At a Glance
Median Income
$60,119
$15,931 per capita
Home Value
$153,500
Zillow: $220,179
Median Rent
$876/mo
12.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
111/100K
965/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
8.6%
68.8% high school+
Unemployment
12.4%
8.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.1%
18.7% smoking rate
How Rusk Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Rusk's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Rusk a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.6 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Rusk residents earn a median household income of $60,119 , which is 20% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $15,931. The unemployment rate stands at 12.4% (244% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 906 business establishments, including 74 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Rusk is $153,500 , 46% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $220,179. Median rent is $876/month, with 12.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1980.
Safety & Crime
Rusk reports 111 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 71% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 965/100K.
Education
8.6% of adults in Rusk hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(74% below the national average).
68.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Rusk has an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C).
Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 50.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population5,332
Median Age39.3 yrs
Density737/mi²
Male / Female72% / 28%
Foreign Born6.4%
Veterans5.7%
Economy
C+
Median Income$60,119
Per Capita$15,931
Unemployment12.4%
Poverty8.7%
County GDP$2,080M
Avg Weekly Wage$983
Housing
A+
Home Value$153,500
Rent$876
Ownership61.9%
Zillow$220,179
Housing Units1,149
Rent Burden12.1%
Crime
F
Violent111/100K
Property965/100K
Health
Obesity36.1%
Diabetes13.1%
Smoking18.7%
Heart Disease6.5%
Premature Death11,652/100K
Climate
Avg Temp65°F
Rain50.1 in/yr
Elevation540 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+8.6%
High School+68.8%
Graduate+2.6%
School Score5.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 81% / D 18%
Commute26 min
Broadband81.7%
Internet Speed29 Mbps
EV Stations8
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Rusk was built in 1980.
25.1% work from home.
The nearest airport is Nacogdoches A L Mangham Jr Regional (30 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.445 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
13.5% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 13 fatal vehicle crashes.
182 declared natural disasters on record.