Best small towns to live in Texas

1. 1
   Malakoff, TX Score 86/100

   2,045 people · typical home $84k · household income $57k · 100 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 25% of TX · 1.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

2. 2
   Childress, TX Score 84/100

   5,834 people · typical home $86k · household income $58k · 115 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 23% of TX · 0.0% unemployment · 4 mi to a hospital

3. 3
   Panhandle, TX Score 83/100

   2,505 people · typical home $161k · household income $86k · 88 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of TX · 0.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital

4. 4
   Quanah, TX Score 81/100

   2,109 people · typical home $71k · household income $51k · 86 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 38% of TX · 3.0% unemployment · 3 mi to a hospital

5. 5
   Sonora, TX Score 80/100

   2,691 people · typical home $143k · household income $72k · 73 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 25% of TX · 2.0% unemployment · 10 mi to a hospital

6. 6
   Wellington, TX Score 79/100

   1,883 people · typical home $87k · household income $57k · 116 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 34% of TX · 0.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

7. 7
   Farwell, TX Score 78/100

   1,306 people · typical home $149k · household income $57k · 73 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 14% of TX · 1.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

8. 8
   Gruver, TX Score 78/100

   1,280 people · typical home $112k · household income $73k · schools in the top 9% of TX · 2.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

9. 9
   Archer City, TX Score 77/100

   1,233 people · typical home $139k · household income $62k · 83 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 6% of TX · 1.0% unemployment · 19 mi to a hospital

10. 10
    Rotan, TX Score 76/100

    1,204 people · typical home $54k · household income $53k · schools in the top 43% of TX · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

11. 11
    Sudan, TX Score 75/100

    1,154 people · typical home $91k · household income $71k · 138 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 26% of TX · 1.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

12. 12
    Wink, TX Score 75/100

    1,373 people · typical home $122k · household income $103k · 147 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 42% of TX · 3.0% unemployment · 8 mi to a hospital

13. 13
    Munday, TX Score 74/100

    1,407 people · typical home $80k · household income $56k · 19 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 53% of TX · 2.0% unemployment · 12 mi to a hospital

14. 14
    Menard, TX Score 74/100

    1,008 people · typical home $73k · household income $41k · 51 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 18% of TX · 10.0% unemployment · 21 mi to a hospital

15. 15
    Brackettville, TX Score 74/100

    1,595 people · typical home $83k · household income $69k · schools in the top 24% of TX · 1.0% unemployment · 28 mi to a hospital

16. 16
    Haskell, TX Score 74/100

    2,817 people · typical home $105k · household income $62k · 42 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 44% of TX · 4.0% unemployment · 6 mi to a hospital

17. 17
    Goldthwaite, TX Score 74/100

    1,843 people · typical home $128k · household income $55k · 67 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 8% of TX · 4.0% unemployment · 28 mi to a hospital

18. 18
    Ozona, TX Score 73/100

    2,405 people · typical home $67k · household income $81k · 106 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 45% of TX · 3.0% unemployment · 40 mi to a hospital

19. 19
    Clifton, TX Score 72/100

    3,503 people · typical home $160k · household income $65k · 55 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 39% of TX · 4.0% unemployment · 2 mi to a hospital

20. 20
    Booker, TX Score 72/100

    1,311 people · typical home $150k · household income $69k · 34 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 12% of TX · 6.0% unemployment · 16 mi to a hospital

21. 21
    Dublin, TX Score 71/100

    3,419 people · typical home $149k · household income $53k · 92 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 12% of TX · 4.0% unemployment · 15 mi to a hospital

22. 22
    Clarendon, TX Score 71/100

    1,859 people · typical home $103k · household income $57k · 184 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 25% of TX · 1.0% unemployment · 40 mi to a hospital

23. 23
    Hemphill, TX Score 70/100

    1,488 people · typical home $126k · household income $67k · 72 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 36% of TX · 10.0% unemployment · 9 mi to a hospital

24. 24
    Buffalo, TX Score 70/100

    1,652 people · typical home $74k · household income $45k · 136 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 20% of TX · 7.0% unemployment · 22 mi to a hospital

25. 25
    Eldorado, TX Score 70/100

    1,737 people · typical home $96k · household income $69k · 126 violent crimes per 100k · schools in the top 47% of TX · 4.0% unemployment · 29 mi to a hospital

How we ranked them

Every small town in Texas with 1,000–15,000 people that stands on its own (not part of a big metro core, by USDA rural-urban codes) and has solid Census data. Each town is scored against the others in Texas on: affordability (household income vs. home prices), safety (violent crime, FBI), schools (reading proficiency vs. other Texas districts), jobs (unemployment, half weight) and everyday access (distance to a hospital and a grocery store, quarter weight each). Missing numbers count as average.

The "best" town is different for everyone — weather, size, politics, things to do and more all matter too.

All places in Texas →