The Town FilesRusk, Texas
City in Cherokee County · population 5,285 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,400
- Household income
- $53,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.0
Rusk is a city of 5,285 people in Cherokee County, Texas. The median home is worth $157,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks more walkable than 71% of Texas towns.
How Rusk 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 Rusk is worth $157,400, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $53,438, which is more affordable than 53% of Texas towns. Median rent is $643 a month. 63.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rusk | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $643 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $53,438 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 63.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Rusk
| People | Rusk | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.7% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 21.7% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Rusk
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 37.3°F. About 50.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 27 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rusk since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 13, 2019 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 8, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 16, 2003.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4798: Hurricane Beryl |
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 24, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3540: Tropical Storms Marco And Laura |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 14,922 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,098 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Rusk itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Public schools in Rusk
5 public schools with 2,057 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUSK H S | 9-12 | 603 | 12.8 |
| RUSK J H | 6-8 | 493 | 14.1 |
| GW BRADFORD PRI | PK-1 | 364 | 15.2 |
| RUSK EL | 2-3 | 329 | 12.7 |
| RUSK INT | 4-5 | 268 | 11.7 |
Towns near Rusk
- Jacksonville, TX13.1 mi · 13,997 people · home $119,800
- Bullard, TX25.9 mi · 3,318 people · home $247,100
- Palestine, TX29.4 mi · 18,544 people · home $166,000
- Whitehouse, TX29.6 mi · 8,257 people · home $253,800
Rusk questions
Is Rusk, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rusk scores better for retirees than 25% of Texas towns and quieter than 61%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Rusk?
The median owner-occupied home in Rusk is valued at $157,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,438, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $643 a month.
What is the weather like in Rusk?
July highs average 90.7°F and January lows 37.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Rusk get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rusk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 13, 2019. 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)