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Three Rivers vs Meridian

241 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.4× in Meridian) and jobs per worker (5.2× in Three Rivers).

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Three Rivers, TXOne of the safest townsTexas · 1,256 people
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Meridian, TXOne of the safest townsTexas · 1,638 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.

Three RiversOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 94%of U.S. towns we grade Work994 jobsbased in Three Rivers, a regional job hub Health85% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Three Rivers →
MeridianOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 86%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 29%of TX districts Health70% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Meridian →
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.

Property tax bill2.4×
Tax bills are bigger in Meridian
Meridian $2,167Three Rivers $906
Jobs per worker5.2×
Three Rivers is more of a job hub
Three Rivers 2.87Meridian 0.55
Growth since 2010+13.7 pts
Meridian has grown faster since 2010
Meridian -6.5%Three Rivers -20.2%
Street grid+76%
Three Rivers has the more walkable street grid
Three Rivers 109Meridian 61.9
Typical home built13 yrs
Meridian’s homes are older
Three Rivers 1981Meridian 1968
★ 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
AThree RiversSafer than 94% of U.S. towns AMeridianSafer than 86% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+Three RiversBetter than 73% of districts in the state CMeridianBetter than 29% of districts in the state
Health
DThree RiversHealthier than 15% of U.S. towns CMeridianHealthier than 30% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $430 more a month in Meridian

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.

Three Rivers$1,330/mo
Typical home $215K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.16% · or rent about $968/mo · Housing →
Meridian$1,760/mo
Typical home $260K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.86% · or rent about $738/mo · Housing →

The difference: $430 a month, about $5,200 a year, between Meridian and Three Rivers.

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
Three RiversMeridian
Snow a year0″0″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)52nd21st
Outdoors & history
Three RiversMeridian
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land0.3%0%
National Register places—5
Archive photos7—
Community
Three RiversMeridian
Library hours a week33 hrs23 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

241 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Three RiversTXMeridianTX
Three Rivers ↔ Meridian241 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.

Three RiversMeridian
People
Population 1,256Lowest 1,638Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -20.2%Lowest TX: +15.9% -6.5%Highest TX: +15.9%
Median age 43.4±7.8Highest 22% above TX 42±8.6Lowest 18% above TX
Three Rivers and Meridian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.1%±7.9Lowest TX: 25% 22.2%±4.2Highest TX: 25%
Meridian and Three Rivers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21.4%±5.8Lowest TX: 13.4% 22.6%±3.9Highest TX: 13.4%
Meridian and Three Rivers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.7%Lowest TX: 33.8% 12%Highest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.2%±1.3Lowest TX: 6.2% 3.7%±3.6Highest TX: 6.2%
Meridian and Three Rivers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $46,705±$20kLowest 40% below TX $65,625±$15kHighest 16% below TX
Meridian and Three Rivers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $77,800±$56kLowest 73% below TX $116,700±$6kHighest 59% below TX
Meridian and Three Rivers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $968±$143Highest 31% below TX $738±$167Lowest 47% below TX
Three Rivers and Meridian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $906Lowest 79% below TX $2,167Highest 49% below TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 22.1%±14.4Lowest TX: 51.7% 43.4%±14Highest TX: 51.7%
Meridian and Three Rivers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 26.2%Highest TX: 13.8% 7.7%Lowest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 47.5%Lowest TX: 62.6% 50.9%Highest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1981Highest 11 yrs older than TX 1968Lowest 24 yrs older than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minHighest 13% below TX 22 minLowest 17% below TX
Work from home 6%±8.4Lowest TX: 14.4% 6.2%±4.8Highest TX: 14.4%
Meridian and Three Rivers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 14.5%Highest 12%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 67.8 miHighest 51.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.87Highest 0.55Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Corpus Christi (8%)Fort Worth (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MeridianFew work in Three Rivers
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.6 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 109Highest 61.9Lowest
Schools
School district THREE RIVERS ISDMERIDIAN ISD
High school in town Three Rivers Jr./Sr. H SMeridian H S
Students per teacherat that high school 7.3Lowest 8.5Highest
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.

Three Rivers neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Three Rivers’s Town Square.

Meridian neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Meridian’s Town Square.

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Towns like Three Rivers

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Timpson1,063 people · $82K 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.

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