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Shiner vs Lorena

135 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+86% in Lorena) and street grid (2.5× in Shiner).

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Shiner, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 2,154 people
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Lorena, TXA regional job hubTexas · 1,497 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.

ShinerKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 99%of TX districts SafetySafer than 71%of U.S. towns we grade All about Shiner →
LorenaA regional job hub
Work1,348 jobsbased in Lorena, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 87%of TX districts HealthHealthier than 83%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Lorena →
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 bill+86%
Tax bills are bigger in Lorena
Lorena $4,346Shiner $2,339
Street grid2.5×
Shiner has the more walkable street grid
Shiner 79.6Lorena 32.3
Home values+31%
Homes cost more in Lorena
Lorena $281,000Shiner $214,400
Jobs per worker+93%
Lorena is more of a job hub
Lorena 1.64Shiner 0.85
Work in town+11.4 pts
More of Shiner’s workers stay in town
Shiner 17.6%Lorena 6.2%
Typical home built17 yrs
Shiner’s homes are older
Lorena 1983Shiner 1966
★ 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.

Safety
B+ShinerSafer than 71% of U.S. towns B−LorenaSafer than 46% of U.S. towns
Schools
A+ShinerBetter than 99% of districts in the state ALorenaBetter than 87% of districts in the state
Health
BShinerHealthier than 57% of U.S. towns A−LorenaHealthier than 83% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $310 more a month in Lorena

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.

Shiner$1,950/mo
Typical home $317K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.09% · or rent about $1,388/mo · Housing →
Lorena$2,260/mo
Typical home $345K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.55% · or rent about $867/mo · Housing →

The difference: $310 a month, about $3,700 a year, between Lorena and Shiner.

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
ShinerLorena
Snow a year0″0″
January low41°F—
July high94°F—
Growing season (days)276d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)70th8th
Outdoors & history
ShinerLorena
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land8.8%—
National Register places1—
Archive photos—8
Community
ShinerLorena
Library hours a week42 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

135 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ShinerTXLorenaTX
Shiner ↔ Lorena135 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.

ShinerLorena
People
Population 2,154Highest 1,497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2.8%Lowest TX: +15.9% +5.6%Highest TX: +15.9%
Median age 40.3±8.5Lowest 13% above TX 41.4±6.5Highest 16% above TX
Lorena and Shiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.5%±5Lowest TX: 25% 27.6%±4.3Highest TX: 25%
Lorena and Shiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21%±5Highest TX: 13.4% 18.6%±2.5Lowest TX: 13.4%
Shiner and Lorena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 36.8%Lowest TX: 33.8% 37.7%Highest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.5%±2.1Lowest TX: 6.2% 5.9%±3Highest TX: 6.2%
Lorena and Shiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $99,299±$19kHighest 27% above TX $88,250±$15kLowest 12% above TX
Shiner and Lorena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $214,400±$26kLowest 24% below TX $281,000±$16kHighest about the TX average
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,388±$186Highest about the TX average $867±$832Lowest 38% below TX
Shiner and Lorena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,339Lowest 45% below TX $4,346Highest about the TX average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 50.5%±22.7Lowest TX: 51.7% 74.1%±16.7Highest TX: 51.7%
Lorena and Shiner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 5.7%Highest TX: 13.8% 4.6%Lowest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.9%Highest TX: 62.6% 79.9%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1966Lowest 26 yrs older than TX 1983Highest 9 yrs older than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 min 25% below TX 20 min 25% below TX
Work from home 8.5%±4.7Highest TX: 14.4% 6.7%±3.8Lowest TX: 14.4%
Shiner and Lorena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 17.6%Highest 6.2%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.3 miHighest 12.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.85Lowest 1.64Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Houston (9%)Waco (39%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in LorenaFew work in Shiner
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 8.8%Highest 1.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 79.6Highest 32.3Lowest
Schools
School district SHINER ISDLORENA ISD
High school in town Shiner H SLorena High
Students per teacherat that high school 12.4Lowest 12.7Highest
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.

Shiner neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Shiner’s Town Square.

Lorena neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lorena’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Shiner

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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.

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