CountyScore

Allen County

Kentucky · KY

#15 in Kentucky
73.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Allen County, Kentucky

Allen ranks 55% above national median

Allen County's composite score of 77.7 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it among stronger-performing counties nationwide. This top-tier position is driven by low taxes, affordable housing, and the highest income score among these eight counties at 21.9.

Kentucky's best performer in this group

Allen County leads all eight featured counties with a score of 77.7, comfortably surpassing Kentucky's state average of 75.0. The county's balanced strength across tax, cost, and income dimensions makes it a standout in the Commonwealth's county rankings.

Tax, cost, and income all perform well

Allen County delivers the lowest effective tax rate (0.551%) among these eight counties, paired with a cost score of 84.9 and median rent of just $750/month. Median household income of $59,029 and home values at $176,300 offer relative prosperity without excessive cost burden.

Quality-of-life dimensions await data

Information on schools, health outcomes, safety, risk factors, and water quality is not yet available for Allen County. These gaps limit full understanding of the county's appeal beyond its strong financial fundamentals.

Ideal for balanced lifestyle seekers

Allen County offers the most rounded livability profile among Kentucky's featured counties, suiting families seeking low taxes, affordable housing, and reasonable incomes without major compromises. It's particularly attractive to those who value financial stability and modest prosperity over metropolitan amenities.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax86.8Cost84.9SafetyComing SoonHealth66.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.9Risk66.7WaterComing Soon
🏛86.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼21.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡66.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Allen County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Las Animas County
Colorado
73.9
Median income: $50,408
Phillips County
Colorado
73.9
Median income: $60,372
Blackford County
Indiana
73.9
Median income: $47,560
O'Brien County
Iowa
73.9
Median income: $68,216
Tensas Parish
Louisiana
73.9
Median income: $36,074

Deep Dives

Allen County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Allen County

via TaxByCounty

Allen County has the lowest burden

Allen County's 0.551% effective tax rate ranks among the lowest in the nation, beating the national median of 0.85% by a comfortable margin. At just $972 in annual median property tax, Allen homeowners pay roughly one-third the national median of $2,690.

Kentucky's most tax-friendly county

Allen County leads Kentucky with the state's lowest effective tax rate at 0.551%, well below the state average of 0.719%. The county's median property tax of $972 is the lowest among our profiled counties, giving residents a genuine tax advantage.

Lowest taxes in south-central region

Allen County's 0.551% rate decisively beats all neighbors, including Barren (0.726%) and Warren counties to the east. Residents here enjoy the region's most favorable property tax environment.

What $176,300 home costs annually

A median Allen County home valued at $176,300 carries an annual property tax of approximately $972. With mortgage, insurance, and principal factored in, the effective annual housing tax reaches about $1,189.

Verify your home's valuation

Even in low-tax Allen County, some homeowners may be overassessed relative to comparable properties. Requesting a professional assessment or filing an appeal during revaluation years can unlock additional savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Allen County

via CostByCounty

Allen punches above its weight nationally

Allen County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.3% sits comfortably within the national affordability sweet spot, well ahead of the national median household income of $74,755. At $59,029 in median income, Allen households enjoy better housing affordability than county income alone might suggest.

Among Kentucky's most affordable counties

Allen's 15.3% rent-to-income ratio beats the Kentucky state average of 17.0%, putting it in the affordability tier of better-positioned counties statewide. With median rent just below the state average at $750, Allen delivers stronger value for renters relative to their earnings.

Competing with Bath for best rents

Allen's $750 median rent undercuts neighboring Adair County ($775) and matches affordability with Bath County ($600 in rent, though with lower overall household income). Allen's homeownership costs of $665 monthly position it midrange among the region's counties.

Allen's housing math works

Renters spend $750 monthly while homeowners pay $665, extracting a healthy 15.3% of the $59,029 median income for housing alone. This leaves Allen households proportionally more breathing room compared to state and national peers.

Allen offers balanced opportunity

If you're seeking affordable rents with moderate incomes, Allen County delivers one of Kentucky's better rent-to-income ratios without sacrificing community stability. Its $176,300 median home value and manageable owner costs make it competitive for both renters and aspiring homeowners.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Allen County

via IncomeByCounty

Allen County Earns 21% Below National Median

Allen County's median household income of $59,029 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by roughly $15,700, placing it in the lower-middle income range nationally. The county shows stronger earnings than most rural Kentucky peers, reflecting a mix of agricultural, manufacturing, and service-sector work.

Above-Average Income for Kentucky

Allen County's $59,029 median household income ranks above Kentucky's state average of $55,909, positioning residents in the upper half of the state's income distribution. Per capita income of $30,206 also exceeds the state average of $29,616 by about 2%.

Outpaces Most South-Central Kentucky Peers

Allen County's income surpasses Barren County ($49,171) and Adair County ($50,316) while falling short of Boone County's prosperous $94,752. The county's $59,029 reflects a relatively stable economy compared to struggling rural neighbors like Bell County.

Housing Costs Remain Affordable

Allen residents spend just 15.3% of income on rent, well below the 30% affordability threshold and indicating strong purchasing power for housing. The median home value of $176,300 is achievable for households at the county median, especially with two-income earners.

Strengthen Savings With Stable Income

Allen County's above-state-average income creates opportunity to save 10–15% of earnings after housing and living expenses; explore tax-advantaged savings accounts. A financial advisor can help develop strategies for homeownership, retirement planning, and protecting income through insurance.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Allen County

via HealthByCounty

Allen outperforms on life expectancy

Allen County residents live to 73.1 years—nearly 5 years less than the national average of 78.2 years, but better than many rural Kentucky counties. About 22.7% of Allen residents report poor or fair health, slightly above the national average.

Slightly above Kentucky's average

Allen's 73.1-year life expectancy edges above the state average of 72.2 years, placing it in the middle range for Kentucky health outcomes. The county's health status mirrors statewide challenges with chronic disease prevalence.

Primary care access is a gap

Allen has just 14 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest among nearby counties like Adair (26) and Barren (70). Mental health coverage is also limited at 87 providers per 100,000, requiring residents to travel for specialized care.

Fewer uninsured, limited providers

Allen's uninsured rate is 6.4%, below Kentucky's 7.0% average, yet the county struggles with provider shortages that limit access regardless of coverage. Finding a primary care appointment often means traveling outside the county.

Ensure your coverage is current

Allen's low uninsured rate is a strength—if you're in that 6.4%, visit kynect.ky.gov to enroll in a health plan today. Families with children and low incomes often qualify for Medicaid at no cost.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Allen County

via RiskByCounty

Allen ranks among lowest-risk Kentucky counties

Allen County's composite risk score of 33.33 earns a Very Low rating and places it well below the national average. The county demonstrates consistently low exposure across most natural hazard categories.

One of Kentucky's safest counties

Allen County ranks among the safer counties statewide with a composite score of 33.33, significantly below Kentucky's 44.21 average. The county's risk profile reflects relatively modest exposure to major natural disasters.

Allen rivals the state's safest places

Allen County (33.33) sits between Bath County (13.71)—Kentucky's lowest-risk county—and Anderson County (26.34), both strong performers. This places Allen in genuinely safe company within its regional peer group.

Tornadoes and earthquakes demand attention

Tornado risk ranks highest at 69.50, making spring preparedness essential for Allen families, while earthquake risk at 75.03 reflects underlying geologic conditions. Flood and wildfire risks remain minimal, at 27.45 and 9.32 respectively.

Tornado preparedness is your priority

Ensure your homeowners policy covers tornado damage and have a family tornado safety plan for spring months. Consider earthquake insurance as an added layer of protection, particularly for older homes.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.