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Rule vs Earth

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

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Rule, TXHomes around $83KTexas · 823 people

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Earth, TXHomes around $95KTexas · 925 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.

RuleHomes around $83K

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

EarthHomes around $95K

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

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%

Rule$510/mo

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

Earth$600/mo

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

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

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

RuleEarth

Snow a year3″8″

January low29°F 25°F

July high95°F 90°F

Growing season (days)225d 206d

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

Outdoors & history

RuleEarth

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land0%—

Settled—1924

Archive photos—6

Community

RuleEarth

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.

RuleTX EarthTX

Rule ↔ Earth162 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

RuleEarth

People

Population 823Lowest 925Highest

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

Median age 40±7.4Lowest 12% above TX 40.6±13.9Highest 14% 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 24.1%±4Lowest TX: 25% 30.3%±6.6Highest TX: 25%

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

Age 65+ 21.6%±5Lowest TX: 13.4% 23.4%±5.7Highest 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+ 11.7%Highest TX: 33.8% 10.4%Lowest TX: 33.8%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $34,792±$15kLowest 56% below TX $47,574±$18kHighest 39% 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 $71,000±$28kLowest 75% below TX $78,300±$17kHighest 72% 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 $1,027±$345Highest 27% below TX $750±$107Lowest 47% 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 $722Lowest 83% below TX $1,050Highest 75% below TX

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 78.9%±33Highest TX: 51.7% 61.7%±25.5Lowest 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 38.3%Highest TX: 13.8% 14.4%Lowest TX: 13.8%

Housing

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

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

Getting to work

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

Work from home 6.9%±7.7Highest TX: 14.4% 2%±3.2Lowest 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 5%Lowest 6.5%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 55.3 miHighest 46.8 miLowest

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

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

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in EarthFew work in Rule

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 1Highest 0Lowest

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

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.

Rule neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rule’s Town Square.

Earth neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Earth’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Rule and Earth

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

Towns like Rule

Iraan1,038 people · $95K homes

Joaquin869 people · $52K homes

Lorenzo834 people · $101K homes

Rocksprings625 people · $55K 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.