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Van vs Hico

145 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (4× in Hico) and average commute (10 min in Hico).

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Van, TXKnown for its schoolsTexas · 2,806 people
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Hico, TXOne of the safest townsTexas · 1,771 people
Swap order
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.

VanKnown for its schools
Schools#182 for schools in TXof 583 towns Housing$244K typical home19% below the TX typical home Health59% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Van →
HicoOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 80%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 63%of TX districts All about Hico →
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.

Trails4×
Hico has more miles of trail
Hico 1.6 miVan 0.4 mi
Average commute10 min
Hico has the shorter commute
Van 31 minHico 21 min
Street grid+68%
Hico has the more walkable street grid
Hico 89.6Van 53.3
Jobs per worker+57%
Van is more of a job hub
Van 1.19Hico 0.76
Growth since 2010+4.4 pts
Van has grown faster since 2010
Van +1.2%Hico -3.2%
Typical home built12 yrs
Hico’s homes are older
Van 1981Hico 1969
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $560 more a month in Hico

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.

Van$1,590/mo
Typical home $244K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.54% · or rent about $1,220/mo · Housing →
Hico$2,150/mo
Typical home $335K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.42% · or rent about $767/mo · Housing →

The difference: $560 a month, about $6,700 a year, between Hico and Van.

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
B+VanSafer than 70% of U.S. towns A−HicoSafer than 80% of U.S. towns
Schools
BVanBetter than 55% of districts in the state BHicoBetter than 63% of districts in the state
Health
C+VanHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns C+HicoHealthier than 44% 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
VanHico
Snow a year1″1″
January low33°F31°F
July high93°F97°F
Growing season (days)235d226d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)14th41st
Outdoors & history
VanHico
Trails—2 mi
Conserved land—3.8%
Community
VanHico
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

145 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

VanTXHicoTX
Van ↔ Hico145 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.

VanHico
People
Population 2,806Highest 1,771Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.2%Highest TX: +15.9% -3.2%Lowest TX: +15.9%
Median age 36.3±6.2Highest about the TX average 35.6±7.7Lowest about the TX average
Van and Hico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 32.7%±7.4Lowest TX: 25% 33%±7.5Highest TX: 25%
Hico and Van are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 12.9%±4.1Lowest TX: 13.4% 19.1%±5.8Highest TX: 13.4%
Hico and Van are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 28.1%Highest TX: 33.8% 23.9%Lowest TX: 33.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.7%±1.8Highest TX: 6.2% 2%±1.7Lowest TX: 6.2%
Van and Hico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $69,155±$10kHighest 12% below TX $67,500±$31kLowest 14% below TX
Van and Hico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $169,900±$7kLowest 40% below TX $176,700±$75kHighest 38% below TX
Hico and Van are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,220±$124Highest 13% below TX $767±$616Lowest 45% below TX
Van and Hico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,623Highest 38% below TX $2,503Lowest 41% below TX
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 39.7%±17.5Lowest TX: 51.7% 73%±31Highest TX: 51.7%
Hico and Van are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8.7%Lowest TX: 13.8% 11.5%Highest TX: 13.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 78.4%Highest TX: 62.6% 76.9%Lowest TX: 62.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1981Highest 11 yrs older than TX 1969Lowest 23 yrs older than TX
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 16% above TX 21 minLowest 23% below TX
Work from home 20.1%±10.5Highest TX: 14.4% 7.6%±5.5Lowest TX: 14.4%
Van and Hico are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 15.2%Lowest 15.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 25.3 miHighest 22.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.19Highest 0.76Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Tyler (13%)Stephenville (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in HicoFew work in Van
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.8%Lowest 3.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.4 miLowest 1.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.9 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 53.3Lowest 89.6Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #182 of 583 in TX—
School district VAN ISDHICO ISD
High school in town Van H SHico H S
Students per teacherat that high school 14.9Highest 11.3Lowest
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.

Van neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Van’s Town Square.

Hico neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hico’s Town Square.

Add a town

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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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