Rule is a town in Haskell County, Texas, United States. The population was 561 at the 2020 census, down from 636 at the 2010 census. The community was named for W. A. Rule, a railroad man.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code79547, 79548

Area code940

Living in Rule

Housing in Rule

$83K▼ 4.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Rule home is worth about $83,000, down 4.5% in a year, 72% below the Texas typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Rule

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Rule for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Haskell (14%), Abilene (9%) and Stamford (5%). Half commute less than 55 miles.

Haskell

14%

Abilene

Stamford

Knox City

5%Work in townlive and work in Rule 55 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 117Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Rule →

Health in Rule

Compared with Texas

2better than TX·14worse

of 26 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▼ 3 close Habits 1▲ 2▼ 1 close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

14%Fewer binge drinkersTX 17% · better 81.2%More adults treating high blood pressureTX 74.1% · better 11.5%More adults with COPDTX 5.7% · worse

Care nearby

Haskell Memorial HospitalHaskell · 8.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Shackelford County Community Resource CenterAlbany · 46.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Rule · CMS · HRSAHealth in Rule →

Natural hazards in Rule

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 30% of U.S. communities.

🌵 Drought🌊 Inland flooding🧊 Hail

3Does Rule flood?paid flood claims since 2005 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Rule

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Rule →

Climate in Rule

Full climate →

Rule has mild winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 97°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

58° / 33°Winter

77° / 51°Spring

95° / 71°Summer

77° / 52°Fall

How much snow does Rule get?About 3 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 7, with the last in spring around Mar 28.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Rule →

Schools in Rule

All Rule schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Rule’s kids attend trail 78% of Texas’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictRULE ISDSchools1

Rule School COther · Grades PK–12 · 138 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within TX. Ratings are from neighbors.