CountyScore

Brooke County

West Virginia · WV

#21 in West Virginia
73.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Brooke County, West Virginia

Brooke scores well above U.S. median

Brooke County's composite score of 73.5 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 47%, placing it solidly in the top tier of American counties. The score reflects strong affordability, reasonable taxes, and decent health outcomes.

Leads West Virginia counties

With a score of 73.5, Brooke County surpasses the state average of 72.2, ranking among the best performers in West Virginia. The county demonstrates consistent livability advantages across multiple dimensions.

Balanced affordability and health care

Brooke County excels in cost (88.9) with median home values at $127,700 and rent at $603 monthly, while also delivering solid health outcomes (67.5). Tax efficiency (87.1) rounds out a well-rounded, livable profile.

Income and risk remain moderate concerns

The income score of 17.4 reflects a median household income of $52,116, limiting career growth opportunities compared to national standards. Risk exposure (45.8) suggests moderate vulnerability to natural hazards or environmental factors.

Suited for health-conscious families

Brooke County appeals to families and retirees who balance affordability with health and wellness priorities in a stable community. The county offers a middle-ground between extreme affordability and economic dynamism.

Score breakdown

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

Tax87.1Cost88.9SafetyComing SoonHealth67.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome17.4Risk45.8WaterComing Soon
🏛87.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠88.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼17.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤67.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡45.8
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 Brooke County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Gunnison County
Colorado
73.5
Median income: $77,358
Towns County
Georgia
73.5
Median income: $58,400
Latah County
Idaho
73.5
Median income: $65,179
Payette County
Idaho
73.5
Median income: $65,723
Sullivan County
Indiana
73.5
Median income: $54,985

Deep Dives

Brooke County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Brooke County

via TaxByCounty

Brooke's rate is substantially below national

Brooke County's 0.540% effective tax rate is considerably lower than the national median of 0.81%, putting it in the lower half of U.S. counties. The median tax of $690 is about one-quarter the national median of $2,690.

Brooke ranks slightly above state average

At 0.540%, Brooke's rate exceeds the West Virginia average of 0.497%, placing it in the upper-middle tier statewide. The median tax of $690 nearly matches the state average of $699.

Brooke compared to nearby counties

Brooke's 0.540% rate sits between Barbour (0.427%) and Cabell (0.634%), making it moderate for the region. Its median home value of $127,700 is comparable to Barbour, though the tax rate is slightly higher.

Your annual property tax in Brooke

On the median home value of $127,700, you'll pay approximately $690 annually—roughly $58 per month. With a mortgage, the figure rises to $782 due to escrow arrangements.

Could you be overassessed?

If your Brooke County tax bill seems steep, an assessment appeal might be worth your time and effort. Many homeowners find their properties are overvalued and successfully reduce their annual obligations through the appeal process.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Brooke County

via CostByCounty

Brooke beats national affordability standard

Brooke County's 13.9% rent-to-income ratio sits comfortably below the national affordability threshold of 15%, making it one of the nation's more affordable housing markets. With median household income of $52,116 and rent at just $603 monthly, Brooke offers solid housing value.

Brooke ranks among West Virginia's best

At 13.9%, Brooke County's rent-to-income ratio ranks among the state's best, well below West Virginia's 16.9% statewide average. This northern panhandle county demonstrates that affordability exists even in more accessible parts of the state.

Brooke offers northern panhandle value

Brooke's $603 median rent ranks among the region's lowest, undercut only by Calhoun County ($483) while remaining competitive with Clay ($589). At 13.9%, Brooke's rent burden is the lowest in this dataset, delivering exceptional affordability for renters.

Brooke's balanced ownership advantage

Households earning $52,116 annually allocate just $603 to rent (13.9% of income) but more—$581 monthly (13.4%)—to mortgage payments. The comparable affordability between renting and buying is unusual; both paths remain accessible to median-income households in Brooke.

