City profile · Texas · Census ACS 2023

Rule, TX

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rule - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

738
Residents
$31,875
Median income
$57,500
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Rule - the verdict

Rule ranks in the 3rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

3rd
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rule, TX

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 738 residents in Rule, a small town within Texas. Rule households earn a median of $31,875 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.6%. Typical homes in Rule are valued around $57,500, and the median resident age is 45.3 years. 13.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 45.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Texas tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Texas scores 97.1 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Texas run around $223, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 11.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

738 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Texas

Median Household Income

$31,875 /yr

Poverty 16.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.1 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Texas average

How does Rule compare to other US cities?

Rule measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Rule against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Texas only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Texas-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Rule near the bottom of Texas's cities

Among the 1,663 Texas cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Rule ranks #1,343 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rule only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,463 of 1,520
4th percentile in Texas
Median Gross Rent
#1,343 of 1,663
0th percentile in Texas
Median Home Value
#1,430 of 1,505
5th percentile in Texas
Poverty Rate
#435 of 1,663
74th percentile in Texas
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,062 of 1,663
36th percentile in Texas

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Texas only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

3rdIncome percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rule's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$57,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rule $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rule, TX Rule, TX's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rule, TX-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rule, TX median $31,875/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rule, TX's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rule, TX. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
738
Median Income
$31,875
Median Home Value
$57,500
Median Age
45.3
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Labor force participation
45.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.3%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
550 residents555 residents560 residents565 residents570 residents575 residents 202020212022202320242025 562 residents 569 residents ▲ +1.2%
Rule's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.7%
Carpool
3.3%
Public Transit
3.6%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
6.9%
Other
2.9%

Based on 274 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Texas - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$45
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$223
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Texas state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Texas state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rule sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.1
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
11.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Texas

Sabinal
739 people
Wells
741 people
Briaroaks
734 people
Rising Star
734 people
Cumby
743 people
Boling
732 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rule's 738 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Sanders, AZ
738 people
Ponce de Leon, FL
738 people
Denmark, IA
738 people
Mott, ND
738 people
St. Florian, AL
737 people
Akutan, AK
737 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rule's $31,875 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Columbus, KY
$31,875 median income
Whitesburg, KY
$31,875 median income
Casas Adobes, NM
$31,875 median income
Pittsburg, OK
$31,875 median income
Reedy, WV
$31,875 median income
Rupert, WV
$31,875 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rule, TX Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rule, TX - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.8% 15.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 33.1% White 73.8% Black or African American 5.2% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.3% Two or more races 15.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rule compares to nearby Texas cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rule (this city) 738 $31,875
Sabinal 739 $32,800
Wells 741 $64,250
Briaroaks 734 $96,071
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TX NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rule, TX?

What is the population of Rule, TX? +

Rule, TX has a population of 738 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rule, TX? +

In Rule, the typical household earns $31,875 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rule? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rule; the closest available measure is the Texas state average, a cost of living index of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Texas vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Rule, TX? +

The median home value in Rule is $57,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.