CountyScore

Bullock County

Alabama · AL

#25 in Alabama
71.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Bullock County, Alabama

Bullock ranks in America's top livability tier

Bullock's composite score of 71.5 is 43% above the national median of 50.0, positioning it solidly in the upper tier of U.S. counties. This rural community delivers strong value across multiple livability dimensions.

Edges out Alabama's state average

Bullock scores 71.5 compared to Alabama's state average of 70.8, giving it a narrow lead among state peers. The county ranks among Alabama's strongest performers for overall livability.

Unbeatable affordability and tax relief

Bullock delivers exceptional value with a cost score of 88.6—among the highest in this group—paired with median rent of $635 and median home values of just $79,400. The tax score of 91.3 with an effective rate of 0.389% provides additional financial relief.

Severe income and health limitations

Bullock faces critical challenges with an income score of just 7.4 and median household income of only $36,723—the lowest in this group. Health outcomes at 49.0 and a risk score of 74.8 suggest significant structural challenges in healthcare access and economic stability.

Suited for fixed-income retirees only

Bullock's extremely low costs make it attractive only to those with secure pensions, Social Security, or remote income sources. This is Alabama's most economically challenged county in this group, best suited for minimalists or retirees.

Score breakdown

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

Tax91.3Cost88.6SafetyComing SoonHealth49SchoolsComing SoonIncome7.4Risk74.8WaterComing Soon
🏛91.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠88.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼7.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤49
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡74.8
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 Bullock County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Cherokee County
Alabama
71.5
Median income: $50,769
Bradley County
Arkansas
71.5
Median income: $39,565
Franklin County
Arkansas
71.5
Median income: $51,919
Fulton County
Arkansas
71.5
Median income: $38,941
Ouachita County
Arkansas
71.5
Median income: $49,838

Deep Dives

Bullock County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Bullock County

via TaxByCounty

Bullock's highest rate yields modest dollars

Bullock County has the highest effective tax rate in this group at 0.389%, yet residents pay just $309 annually on a $79,400 median home. This illustrates how low property values amplify the rate-burden disconnect: the rate is steep, but the actual dollars remain far below the national median of $2,690.

Alabama's highest property tax rate

Bullock County's 0.389% effective rate is the highest among Alabama's 67 counties, significantly exceeding the state average of 0.339%. Despite this elevated rate, the county's $309 median tax remains below the state median of $511 due to exceptionally low home values.

Steepest rate in rural east-central Alabama

Bullock's 0.389% rate far exceeds neighboring Barbour County's 0.378% and is well above the regional average. The county's $79,400 median home value represents the lowest in this group, reflecting the rural agricultural character of the area.

Budget around $309 on Bullock's median home

A homeowner with Bullock's $79,400 median-value property pays approximately $309 annually in property taxes. Those paying via mortgage see roughly $417 in annual escrow, while debt-free homeowners pay about $204.

Higher rates make appeals especially worthwhile

With Alabama's highest property tax rate, Bullock homeowners should prioritize assessment reviews—even small reductions yield meaningful savings. If your property's assessed value hasn't been updated to reflect the rural market's reality, an appeal could substantially lower your tax burden.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Bullock County

via CostByCounty

Bullock's affordability masks income challenges

Renters in Bullock County spend 20.8% of their income on housing, exceeding both the national average of 18% and Alabama's state average of 18%. The county's median household income of $36,723 is the lowest in this eight-county group, making cost-of-living pressures acute despite low absolute rent levels.

Severely challenged housing-income balance

Bullock County ranks among Alabama's least affordable counties, with the state's lowest median household incomes paired with a above-average rent-to-income ratio of 20.8%. The county faces structural economic disadvantages that housing costs alone cannot address.

Cheapest rents but poorest incomes

Bullock's median rent of $635 ties as second-lowest in this group, undercutting only Barbour County's $644 and rivaling Barbour's $109,900 median home value of $79,400. Despite rock-bottom housing costs, the county's $36,723 median income creates the most strained affordability ratio.

