns

Outdoors#84 most conserved land in TX1.9 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves Housing$220K typical home26% below the TX typical home All about Rusk →

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.

Rusk has more miles of trail

Rusk 1.9 miKirby 0.1 mi

Property tax bill+78%

Tax bills are bigger in Kirby

Kirby $3,075Rusk $1,725

Jobs per worker3.3×

Rusk is more of a job hub

Rusk 1.53Kirby 0.46

Work from home+16.5 pts

More people work from home in Rusk

Rusk 21.7%Kirby 5.2%

Street grid2.3×

Kirby has the more walkable street grid

Kirby 81.5Rusk 36.2

Kids under 18+12.5 pts

Kirby has more kids

Kirby 26.9%Rusk 14.4%

★ What stands out · Report cards

Rusk places higher on 10 of 20 TX lists

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

DKirbySafer than 12% of U.S. towns BRuskSafer than 56% of U.S. towns

Schools

C−KirbyBetter than 18% of districts in the state B+RuskBetter than 66% of districts in the state

Health

CKirbyHealthier than 34% of U.S. towns C−RuskHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns

9Kirby

10Rusk

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Highest graduation rateSchools · 584 towns #499#41 Fewest smokersHealth · 652 towns #217#609 Best schoolsSchools · 583 towns #556#209 SafestSafety · 470 towns #433#159 Most walkableOutdoors · 653 towns #187#518 Cheapest rentCost of living · 624 towns #306#16 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 632 towns #269#500 Lowest property taxCost of living · 647 towns #315#135

Left end = #1 in Texas. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Kirby’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Rusk

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%

Kirby$1,170/mo

Typical home $172K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.86% · or rent about $1,182/mo · Housing →

Rusk$1,360/mo

Typical home $220K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.10% · or rent about $643/mo · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Rusk and Kirby.

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

KirbyRusk

Snow a year0″0″

January low40°F 37°F

July high94°F 91°F

Growing season (days)277d 263d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)40th 23rd

Outdoors & history

KirbyRusk

Trails0 mi 2 mi

Conserved land7.3%7.9%

Settled1955 1846

National Register places—1

Community

KirbyRusk

Library hours a week—51 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 1

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

251 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

KirbyTX RuskTX

Kirby ↔ Rusk251 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

KirbyRusk

People

Population 8,117Highest 5,477Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.8%Highest TX: +15.9% -4.8%Lowest TX: +15.9%

Median age 38.1±3.5Lowest 7% above TX 39±3.4Highest 10% above TX

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

Kids under 18 26.9%±7Highest TX: 25% 14.4%±4.3Lowest TX: 25%

Age 65+ 20.2%±6Highest TX: 13.4% 12.3%±3Lowest TX: 13.4%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.8%Highest TX: 33.8% 10.7%Lowest TX: 33.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.8%±1.9Highest TX: 6.2% 4.2%±2Lowest TX: 6.2%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $55,532±$8kHighest 29% below TX $53,438±$16kLowest 32% below TX

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $165,500±$6kHighest 42% below TX $157,400±$52kLowest 45% below TX

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,182±$139Highest 16% below TX $643±$545Lowest 54% below TX

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $3,075Highest 27% below TX $1,725Lowest 59% below TX

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 40.5%±22.2Highest TX: 51.7% 20.9%±10.1Lowest TX: 51.7%

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

Below poverty line 13.5%Highest TX: 13.8% 8.5%Lowest TX: 13.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 66.1%Highest TX: 62.6% 63.9%Lowest TX: 62.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1978Lowest 14 yrs older than TX 1982Highest 10 yrs older than TX

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 24 minLowest 9% below TX 27 minHighest about the TX average

Work from home 5.2%±3Lowest TX: 14.4% 21.7%±12Highest TX: 14.4%

Work in townworking residents 1%Lowest 21.3%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miLowest 35.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.46Lowest 1.53Highest

Top workplaceoutside town San Antonio (63%)Jacksonville (10%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RuskFew work in Kirby

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 7.3%Lowest 7.9%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 1.9 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.3 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 81.5Highest 36.2Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #556 of 583 in TX #209 of 583 in TX

School district JUDSON ISDRUSK ISD

High school in town Judson Learning AcadRusk H S

Students per teacherat that high school 13.0Lowest 13.8Highest

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.

Kirby neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Kirby’s Town Square.

Rusk neighborsTown Square →

1 neighbor in Rusk can answer.

Add a town

Set another town beside Kirby and Rusk

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Bordering Kirby

San Antonio1,479,835 people · $236K homes

Towns like Kirby

Liberty8,650 people · $175K homes

Cuero8,165 people · $177K homes

Carthage6,601 people · $164K homes

Silsbee6,842 people · $148K homes

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.