CountyScore

Brooks County

Texas · TX

#140 in Texas
62
County Score

County Report Card

About Brooks County, Texas

Brooks Exceeds National Average Solidly

Brooks County scores 72.1, surpassing the national median of 50.0 by 44%, placing it firmly in the above-average tier of U.S. counties. This respectable showing reflects extraordinary housing affordability that compensates for very low incomes.

Above Texas Average, Upper-Middle Tier

Brooks's 72.1 surpasses Texas's state average of 66.8, placing it in the upper-middle range of Texas counties. While solidly above state baseline, it ranks behind the state's true leaders and reflects a narrow strength in housing rather than balanced excellence.

Extraordinary Housing Affordability

Brooks leads this sample with a cost score of 93.1, offering the lowest median home values ($82,700) and the lowest median rent ($487/month)—exceptionally cheap by any standard. The tax score of 66.8 with an effective rate of 1.260% adds reasonable financial relief.

Lowest Incomes and Critical Data Voids

Brooks's income score of 3.8 reflects a median household income of just $31,310—the lowest in this entire sample by far—indicating severe economic hardship. Safety, health, schools, risk, and water quality are entirely unmeasured, leaving fundamental livability questions completely unanswered.

Last Resort for Extreme Cost Minimization

Brooks County is only suitable for individuals or families with outside income (pensions, disability payments, remittances, or remote work) who need the absolute lowest housing costs and can tolerate income poverty and missing data on schools and safety. It's unsuitable for wage-dependent families or those seeking community services and schools information.

Score breakdown

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

Tax66.8Cost93.1SafetyComing SoonHealth42.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome3.8Risk39.2WaterComing Soon
🏛66.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠93.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼3.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤42.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡39.2
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 Brooks County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Bryan County
Georgia
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Median income: $94,234
Cherokee County
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Median income: $105,442
Marion County
Illinois
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Median income: $60,839
Johnson County
Kansas
62
Median income: $107,261
Delaware County
New York
62
Median income: $60,226

Deep Dives

Brooks County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 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

Cost of Living in Brooks County

via CostByCounty

Brooks faces nation's toughest income squeeze

Brooks County's $31,310 median household income—58% below the U.S. average—ranks among Texas's lowest, yet the 18.7% rent-to-income ratio stays near the national norm. At just $487 monthly rent, residents access housing that's nearly invisible in cost relative to deeper national affordability challenges.

Brooks County struggles with poverty economics

Brooks County's 18.7% rent-to-income ratio slightly exceeds Texas's 18.1% average despite catastrophically low incomes, placing it among the state's most economically stressed counties. The $487 monthly rent is among Texas's lowest, yet the income constraint means real hardship persists.

Brooks leads South Texas affordability race

Brooks County's $487 monthly rent is the lowest in South Texas, with only Zapata and Kenedy counties offering comparable rates. At $82,700 median home value, Brooks rivals Briscoe as the state's most affordable housing market, though incomes are similarly constrained.

Every dollar counts in Brooks County

Brooks residents spend 18.7% of income on rent and roughly 17.2% on owner costs, both manageable percentages undermined by subsistence-level incomes. With a $31,310 median household income, even affordable rents leave little room for other necessities.

Brooks County suits only specialized relocators

Brooks County's $487 monthly rent and $82,700 median home values are Texas's lowest, but the $31,310 median income signals severe economic hardship. Only those with independent income sources or strong job prospects in agriculture, energy, or border trade should consider relocation here.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

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

Health in Brooks County

via HealthByCounty

Brooks Faces Severe Health Crisis

Brooks County's life expectancy of 70.3 years ranks nearly 4 years below Texas's 74.3-year average, and 34.3% of residents report poor or fair health—the worst rate among all analyzed counties. The county faces a profound population health emergency.

State's Most Distressed County

Brooks County's 70.3-year life expectancy ranks at the bottom of Texas, and its 34.3% poor health rate is catastrophic. This combination signals systemic health failures requiring urgent, comprehensive intervention.

Crisis Unmatched in Region

Brooks's 70.3-year life expectancy and 34.3% poor health rate dramatically exceed all regional peers, including Briscoe's 30.1%. The county also lacks primary care provider data, compounding concerns about healthcare infrastructure and access.

Infrastructure and Access Gaps

Brooks County lacks documented primary care provider data while offering only 29 mental health providers per 100K—the region's lowest capacity. With 17.9% uninsured and 34.3% in poor health, residents face both coverage and infrastructure crises.

Immediate Action Required

Brooks County's health emergency demands action. If you're uninsured, visit healthcare.gov or call 211 to find coverage and connect with available health resources—every step toward care can help reverse this crisis.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Brooks County

via RiskByCounty

Brooks risk moderately exceeds national average

Brooks County's composite risk score of 60.81 ranks Relatively Low but sits 24% above the national average. This South Texas county faces above-average but manageable natural disaster exposure.

Above-average risk for Texas

Brooks's 60.81 score exceeds the Texas state average of 49.00 by 24%, placing it in the upper-middle tier of state risk. Hurricane threat drives much of this elevated exposure.

Moderate risk in South Texas context

Brooks (60.81) sits between safer inland counties like Briscoe (8.75) and riskier coastal neighbors like Brazoria (93.64). Its position near the Gulf puts it at elevated hurricane risk compared to central Texas peers.

Hurricanes dominate the hazard profile

Hurricane risk of 81.60 makes Brooks one of Texas's highest-threat counties for tropical systems, reflecting its South Texas Gulf proximity. Wildfire risk (60.08) presents a secondary concern; tornado, flood, and earthquake risks remain below state averages.

Hurricane and windstorm coverage essential

Brooks County residents should carry comprehensive windstorm/hail insurance and consider flood coverage despite lower flood risk scores. Storm shutters, reinforced roofing, and a family hurricane plan are critical investments for this hurricane-exposed county.

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.