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Tool vs Sam Rayburn

151 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (10× in Sam Rayburn) and conserved land (+34.3 pts in Sam Rayburn).

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Tool, TXOne of the healthiest townsTexas · 2,367 people

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Sam Rayburn, TXAn outdoors townTexas · 1,366 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.

ToolOne of the healthiest towns

Health78% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 75%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 75%of TX districts All about Tool →

Sam RayburnAn outdoors town

Outdoors34.3% conserved land5.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Sam Rayburn →

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.

Sam Rayburn has more miles of trail

Sam Rayburn 5.0 miTool 0.5 mi

Conserved land+34.3 pts

Sam Rayburn has more conserved land

Sam Rayburn 34.3%Tool 0%

Average commute17 min

Sam Rayburn has the shorter commute

Tool 47 minSam Rayburn 31 min

Street grid2.5×

Tool has the more walkable street grid

Tool 59.0Sam Rayburn 23.7

Growth since 2010+10.7 pts

Sam Rayburn has grown faster since 2010

Sam Rayburn +7.8%Tool -2.9%

Age 65++12.4 pts

Sam Rayburn has more people 65 and up

Sam Rayburn 35.3%Tool 22.9%

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $270 more a month in Sam Rayburn

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%

Tool$1,280/mo

Typical home $213K (Census) · tax rate 0.92% · or rent about $1,386/mo · Housing →

Sam Rayburn$1,550/mo

Typical home $255K (Census) · tax rate 1.01% · or rent about $1,108/mo · Housing →

The difference: $270 a month, about $3,300 a year, between Sam Rayburn and Tool.

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.

Safety

A−ToolSafer than 75% of U.S. towns –Sam RayburnNot graded

Schools

A−ToolBetter than 75% of districts in the state –Sam RayburnNot graded

Health

C−ToolHealthier than 22% of U.S. towns C+Sam RayburnHealthier than 40% 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

ToolSam Rayburn

Snow a year0″0″

January low35°F —

July high95°F —

Growing season (days)246d —

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)37th 71st

Outdoors & history

ToolSam Rayburn

Conserved land—34.3%

Community

ToolSam Rayburn

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

151 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ToolTX Sam RayburnTX

Tool ↔ Sam Rayburn151 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

ToolSam Rayburn

People

Population 2,367Highest 1,366Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.9%Lowest TX: +15.9% +7.8%Highest TX: +15.9%

Median age 49.6±5.9Lowest 39% above TX 53.2±13Highest 49% above TX

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

Kids under 18 16.7%±4.2Lowest TX: 25% 22%±8.6Highest TX: 25%

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

Age 65+ 22.9%±3Lowest TX: 13.4% 35.3%±2.8Highest TX: 13.4%

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.8%Lowest TX: 33.8% 32.6%Highest TX: 33.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±1.2Lowest TX: 6.2% 2.1%±2.4Highest TX: 6.2%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $71,333±$17kLowest 9% below TX $83,056±$16kHighest 6% above TX

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $213,300±$57kLowest 25% below TX $255,200±$62kHighest 10% below TX

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,386±$260Highest about the TX average $1,108±$299Lowest 21% below TX

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,952Lowest 54% below TX $2,568Highest 39% below TX

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 62.9%±66.6Highest TX: 51.7% 17.3%±41.6Lowest TX: 51.7%

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

Below poverty line 17.3%Highest TX: 13.8% 0.9%Lowest TX: 13.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 81.1%Lowest TX: 62.6% 82.2%Highest TX: 62.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1983Lowest 9 yrs older than TX 1989Highest 3 yrs older than TX

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 47 minHighest 77% above TX 31 minLowest 14% above TX

Work from home 11.3%±11Highest TX: 14.4% 8.9%±3.9Lowest TX: 14.4%

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

Work in townworking residents 3.7%Highest 2.2%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 40.3 miLowest 46.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.25Lowest 0.45Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Mabank (7%)Jasper (23%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Sam RayburnFew work in Tool

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 34.3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.5 miLowest 5.0 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.5 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.0Highest 23.7Lowest

Schools

School district MALAKOFF ISD—

High school in town None in town—

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.

Tool neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Tool’s Town Square.

Sam Rayburn neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sam Rayburn’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Tool and Sam Rayburn

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

Bordering Tool

Seven Points1,167 people · $91K homes

Towns like Tool

Henrietta3,167 people · $146K homes

Panhandle2,505 people · $161K homes

Castroville3,092 people · $300K homes

Lytle2,492 people · $188K 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.