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Silsbee vs Kirby

259 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (12× in Silsbee) and property tax bill (+72% in Kirby).

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Silsbee, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 6,842 people
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Kirby, TXAn outdoors townTexas · 8,117 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.

SilsbeeKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 40%of TX districts Housing$178K typical home41% below the TX typical home Outdoors#272 most walkable in TX1.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Silsbee →
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 →
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.

Trails12×
Silsbee has more miles of trail
Silsbee 1.2 miKirby 0.1 mi
Property tax bill+72%
Tax bills are bigger in Kirby
Kirby $3,075Silsbee $1,792
Average commute9 min
Kirby has the shorter commute
Silsbee 33 minKirby 24 min
Jobs per worker2.1×
Silsbee is more of a job hub
Silsbee 0.97Kirby 0.46
Work in town+15.9 pts
More of Silsbee’s workers stay in town
Silsbee 16.9%Kirby 1%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Silsbee places higher on 12 of 21 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
BSilsbeeSafer than 61% of U.S. towns DKirbySafer than 12% of U.S. towns
Schools
C+SilsbeeBetter than 40% of districts in the state C−KirbyBetter than 18% of districts in the state
Health
C−SilsbeeHealthier than 21% of U.S. towns CKirbyHealthier than 34% of U.S. towns
12Silsbee
9Kirby

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Highest graduation rateSchools · 584 towns #41#499 Most conserved landOutdoors · 572 towns #504#93 SafestSafety · 470 towns #131#433 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 652 towns #153#452 Shortest commuteGetting around · 653 towns #567#300 Fewest smokersHealth · 652 towns #469#217 Lowest depressionHealth · 652 towns #476#256 Lowest property taxCost of living · 647 towns #143#315

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

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.

Silsbee$1,110/mo
Typical home $178K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.21% · or rent about $1,011/mo · Housing →
Kirby$1,170/mo
Typical home $172K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.86% · or rent about $1,182/mo · Housing →

The difference: $60 a month, about $700 a year, between Kirby and Silsbee.

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
SilsbeeKirby
Snow a year0″0″
January low—40°F
July high—94°F
Growing season (days)—277d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)49th40th
Outdoors & history
SilsbeeKirby
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land0.4%7.3%
Settled—1955
Community
SilsbeeKirby
Library hours a week46 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

259 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SilsbeeTXKirbyTX
Silsbee ↔ Kirby259 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.

SilsbeeKirby
People
Population 6,842Lowest 8,117Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.9%Highest TX: +15.9% +1.8%Lowest TX: +15.9%
Median age 40.3±4.3Highest 13% above TX 38.1±3.5Lowest 7% above TX
Silsbee and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.2%±6Lowest TX: 25% 26.9%±7Highest TX: 25%
Kirby and Silsbee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 20.9%±3.7Highest TX: 13.4% 20.2%±6Lowest TX: 13.4%
Silsbee and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 18.4%Highest TX: 33.8% 15.8%Lowest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.7%±1.1Lowest TX: 6.2% 5.8%±1.9Highest TX: 6.2%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $59,907±$11kHighest 24% below TX $55,532±$8kLowest 29% below TX
Silsbee and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $148,400±$51kLowest 48% below TX $165,500±$6kHighest 42% below TX
Kirby and Silsbee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,011±$89Lowest 28% below TX $1,182±$139Highest 16% below TX
Kirby and Silsbee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,792Lowest 58% below TX $3,075Highest 27% below TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 46.6%±15.6Highest TX: 51.7% 40.5%±22.2Lowest TX: 51.7%
Silsbee and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 20%Highest TX: 13.8% 13.5%Lowest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 67.6%Highest TX: 62.6% 66.1%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1976Lowest 16 yrs older than TX 1978Highest 14 yrs older than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 33 minHighest 25% above TX 24 minLowest 9% below TX
Work from home 4.2%±3.2Lowest TX: 14.4% 5.2%±3Highest TX: 14.4%
Kirby and Silsbee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 16.9%Highest 1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.3 miHighest 9.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.97Highest 0.46Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Beaumont (20%)San Antonio (63%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in KirbyFew work in Silsbee
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.4%Lowest 7.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3 3
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 68.4Lowest 81.5Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #422 of 583 in TX#556 of 583 in TX
School district SILSBEE ISDJUDSON ISD
High school in town Silsbee H SJudson Learning Acad
Students per teacherat that high school 12.6Lowest 13.0Highest
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.

Silsbee neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Silsbee’s Town Square.

Kirby neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Kirby’s Town Square.

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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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