countyscore
52.1
County Score
Cost of Living 91.5Safety 86.2Schools 67.3

County Report Card

About Brooks County, Texas

Exceeding National Livability Standards

Brooks County achieves a composite score of 53.8, placing it above the national median of 50.0. This score highlights a strong performance in key livability dimensions. It serves as a resilient community in South Texas.

A South Texas Leader

At 53.8, Brooks County ranks well above the Texas state average of 41.9. It outperforms many of its regional neighbors in terms of security and affordability. The county provides a high value-to-cost ratio for its residents.

Unmatched Affordability and High Safety

The county features an elite cost score of 98.7, supported by median gross rents of just $487. Safety is another major strength with a score of 86.2. These metrics make it one of the most secure and affordable places to live in the state.

Significant Income and Health Gaps

The income score is near the bottom at 0.3, with a median household income of only $31,310. Health outcomes also lag with a score of 5.2. These low scores indicate a need for better local economic development and medical infrastructure.

Maximum Value for Budget-Minded Residents

Brooks County is ideal for those who prioritize low living costs and personal safety above high earnings. It offers incredible value, with home prices averaging just $82,700. It is a strong choice for residents who value a quiet, safe community with ultra-low overhead.

2040608010018.791.586.25.267.38.339.218.312.3Tax18.7Cost91.5Safety86.2Health5.2Schools67.3Income8.3Risk39.2Water18.3Weather12.352.1/100
This county
National avg
3 above average5 below average

Brooks County DNA

Foverall

How Brooks County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Brooks County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Cost of Living (91.5/100) but notably weak in Health (5.2/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
18.7-33.3
Cost
91.5+43.5
Safety
86.2+31.200000000000003
Health
5.2-44.8
Schools
67.3+13.299999999999997
Income
8.3-42.7
Risk
39.2
Water
18.3-39.7
Weather
12.3-43.7
Sponsored

Think property taxes are too high in Brooks County?

Many homeowners in Brooks County pay more than they should. A professional appeal could save you hundreds per year.

Check My Assessment

Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$81,000

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$719/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$81,000/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$28,760/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum1.7x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $47,764/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
Compare Brooks County with Hot Spring County →Share on X

Counties with similar scores

Hot Spring County
Arkansas
Median income: $55,405
52.1
Cook County
Georgia
Median income: $53,651
52.1
Marion County
Georgia
Median income: $51,667
52.1
Midland County
Michigan
Median income: $77,705
52.1
Cibola County
New Mexico
Median income: $50,759
52.1
Kingfisher County
Oklahoma
Median income: $71,975
52.1
Wayne County
Pennsylvania
Median income: $62,381
52.1
Somervell County
Texas
Median income: $79,825
52.1

Nearby counties

Jim Hogg County
Texas
46.5
Kenedy County
Texas
47.3
Duval County
Texas
40.2
Kleberg County
Texas
20.5
Jim Wells County
Texas
25
Starr County
Texas
45.4
Hidalgo County
Texas
29.6
Willacy County
Texas
35

Deep Dives

Brooks County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Brooks County

via TaxByCounty

Brooks taxes sit near the national average

Brooks County's effective tax rate of 1.260% slightly exceeds the national median of 1.09%, placing it in the upper-middle tier of U.S. counties. However, the median property tax of just $1,042 falls well below the national median of $2,690, reflecting South Texas's lower home values.

Nearly at Texas statewide average

At 1.260%, Brooks County's effective rate sits just below Texas's 1.276% average, making it a typical Texas county on the tax scale. The median tax of $1,042 is roughly 48% of the state median of $2,193, driven by the county's modest property market.

Lightly taxed for South Texas region

Brooks County's 1.260% rate exceeds only Briscoe County (1.084%) among the eight-county comparison, positioning it as a relatively affordable South Texas jurisdiction. Lower property values keep annual tax obligations modest despite the rate.

Your median annual tax bill: $1,042

On Brooks County's median home value of $82,700, homeowners pay approximately $1,042 per year without a mortgage and $1,321 with one. These modest obligations reflect both the county's reasonable tax rate and South Texas's lower property valuations.

Contest your property valuation today

Brooks County homeowners can file a free property tax appeal with the local appraisal district if they believe their home is overvalued. Challenging inflated assessments is a straightforward way to potentially reduce your annual tax bill further.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Brooks County

via IncomeByCounty

Brooks County faces severe national income crisis

Brooks County's median household income of $31,310 is 58% below the national median of $74,755, placing it among the lowest-income counties in America. Its per capita income of $25,010 also trails the Texas state average of $33,197 by 25%, signaling widespread economic hardship.

Lowest-income county in Texas sample

At $31,310, Brooks County's median household income is 52% below the Texas state average of $64,737, ranking it as the lowest-income county in this group and among the poorest in the state. The severe income deficit reflects profound economic challenges and limited job opportunities.

Brooks significantly trails all comparable counties

Brooks's $31,310 household income falls dramatically below every other county in this comparison, trailing Briscoe ($41,188) by nearly $10,000 and Brazoria ($95,155) by $63,845. The county faces exceptional economic hardship relative to its regional peers.

Low incomes strain even affordable housing

While Brooks County's median home value of $82,700 is the lowest in the group, the 18.7% rent-to-income ratio combined with median household income of just $31,310 creates acute affordability stress. Housing costs consume nearly one-fifth of already-limited household resources.

