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Lexington vs Dawson

104 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (9× in Lexington) and property tax bill (+37% in Dawson).

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Lexington, TXOne of the safest townsTexas · 1,365 people

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Dawson, TXOne of the healthiest townsTexas · 1,322 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.

LexingtonOne of the safest towns

SafetySafer than 91%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 80%of TX districts Housing$416K typical home39% above the TX typical home All about Lexington →

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 →

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.

Lexington has more miles of trail

Lexington 0.9 miDawson 0.1 mi

Property tax bill+37%

Tax bills are bigger in Dawson

Dawson $2,253Lexington $1,648

Jobs per worker2.1×

Lexington is more of a job hub

Lexington 0.35Dawson 0.17

Street grid+75%

Lexington has the more walkable street grid

Lexington 72.4Dawson 41.3

Homeowners+10 pts renters

Lexington has more renters

Dawson 57.8%Lexington 47.8%

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,210 more a month in Lexington

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%

Lexington$2,500/mo

Typical home $416K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.94% · or rent about $1,148/mo · Housing →

Dawson$1,290/mo

Typical home $196K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.60% · or rent about $748/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,210 a month, about $14,600 a year, between Lexington 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

ALexingtonSafer than 91% of U.S. towns –DawsonNot graded

Schools

A−LexingtonBetter than 80% of districts in the state C+DawsonBetter than 35% of districts in the state

Health

B−LexingtonHealthier than 50% of U.S. towns DDawsonHealthier than 13% 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

LexingtonDawson

Snow a year0″0″

January low39°F 35°F

July high95°F 95°F

Growing season (days)262d 250d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)20th 26th

Outdoors & history

LexingtonDawson

Trails1 mi —

Conserved land0.9%—

Settled—1847

Community

LexingtonDawson

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

104 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

LexingtonTX DawsonTX

Lexington ↔ Dawson104 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

LexingtonDawson

People

Population 1,365Highest 1,322Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.4%Highest TX: +15.9% +1%Lowest TX: +15.9%

Median age 41.2±9.7Highest 16% above TX 40.7±9.2Lowest 14% above TX

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

Kids under 18 22.3%±6Lowest TX: 25% 29.5%±3.9Highest TX: 25%

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

Age 65+ 18.9%±6.1Highest TX: 13.4% 14.4%±3.4Lowest TX: 13.4%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 8.4%Lowest TX: 33.8% 13%Highest TX: 33.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.2%±3.4Highest TX: 6.2% 2.6%±2.5Lowest TX: 6.2%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $56,354±$12kHighest 28% below TX $51,042±$24kLowest 35% below TX

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $175,000±$49kHighest 38% below TX $140,700±$30kLowest 50% below TX

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,148±$371Highest 18% below TX $748±$145Lowest 47% below TX

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,648Lowest 61% below TX $2,253Highest 47% below TX

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 49.2%±20.3Highest TX: 51.7% 43.5%±20.6Lowest TX: 51.7%

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

Below poverty line 15.6%Lowest TX: 13.8% 21.7%Highest TX: 13.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 47.8%Lowest TX: 62.6% 57.8%Highest TX: 62.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1976Highest 16 yrs older than TX 1967Lowest 25 yrs older than TX

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 38 minHighest 42% above TX 36 minLowest 34% above TX

Work from home 14.6%±8.6Lowest TX: 14.4% 18.6%±10.8Highest TX: 14.4%

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

Work in townworking residents 3.3%Highest 1.7%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 43.3 miLowest 52.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.35Highest 0.17Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Austin (23%)Corsicana (19%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DawsonFew work in Lexington

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.9%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.9 miHighest 0.1 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miHighest 0.1 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 72.4Highest 41.3Lowest

Schools

School district LEXINGTON ISD—

High school in town Lexington H S—

Students per teacherat that high school 10.2 —

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.

Lexington neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lexington’s Town Square.

Dawson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dawson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Lexington and Dawson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Lexington

Wortham1,160 people · $129K homes

Meridian1,638 people · $117K homes

Coldspring1,274 people · $217K homes

Eustace1,039 people · $193K 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.