The Town FilesRule, Texas
Town in Haskell County · population 561 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $71,000
- Household income
- $34,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 40.0
Rule is a town of 561 people in Haskell County, Texas. The median home is worth $71,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks hipper than 97% of Texas towns, better for retirees than 91% of Texas towns, quieter than 91% of Texas towns.
How Rule ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rule is worth $71,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $34,792, which is more affordable than 80% of Texas towns. Median rent is $1,027 a month. 76.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rule | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $71,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $1,027 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $34,792 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 76.4% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Rule
| People | Rule | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 38.3% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 89.2% |
Weather in Rule
July highs average 95.4°F and January lows 28.9°F. About 26.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 110 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rule since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 26, 1962 about 7.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 108 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on May 1, 2009.
Severe weather in Haskell County since 1996
Haskell County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| February 25, 2019 | Flood | DR-4416: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Haskell County
Haskell County had 1,490 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,097 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Rule itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Rule
1 public school with 130 students, about 7.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RULE SCHOOL | PK-12 | 130 | 7.2 |
Towns near Rule
- Haskell, TX9.5 mi · 3,089 people · home $104,500
- Knox City, TX16.9 mi · 1,065 people · home $62,700
- Aspermont, TX19.4 mi · 789 people · home $39,000
- Stamford, TX19.5 mi · 2,907 people · home $64,700
- Munday, TX24.0 mi · 1,246 people · home $79,500
- Hamlin, TX24.5 mi · 1,831 people · home $73,200
- Anson, TX29.5 mi · 2,294 people · home $74,800
Rule questions
Is Rule, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rule scores better for retirees than 91% of Texas towns and quieter than 91%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Rule?
The median owner-occupied home in Rule is valued at $71,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,792, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,027 a month.
What is the weather like in Rule?
July highs average 95.4°F and January lows 28.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 26.9 inches of precipitation a year and 3.1 inches of snow.
Does Rule get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rule since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 26, 1962. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)