Brooks residents need urgent economic support

With median household income at $31,310, Brooks County residents face extreme economic challenges requiring immediate focus on income stability and emergency resilience. Accessing job training, seeking higher-wage employment, and leveraging community resources are critical first steps before wealth-building can become realistic.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Brooks County

via CrimeByCounty

Near-Perfect Safety Score

Brooks County is one of the safest regions in the U.S. with a safety score of 99.5. Its total crime rate of 311.7 per 100,000 is among the lowest recorded nationwide.

Surpassing State Safety Norms

Brooks significantly outperforms the Texas state average safety score of 96.8. Its total crime rate of 311.7 is less than a sixth of the Texas average of 2,052.5.

Regional Safety Leader

Data from two reporting agencies confirms that Brooks is an exceptionally low-crime area compared to South Texas neighbors. These numbers indicate a high degree of public safety relative to the region.

Consistently Low Incidents

Violent crime sits at 170.0 per 100,000, while property crime is even lower at 141.7. Both metrics are vastly lower than the national and state averages for these categories.

Maintain Your Safe Community

In a county with such low crime rates, basic precautions like locking doors are highly effective. Residents can further enhance safety by staying connected and reporting unusual activity to local authorities.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Brooks County

via WeatherByCounty

Tropical Temperatures in South Texas

Brooks County's 72.2°F annual average is among the highest in the country, sitting far above the national median. Precipitation is relatively low at 27.4 inches, making for a semi-arid, hot environment.

One of the Hottest in Texas

At 72.2°F, Brooks County is nearly 7 degrees warmer than the state average. It endures 160 days of extreme heat per year, placing it in the top tier of the state's hottest regions.

More Heat than the Coastal Plains

Brooks County faces 160 days of heat over 90°F, nearly double the 88 days seen in coastal Brazoria. It is significantly drier and hotter than its neighbors to the east and north.

Year-Round Warmth and Zero Snow

July is punishing with an 85.4°F average, while winters remain balmy at 58.3°F. Snow is non-existent, and the county averages 160 days of extreme heat annually.

Maximum Cooling and Sun Safety

High-efficiency air conditioning is a necessity rather than a luxury for the nearly 5 months of triple-digit potential. Professional-grade window tinting can help reduce the intense solar gain from 160 extreme heat days.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Brooks County

via SoilByCounty

Sandy South Texas plains

Brooks County features an average pH of 6.80, which is very close to the national median of 6.5. This nearly neutral soil is slightly more acidic than the Texas average of 7.09. It provides a balanced chemical baseline for many agricultural uses.

Dominant sand defines the county

The soil is extremely sandy, containing 78.9% sand and only 9.7% clay. This creates a very loose, coarse texture that is easy to till but drains very rapidly. The low silt content (11.5%) means there is little to bind the sand particles together.

Low organic matter and water storage

The soil's organic matter is quite low at 0.93%, well below the state average of 1.66%. Similarly, the available water capacity is only 0.095 in/in. Frequent irrigation and heavy organic amendments are necessary for productive gardening in this sandy environment.

Surface runoff challenges in group D

Despite the high sand content, the soil is placed in hydrologic group D, suggesting limited deep infiltration. This often happens in areas with shallow restrictive layers or high water tables. Managing water at the surface is critical to prevent erosion of the loose, sandy topsoil.

Subtropical gardening in zone 9b

Brooks County's 9b hardiness zone allows for year-round growing of many crops. Citrus trees and heat-tolerant legumes are well-suited for these sandy plains. Focus on building up your soil's organic matter to help your garden hold onto every drop of water.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Brooks County

via LawnByCounty

High Heat Challenges in South Texas

A lawn difficulty score of 28.0 reflects the intense environmental pressure found in Brooks County. This Zone 9b area requires specialized care to handle the extreme temperatures and sandy conditions.

The Land of Eternal Summer

Brooks County endures 160 extreme heat days per year, nearly double the national average. With only 27.4 inches of rain, lawns rely heavily on irrigation to survive the massive 8244 growing degree days.

Extremely Sandy, Fast-Draining Soil

The soil is a staggering 78.9% sand, meaning water and nutrients wash away almost instantly. While the pH of 6.80 is perfect, the lack of clay (9.7%) makes consistent feeding and watering a necessity.

Total Coverage in Severe Drought

Severe drought (D2+) currently covers 100% of the county after 39 weeks of drought conditions in the past year. Grass here must be managed for survival using drought-tolerant species and automated irrigation.

Focus on Heat-Resistant Species

Bermudagrass and Seashore Paspalum are the best bets for handling the 160 days of heat and sandy soil. You can begin planting early, as the last spring frost typically occurs by February 25.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Brooks County's county score?
Brooks County, Texas has a composite county score of 52.1 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Brooks County rank among counties in Texas?
Brooks County ranks #53 among all counties in Texas on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Brooks County, Texas?
The median annual property tax in Brooks County is $1,060, with an effective tax rate of 1.31%. This earns Brooks County a tax score of 18.7/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Brooks County?
The median household income in Brooks County, Texas is $47,764 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Brooks County earns an income score of 8.3/100 on CountyScore.
Is Brooks County, Texas a good place to live?
Brooks County scores 52.1/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #53 in Texas. The best way to evaluate Brooks County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Brooks County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

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