Brooke County: Northern panhandle bargain

If proximity to Pittsburgh appeals and affordability matters, Brooke County delivers West Virginia's lowest rent-to-income ratio at 13.9%. With median homes valued at $127,700 and rents just $603 monthly, Brooke rewards residents seeking accessible housing without sacrificing location.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Brooke County

via IncomeByCounty

Brooke's income gap from national norm

Brooke County's median household income of $52,116 falls 30% short of the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting broader economic headwinds in northern West Virginia. However, Brooke's per capita income of $32,157 exceeds its median household income rank, suggesting pockets of higher earners.

Below-average earner in state rankings

At $52,116, Brooke County's median household income ranks below the state average of $54,746, placing it in the lower-middle tier of West Virginia's counties. Despite this, its per capita income of $32,157 edges above the state average of $30,335, indicating some wealth concentration.

Stronger than struggling peers

Brooke's $52,116 median household income trails Berkeley County ($77,329) substantially but exceeds southern neighbors like Braxton ($44,449), Clay ($42,790), and Calhoun ($41,421). Within its northern region, Brooke represents a moderate-income baseline, though still 4% below state average.

Lowest rent burden in profile

Brooke County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.9% is the best among these eight counties, well below the 15-20% healthy threshold, meaning renters enjoy exceptional affordability. The median home value of $127,700 pairs with this moderate income to create reasonable homeownership opportunities.

Leverage Brooke's housing affordability

Brooke residents benefit from the lowest rent burden in the region—use this advantage to fund retirement accounts and investment savings beyond housing costs. Consider building equity through homeownership early, as median home values remain accessible relative to household earnings.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Brooke County

via HealthByCounty

Strong life expectancy, better than state average

Brooke County residents live to 73.1 years on average, outpacing West Virginia's 72.2-year state average and approaching the U.S. average of 78.0 years. Only 22.0% report poor or fair health, one of the lowest rates among these eight counties.

Upper-tier health outcomes statewide

Brooke County's 73.1-year life expectancy ranks in the upper tier of West Virginia's 55 counties. The 5.7% uninsured rate is the lowest among these eight counties and well below the state average of 7.6%.

Strong health outcomes despite provider gaps

Brooke's 73.1-year life expectancy and 22.0% poor/fair health rate rival Berkeley County's 73.3 and 19.2%, though Brooke trails Berkeley on mental health provider capacity. The county's excellent uninsured rate of 5.7% reflects strong community health insurance coverage.

Limited provider access despite good outcomes

Brooke County has only 23 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest among these eight counties—and 47 mental health providers. Strong health outcomes suggest residents may be traveling to neighboring counties for specialist care or have built resilience through existing resources.

Maintain your strong coverage status

Brooke's 5.7% uninsured rate is a community achievement, but 5.7% still represents gaps. If you're among the uninsured or your coverage is about to lapse, visit healthcare.gov to ensure continuous protection.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Brooke County

via RiskByCounty

Brooke's risk moderately above national norm

Brooke County's composite risk score of 54.23 earns a Relatively Low rating, sitting modestly above the national average. The county's position in the Northern Panhandle creates exposure to multiple hazard types.

Mid-range risk for West Virginia

Brooke's score of 54.23 slightly exceeds West Virginia's 49.21 average, placing it in the state's moderate-risk tier. The county faces somewhat elevated exposure compared to inland neighbors.

Riskier than Barbour, safer than Berkeley

Brooke faces higher risks than nearby Barbour County (24.01) and Braxton County (36.16), but lower exposure than the more vulnerable Berkeley County (68.26). Its position reflects the transitional hazard environment of northern West Virginia.

Flood risk dominates hazard profile

Brooke's flood risk of 75.67 and hurricane exposure of 52.48 represent the county's primary concerns, related to Ohio River proximity and eastern storm systems. Wildfire and earthquake risks remain modest at 16.29 and 29.29.

Flood insurance highly recommended

Brooke residents near the Ohio River or flood-prone areas should strongly consider separate flood insurance beyond standard homeowners coverage. Comprehensive protection is especially important for properties in vulnerable zones.

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.