Benton County's composite score of 77.1 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper 50th percentile of U.S. counties. This demonstrates genuine competitive advantages in livability for residents.
2 / 5
Outperforming Tennessee's state average
Benton's score of 77.1 edges above Tennessee's state average of 76.3, positioning it among the stronger-performing counties statewide. This upper-tier ranking reflects solid fundamentals across multiple livability dimensions.
3 / 5
Excellent affordability and low taxes
Benton County shines with a cost score of 85.6 and a tax score of 85.9, reflecting genuine affordability: median rents of just $788/month and home values near $123,400. Few Tennessee counties match Benton's combination of low housing costs and favorable tax rates.
4 / 5
Below-average incomes and incomplete data
Benton's income score of 16.3 reflects a median household income of $50,435, the lowest among these eight counties. Information on safety, health, schools, and water quality is not yet available, leaving gaps in the overall livability assessment.
5 / 5
Perfect for cost-conscious rural families
Benton County is ideal for families and retirees who prioritize ultra-low housing costs and minimal tax burden over high incomes or urban services. It's a genuine rural value proposition for those seeking maximum affordability.
Benton County's composite score of 77.1 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper 50th percentile of U.S. counties. This demonstrates genuine competitive advantages in livability for residents.
Outperforming Tennessee's state average
Benton's score of 77.1 edges above Tennessee's state average of 76.3, positioning it among the stronger-performing counties statewide. This upper-tier ranking reflects solid fundamentals across multiple livability dimensions.
Excellent affordability and low taxes
Benton County shines with a cost score of 85.6 and a tax score of 85.9, reflecting genuine affordability: median rents of just $788/month and home values near $123,400. Few Tennessee counties match Benton's combination of low housing costs and favorable tax rates.
Below-average incomes and incomplete data
Benton's income score of 16.3 reflects a median household income of $50,435, the lowest among these eight counties. Information on safety, health, schools, and water quality is not yet available, leaving gaps in the overall livability assessment.
Perfect for cost-conscious rural families
Benton County is ideal for families and retirees who prioritize ultra-low housing costs and minimal tax burden over high incomes or urban services. It's a genuine rural value proposition for those seeking maximum affordability.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛85.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Benton County's 0.581% effective rate remains significantly lower than the national average of around 0.85%, and the median tax of just $717 is less than 27% of the national median of $2,690. This rural county offers some of Tennessee's most affordable property tax burdens.
Above state average despite rural character
Benton County's 0.581% effective rate exceeds Tennessee's state average of 0.511% by about 14%, yet the low median home value of $123,400 keeps actual taxes modest at $717. It ranks among the state's more rural counties with lower absolute tax payments.
Higher rate, lower taxes than nearby counties
Benton County's 0.581% rate tops nearby Bledsoe County (0.406%) and Campbell County (0.384%), but the median tax of $717 stays lowest due to lower home values. It bridges the gap between Tennessee's more developed and most rural counties.
Median home costs just $717 yearly
A typical Benton County home valued at $123,400 generates an annual tax of approximately $717, among the lowest in the state. Homeowners with mortgages pay slightly more at $782, while those without pay around $606.
Appeal if your assessment seems high
Even in low-tax rural counties, individual homes can be overassessed relative to market conditions. If your Benton County property has lost value or you believe your assessment exceeds comparable sales, filing an appeal is a straightforward way to reduce your tax burden.
Benton County's 18.8% rent-to-income ratio exceeds the national median, with residents earning a median of just $50,435—32% below the US average of $74,755. This gap means renters in Benton face greater affordability strain despite modest absolute rent levels.
Above-average rent burden statewide
Benton's rent-to-income ratio of 18.8% ranks among the higher burden counties in Tennessee, exceeding the state average of 17.6% by 1.2 percentage points. Though the $788 median rent is below the state average, the lower incomes in this rural county make every dollar count more.
Cheapest rents in the region
Benton's $788 median rent is the most affordable in its peer group, beating Campbell County ($715 lower rate but different income base) and significantly undershooting Anderson ($960). However, Benton's median home value of $123,400 is the lowest across comparable counties, reflecting a genuinely rural market.
