CountyScore

Brazos County

Texas · TX

#229 in Texas
54.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Brazos County, Texas

Brazos Exceeds National Average Modestly

Brazos County scores 56.8, surpassing the national median of 50.0 by 14%, placing it slightly ahead of the typical U.S. county. However, this modest margin suggests trade-offs that prevent true livability distinction on a national stage.

Below Texas State Baseline

Brazos's 56.8 score trails Texas's state average of 66.8 by 15%, putting it in the lower-middle tier of Texas counties. This underperformance despite moderate economic activity indicates that cost and tax burdens significantly constrain overall livability in the county.

Moderate Tax Rate and Housing Diversity

Brazos offers a tax score of 56.2 with an effective rate of 1.637% and a cost score of 66.1 reflecting a median home value of $279,700—substantial but not extreme. The rental market at $1,160/month median provides some housing diversity for renters and buyers.

Low Incomes and Incomplete Data Limit Appeal

Brazos's income score of 21.5 reflects a median household income of just $58,388, among the lowest in this sample, indicating limited wage opportunity. Combined with missing data on schools, safety, and health, the incomplete picture makes it hard for prospective residents to fully evaluate the county.

College Town for Budget-Conscious Students

Brazos County suits students and young adults affiliated with its universities who accept low wages in exchange for education and campus life, or established residents with outside income sources. It's less attractive to wage-earners seeking career growth or families prioritizing school quality data.

Score breakdown

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

Tax56.2Cost66.1SafetyComing SoonHealth64.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.5Risk11.6WaterComing Soon
🏛56.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠66.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼21.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤64.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡11.6
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 Brazos County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Monterey County
California
54.9
Median income: $94,486
Miami-Dade County
Florida
54.9
Median income: $68,694
Hillsborough County
New Hampshire
54.9
Median income: $100,436
Cuyahoga County
Ohio
54.9
Median income: $62,823
Jefferson County
Texas
54.9
Median income: $59,934

Deep Dives

Brazos County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Brazos County

via TaxByCounty

Brazos taxes run nearly 50% above national median

Brazos County's effective tax rate of 1.637% substantially exceeds the national median of 1.09%, placing it in the top 20% of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $4,580 towers nearly 70% above the national median of $2,690.

Among Texas's higher-tax counties

At 1.637%, Brazos County's effective rate ranks above Texas's 1.276% average, making it one of the state's more expensive counties for property taxation. The median tax of $4,580 exceeds the state median by $2,387, or roughly 109%.

Second-highest after Brazoria in the region

Brazos County's 1.637% rate trails only Brazoria County's 1.745% in the immediate region, reflecting growing population and property values in the area. Home values here are among the state's highest, driving substantial annual tax bills.

Your median annual tax bill: $4,580

On Brazos County's median home value of $279,700, homeowners pay approximately $4,580 per year without a mortgage and $5,000 with one. This considerable annual obligation reflects both the county's high effective rate and strong property market.

File an appeal to contest your assessment

With such high tax bills, even a modest reduction in assessed value through a property tax appeal can yield hundreds of dollars in annual savings. The appraisal challenge process is free and open to all Brazos County homeowners.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Brazos County

via CostByCounty

Brazos rents strain tight household budgets

Despite earning 22% less than the U.S. median ($58,388 vs. $74,755), Brazos County residents pay $1,160 monthly rent—substantially above many Texas averages. This results in a 23.8% rent-to-income ratio, one of the state's worst affordability readings.

Brazos ranks among Texas's least affordable

Brazos County's 23.8% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among counties in this comparison and far above Texas's 18.1% average. Low incomes paired with college-town inflation drive this outsized burden, making Brazos one of the state's affordability challenge zones.

Brazos bears higher costs than peer counties

Brazos's $1,160 monthly rent significantly exceeds rural neighbors like Grimes and Burleson counties, reflecting Texas A&M's presence in College Station. The 23.8% rent-to-income ratio towers above regional peers, signaling a college-town cost premium.

Housing dominates Brazos household budgets

Brazos renters spend 23.8% of income on rent while homeowners spend 28.6% on owner costs—both unsustainably high. Median home values of $279,700 remain out of reach for many working families, despite lower incomes than Houston or Dallas metro areas.

