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Newark vs Plains

309 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.5× in Newark) and jobs per worker (4.8× in Plains).

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Newark, TXOne of the healthiest townsTexas · 1,177 people

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Plains, TXOne of the healthiest townsTexas · 1,235 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.

NewarkOne of the healthiest towns

Health72% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 72%of TX districts All about Newark →

PlainsOne of the healthiest towns

Health87% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$182K typical home39% below the TX typical home All about Plains →

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.

Property tax bill2.5×

Tax bills are bigger in Newark

Newark $2,152Plains $867

Jobs per worker4.8×

Plains is more of a job hub

Plains 1.15Newark 0.24

Growth since 2010+17.6 pts

Newark has grown faster since 2010

Newark +9.1%Plains -8.5%

Work in town+25.1 pts

More of Plains’s workers stay in town

Plains 25.3%Newark 0.2%

Work from home+12.3 pts

More people work from home in Newark

Newark 12.3%Plains 0%

Street grid+68%

Plains has the more walkable street grid

Plains 111Newark 65.8

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $910 more a month in Newark

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%

Newark$1,960/mo

Typical home $300K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.57% · or rent about $1,143/mo · Housing →

Plains$1,050/mo

Typical home $182K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $864/mo · Housing →

The difference: $910 a month, about $10,900 a year, between Newark and Plains.

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

B+NewarkBetter than 72% of districts in the state C+PlainsBetter than 39% of districts in the state

Health

CNewarkHealthier than 28% of U.S. towns DPlainsHealthier 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

NewarkPlains

Snow a year1″3″

January low33°F 25°F

July high95°F 93°F

Growing season (days)237d 200d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)39th 53rd

Outdoors & history

NewarkPlains

Trails0 mi 0 mi

Conserved land2.1%0%

Community

NewarkPlains

Library hours a week20 hrs 40 hrs

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

309 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

NewarkTX PlainsTX

Newark ↔ Plains309 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

NewarkPlains

People

Population 1,177Lowest 1,235Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +9.1%Highest TX: +15.9% -8.5%Lowest TX: +15.9%

Median age 27.7±8.5Lowest 22% below TX 32.4±20.1Highest 9% below TX

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

Kids under 18 30.9%±3Highest TX: 25% 26.2%±7.4Lowest TX: 25%

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

Age 65+ 10.1%±2.3Lowest TX: 13.4% 14.3%±6Highest TX: 13.4%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.1%Highest TX: 33.8% 11.2%Lowest TX: 33.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.2%±2.6Highest TX: 6.2% 1.9%±2.8Lowest TX: 6.2%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $77,344±$40kHighest about the TX average $76,985±$10kLowest about the TX average

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $137,500±$130kHighest 52% below TX $133,300±$62kLowest 53% below TX

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,143±$421Highest 19% below TX $864±$44Lowest 38% below TX

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,152Highest 49% below TX $867Lowest 80% below TX

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 45.7%±7Highest TX: 51.7% 14.4%±35.2Lowest TX: 51.7%

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

Below poverty line 19.5%Highest TX: 13.8% 15.5%Lowest TX: 13.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 76.9%Highest TX: 62.6% 76.4%Lowest TX: 62.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1995Highest 3 yrs newer than TX 1983Lowest 9 yrs older than TX

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 33 minHighest 25% above TX 29 minLowest 8% above TX

Work from home 12.3%±4.7Highest TX: 14.4% 0%±2.8Lowest TX: 14.4%

Work in townworking residents 0.2%Lowest 25.3%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.3 miLowest 37.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.24Lowest 1.15Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Fort Worth (30%)Lubbock (10%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in PlainsFew work in Newark

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.1%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 1Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 65.8Lowest 111Highest

Schools

School district NORTHWEST ISDPLAINS ISD

High school in town None in townPlains H S

Students per teacherat that high school — 7.3

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.

Newark neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Newark’s Town Square.

Plains neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Plains’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Newark and Plains

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

Bordering Newark

Pecan Acres4,161 people · $494K homes

Towns like Newark

Sudan1,154 people · $100K homes

Sterling City1,256 people · $135K homes

Woodsboro1,464 people · $113K homes

Scotland629 people · $142K 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.