Low incomes make modest rents stretch far
Benton renters spend 18.8% of their $50,435 income on $788 rent—nearly one in five dollars. Mortgage costs average $569, suggesting homeownership remains the most attainable path for stability in this low-income county.
Seek this county only with rural income plans
Benton's ultra-low housing costs ($788 rent, $123,400 homes) appeal to remote workers or retirees with income independent of local jobs. Urban professionals considering relocation should verify telework viability, as the county's median income of $50,435 signals limited local wage growth.
Benton County's median household income of $50,435 lags the U.S. median of $74,755 by 32.5%, a gap of $24,320. This reflects the economic challenges of rural West Tennessee and limited high-wage employment opportunities.
Well below Tennessee average
Benton County ranks near the lower end statewide, earning 14.5% less than Tennessee's median of $58,994. Per capita income of $28,169 is also 10% below the state average, indicating limited wealth accumulation across the population.
Among the county's lower earners
Benton's $50,435 matches nearby Campbell County ($50,260) closely, with both trailing Cannon County ($58,092) and Bledsoe County ($49,655). The consistency suggests shared economic drivers—likely rural employment and limited industrial anchors.
Housing affordable but income stretched
Benton's rent-to-income ratio of 18.8% remains manageable, though median home values of $123,400 may overstate affordability relative to actual earning power. Households here must budget carefully to avoid financial stress despite technically favorable rent ratios.
Start small, build consistency
Benton households earning $50,435 should prioritize building even modest emergency savings—$50–100 monthly adds up over time. Exploring job training programs, remote work opportunities, and small-business resources can unlock pathways to higher earnings in the county.
At 70.5 years, Benton County's life expectancy falls 0.9 years short of the U.S. average of 71.4 years, signaling health challenges for residents. The county's 22.5% poor/fair health rate also exceeds the national average of 21%, indicating residents experience above-average health difficulties.
Benton among Tennessee's healthier counties
Benton's 70.5-year life expectancy ranks below Tennessee's 72.4-year average, placing it in the lower half of the state's 95 counties. With a 13.1% uninsured rate, Benton also exceeds the state average of 11.9%, meaning a larger share of residents lack coverage than most Tennesseans.
Benton faces steeper health disparities
Benton's 70.5-year life expectancy ranks lowest among nearby counties like Anderson (72.6) and Bedford (72.8), a troubling pattern requiring attention. The county also has just 25 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—fewer than any measured neighbor—limiting preventive care access.
Limited doctors, limited coverage
Benton County has one of the region's tightest healthcare networks: just 25 primary care providers and 44 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. With 13.1% uninsured, residents face a double barrier—lack of insurance and lack of nearby doctors to visit.
Get connected to healthcare options
More than 1 in 8 Benton County residents lack health insurance, making routine care difficult to afford. Call 1-800-318-2596 or visit healthcare.gov to find Medicaid, Marketplace coverage, or uninsured care programs that can help you access needed treatment.
Benton County scores 39.06 on composite natural disaster risk, earning a Very Low rating that places it well below the national average. This favorable standing reflects minimal flood and wildfire exposure, though seismic and tornado hazards merit resident awareness.
Benton County's Safest Position in Tennessee
Benton County's 39.06 score sits significantly below Tennessee's state average of 52.45, making it one of the state's lowest-risk counties. Only neighboring Cannon County (22.90) and Bledsoe County (24.14) present lower overall risk profiles in Tennessee.
Comparing Risk to Neighbors
Benton County's low risk mirrors Cannon County (22.90) and contrasts sharply with higher-risk neighbors like Blount County (74.17) and Bradley County (73.41) to the east. The county's western position shields it from significant flood and wildfire exposure relative to eastern Tennessee counties.
Your Biggest Natural Disaster Risks
Earthquakes (88.42) represent Benton County's primary hazard, while tornado risk (55.92) provides secondary concern; flood (20.20) and wildfire (15.84) risks remain minimal. Seismic preparedness forms the county's most important disaster planning foundation.
Protect Your Home in Benton County
Benton County residents should focus earthquake insurance and secure-attachment strategies for furniture and appliances, given the county's low conventional hazard exposure. Standard homeowners insurance typically covers tornado damage, reducing the need for supplemental policies compared to higher-risk Tennessee counties.