Brantley County

Georgia · GA

#64 in Georgia
68.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Brantley County, Georgia

Brantley Scores Strong Nationally

Brantley County's composite score of 71.8 places it well above the national median of 50.0, ranking in approximately the 44th percentile nationally. This southeast Georgia county delivers competitive livability on a rural platform.

Outperforms Georgia's State Average

With a score of 71.8, Brantley ranks above Georgia's state average of 70.9, placing it in the upper-middle range of the state's counties. The county stands out among rural Georgia communities.

Best-in-Class Housing Affordability

Brantley boasts the highest cost score in this group at 86.8, with median home values of just $91,800 and rent at $714/month. The county pairs this affordability with a competitive tax rate of 1.120% effective rate.

Income Remains a Limiting Factor

The county's income score of 14.6 reflects a median household income of $47,801—notably below state and national benchmarks. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and environment prevents fuller evaluation of quality of life.

Perfect for Retirees and Homebuyers

Brantley County excels for retirees, first-time homebuyers, and anyone prioritizing maximum housing affordability in a low-tax environment. It's ideal for those with income sources outside the local economy seeking maximum purchasing power.

Score breakdown

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

Tax70.8Cost86.8SafetyComing SoonHealth54.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome14.6Risk81.7WaterComing Soon
🏛70.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠86.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼14.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
54.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
81.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Brantley County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Brantley County

via TaxByCounty

Brantley's Tax Rate Ranks in Top Quartile Nationally

Brantley County's effective tax rate of 1.120% places it in the upper 75th percentile nationally, well above the 0.87% national median. At 24.7% above Georgia's 0.898% average, Brantley is among America's higher-taxing counties.

Brantley Ranks in Georgia's Top Tier

Brantley's 1.120% rate lands in the top 15% of Georgia's 159 counties by effective tax rate. Though the $1,028 median property tax is 33% below the state average of $1,529, this reflects lower median home values of just $91,800.

Among the Steepest-Taxing Counties Regionally

Brantley's 1.120% rate trails only Brooks County (1.281%) among this eight-county group. It exceeds Ben Hill (1.061%), Berrien (0.989%), Bleckley (1.082%), and both Bulloch (0.778%) and Bryan (0.789%).

A $91,800 Home Costs $1,028 Annually

The typical Brantley County homeowner with a $91,800 property pays $1,028 in annual property taxes. Owners with mortgages pay $1,669; those without mortgages pay $782.

Challenge Your Assessment if It Seems High

Given Brantley's steep effective tax rate, homeowners should scrutinize their assessments against recent comparable sales. Filing a formal appeal during the county's assessment challenge period can help you reduce an inflated valuation and lower your annual tax burden.

Cost of Living in Brantley County

via CostByCounty

Brantley keeps housing costs modest

Brantley County residents spend 17.9% of household income on rent, nestling between Georgia's 18.6% state average and the national comfort zone. The county achieves this balance with $47,801 median household income and $714 monthly rent—among the region's lowest.

Brantley undercuts Georgia affordability average

At 17.9%, Brantley's rent-to-income ratio sits slightly below Georgia's state average of 18.6%, marking it as an affordable option statewide. Monthly rent of $714 ranks among Georgia's cheapest, supporting the county's overall housing accessibility.

South Georgia's budget-friendly option

Brantley's $714 rent matches the lowest in this regional cluster, undercutting Ben Hill ($692 is slightly lower) while maintaining better affordability metrics than Bibb. The county's housing costs rival Berrien and Bleckley while supporting lower overall incomes.

Renters gain the affordability edge

Renters pay just $714 monthly while homeowners commit $586 on median homes valued at $91,800—the region's lowest property values. At $47,801 annual income, Brantley households dedicate less than 18% to housing costs.

Brantley targets budget-conscious relocators

If minimizing housing costs matters most, Brantley's $714 rent and $91,800 median home values lead the region. Compare carefully with Ben Hill and Bleckley to see which county's income levels and overall cost structure fit your relocation timeline.