College-town costs merit careful consideration

Brazos County's 23.8% rent-to-income ratio and $279,700 home values rank among Texas's least affordable markets for earners under $70,000. If relocating to College Station, prioritize stable, above-average income and compare to nearby rural counties for potential savings.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Brazos County

via IncomeByCounty

Brazos County underperforms national income standards

Brazos County's median household income of $58,388 falls about 22% below the national median of $74,755, placing it in the lower-income tier nationally. Its per capita income of $33,928 slightly exceeds the Texas state average of $33,197, but household earnings remain constrained.

Below-average Texas county income levels

Brazos County's median household income of $58,388 sits 10% below Texas's state average of $64,737, ranking it in the lower tier among the state's counties. The per capita income of $33,928 barely edges the state average, suggesting limited household wealth accumulation.

Brazos competes poorly against neighboring counties

Brazos ($58,388) underperforms Bosque ($69,339), Borden ($64,250), and Bowie ($59,295), sitting near the bottom of this regional group. Only Brewster ($52,612), Briscoe ($41,188), and Brooks ($31,310) earn less, placing Brazos in the struggling mid-to-lower income band.

High rent burden signals severe affordability crisis

Brazos County's 23.8% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among these counties, indicating serious housing affordability stress. Combined with a median home value of $279,700—the second-highest regionally—renters and homebuyers alike face significant financial strain relative to the $58,388 median income.

Aggressive budgeting critical for Brazos residents

With median household income at $58,388 and elevated rent burden at 23.8%, Brazos County residents must prioritize debt reduction and emergency savings before pursuing investments. Building financial stability through careful budgeting and exploring lower-cost housing options can help households work toward long-term wealth goals.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Brazos County

via HealthByCounty

Brazos Leads Texas in Longevity

Brazos County's life expectancy of 79.0 years leads Texas's 74.3-year average by nearly 5 years, placing it among the nation's healthier counties. With 20.6% in poor or fair health, Brazos demonstrates exceptional population health outcomes.

State's Longevity Champion

At 79.0 years, Brazos County's life expectancy ranks among the highest in Texas, significantly outpacing the state average. Its 15.7% uninsured rate also beats Texas's 19.8%, reflecting both strong health and healthcare access.

Regional Health Excellence

Brazos ties with Brewster County for the region's highest life expectancy at 79.0 years, exceeding Brazoria's 76.9 and Bowie's 72.3. The county also leads in mental health resources with 150 providers per 100K residents, the highest among surrounding counties.

Top-Tier Healthcare Access

Brazos provides 83 primary care providers and 150 mental health providers per 100K residents—among the state's best ratios. With only 15.7% uninsured, residents benefit from both abundant providers and strong insurance coverage.

Sustain Excellence

Brazos County's health leadership depends on strong coverage and access. If you're uninsured, visit healthcare.gov or contact local health resources to secure coverage and maintain the county's health momentum.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Brazos County

via RiskByCounty

Brazos risk approaches twice the national average

Brazos County's composite risk score of 88.36 ranks Relatively Moderate and approaches double the national average. This Central Texas county faces significantly above-average natural disaster exposure for the United States.

Well above Texas state average risk

Brazos's 88.36 score exceeds the Texas state average of 49.00 by 80%, placing it among the state's higher-risk counties. The county's proximity to multiple hazard zones explains this elevated exposure.

Slightly safer than coastal Brazoria

Brazos (88.36) ranks just below the riskier Brazoria County (93.64) but well above inland peers like Bosque (36.90). Its inland location reduces hurricane threat compared to coastal neighbors but intensifies tornado and flood risk.

Tornadoes and floods dominate exposure

Tornado risk of 96.66 ranks Brazos among Texas's most tornado-prone counties, while flood risk of 82.79 reflects vulnerability to heavy precipitation and stream overflow. Hurricane risk of 85.65, though lower than coastal counties, remains a substantial secondary concern.

Flood and windstorm coverage is critical

Brazos County residents need flood insurance and comprehensive windstorm/hail coverage beyond standard homeowners policies. Safe rooms, weather monitoring systems, and evacuation plans are essential given the extreme tornado and flood threats this county faces.

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.