Income & Jobs in Brantley County

via IncomeByCounty

Brantley's income falls well below national norm

Brantley County's median household income of $47,801 sits 36% below the U.S. median of $74,755. This substantial gap reflects Brantley's rural character and limited large-employer base.

Lower tier among Georgia counties

At $47,801, Brantley ranks below Georgia's state median of $60,488 by $12,687, placing it in the lower third of the state's 159 counties. Limited diversification in the local economy constrains household income growth.

Income among lowest in immediate region

Brantley ($47,801) underperforms most neighbors except Ben Hill ($39,081) and Brooks ($47,656), which are nearly identical. Only Bleckley ($53,005), Berrien ($50,414), and Bulloch ($56,832) report meaningfully higher incomes.

Affordable housing supports family stability

Brantley's rent-to-income ratio of 17.9% is healthier than the 20% benchmark, giving residents room to maneuver financially. The county's low median home value of $91,800 further supports housing accessibility.

Maximize employer benefits and employer matches

Brantley residents earning $47,801 should prioritize fully capturing any employer 401(k) matching—free money that accelerates retirement savings. Pair this with an IRA to build comprehensive wealth-building coverage even on modest income.

Health in Brantley County

via HealthByCounty

Brantley's life expectancy below U.S. average

At 71.5 years, Brantley County residents live 3 years less than the U.S. average of 74.5 years. The 22.4% poor or fair health rate reflects elevated chronic disease and health challenges typical of rural southeastern Georgia.

Georgia's least insured rural county

Brantley's 71.5-year life expectancy trails Georgia's state average of 73.3 years by 1.8 years, placing it in the lower-middle tier statewide. However, Brantley's 17.9% uninsured rate is Georgia's highest, creating a coverage crisis that compounds health vulnerabilities.

Lowest insured, lowest provider access

Brantley (71.5 years) sits between Berrien (71.2 years) and Bleckley (72.2 years) on life expectancy, yet its 17.9% uninsured rate far exceeds neighbors—nearly 50% higher than Bleckley's 12.3%. The county's sparse provider network (17 primary care, 27 mental health per 100,000) compounds access barriers.

Severe coverage and access shortfall

Brantley has Georgia's lowest provider availability (17 primary care providers per 100,000) paired with its worst uninsured rate (17.9%), creating a dual crisis for health-seeking residents. Even routine preventive care is difficult to access, leaving residents vulnerable to preventable chronic disease.

Brantley needs coverage action now

Nearly one in five Brantley residents lacks health insurance—a critical gap in this rural county with limited providers. Visit healthcare.gov or Georgia's marketplace immediately to secure coverage and protect your family's health.

Disaster Risk in Brantley County

via RiskByCounty

Brantley sits at nation's safest extreme

Brantley County scores just 18.29 on the composite risk scale, placing it among the lowest-risk counties nationally with a Very Low rating. This coastal-plain community experiences minimal exposure to the full spectrum of natural hazards.

Georgia's safest county by far

Brantley's 18.29 score represents Georgia's lowest composite risk—substantially below the state average of 39.49. No other major Georgia county matches Brantley's level of natural disaster protection.

Notably safer than surrounding counties

Brantley (18.29) substantially outperforms Berrien County (39.31) and Brooks County (42.11) in the same region. Even nearby Bleckley (25.67) and Ben Hill (25.41) counties face higher composite risk than Brantley.

Wildfire poses the highest concern

Brantley's wildfire risk of 67.78 is its most significant hazard exposure, though still below state wildfire averages. All other hazards—flooding (20.20), tornadoes (30.66), and earthquakes (41.67)—score exceptionally low.

Basic homeowners insurance generally adequate

Brantley's low overall risk profile means most residents can rely on standard homeowners policies with conventional wind and hail coverage. Property owners in heavily forested areas may want to verify wildfire-related coverage is included, but specialized disaster insurance is not critically urgent for most of the county.

ByCounty Network

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