Low costs mask severe income deficiency

Renters pay just $635 monthly and homeowners $563 from a median income of only $36,723, a situation where housing costs actually consume 20.8% of budgets. This means even cheap housing strains tight household finances, leaving limited resources for food, healthcare, and other necessities.

Bullock requires strong independent income

Bullock County's $635 rent and $79,400 median home values are the cheapest around, but only consider relocating if your income significantly exceeds the county's $36,723 median. Remote workers or retirees with steady external income will thrive here; local job-seekers should prioritize counties with stronger wage opportunities.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Bullock County

via IncomeByCounty

Bullock faces severe income disadvantage nationally

Bullock County's median household income of $36,723 falls $38,032 below the national median of $74,755—a devastating 51% gap placing it among America's poorest counties. This extreme shortfall reflects decades of economic decline and severely limited employment opportunities in rural eastern Alabama.

Alabama's lowest income county analyzed

Bullock's $36,723 median household income represents 32% below Alabama's already-struggling state average of $54,196, making it the most economically distressed county in this analysis. Structural poverty, population decline, and limited economic infrastructure create ongoing hardship for residents.

Most struggling among regional peer group

Bullock's $36,723 income falls significantly below all comparison counties, including similarly rural Barbour ($44,290) and Butler ($44,881). The county faces the steepest economic challenges in this regional grouping, with household earnings barely half those of prosperous Baldwin County.

Low rents stretch thin paycheck dollars

Though Bullock's rent-to-income ratio of 20.8% slightly exceeds the affordability threshold and median home values of $79,400 are rock-bottom, the underlying income crisis remains acute. Many households cannot afford stable housing, food, and healthcare simultaneously despite low nominal housing costs.

Seek support resources, build emergency reserves first

Bullock households earning $36,723 face genuine survival-mode economics requiring immediate focus on emergency assistance and income stability before traditional wealth-building. Federal and state anti-poverty resources, workforce development programs, and basic financial literacy form the necessary foundation before considering investment strategies.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Bullock County

via HealthByCounty

Bullock faces Alabama's lowest life expectancy

At 71.0 years, Bullock residents live 2.4 years less than the U.S. average of 73.4 years—among the lowest in the nation. Nearly 35% of adults report poor or fair health, nearly double the national rate and signaling severe chronic disease, poverty, or healthcare access crises.

Struggling most among Alabama counties

Bullock's 71.0-year life expectancy is the lowest in Alabama, trailing the state average of 72.1 years by 1.1 years, with 34.9% in poor/fair health. The 11.4% uninsured rate approaches the state average, but with extremely limited providers, even insured residents struggle to find care.

Severe disparities compared to adjacent counties

Bullock's 71.0-year life expectancy lags Russell, Macon, and Pike counties significantly, and the 34.9% poor/fair health rate is alarming. With just 19 primary care and 20 mental health providers per 100K, Bullock has the sparsest provider network in east-central Alabama.

Healthcare access crisis across the county

Bullock's critical provider shortage—just 19 primary care and 20 mental health providers per 100K—forces residents to travel long distances for basic care. With 11.4% uninsured and chronic disease rates at 34.9%, many residents lack both coverage and accessible facilities, creating compounding health emergencies.

Get covered and access critical health services

Bullock County faces a healthcare crisis: 11.4% uninsured and only 19 primary care providers per 100K create barriers to lifesaving care. Enroll in Alabama Medicaid or a Marketplace plan at Healthcare.gov immediately; coverage is your gateway to the few providers available and protection against catastrophic medical costs.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Bullock County

via RiskByCounty

Bullock ranks among America's safest

Bullock County's composite risk score of 25.25 places it in the Very Low category—among the safest counties nationally. This east-central Alabama location avoids cumulative hazard exposure that affects other regions.

Alabama's lowest-risk county

Bullock's 25.25 score sits far below Alabama's state average of 61.54, making it the state's safest county overall. The difference of 36.29 points reflects its fortunate geographic position away from multiple hazard sources.

Bullock's exceptional safety stands out

Bullock (25.25) is dramatically safer than neighbors Barbour (48.12), Autauga (57.57), and Bibb (39.12), offering Alabama's most stable disaster profile. This central-eastern location protects against both coastal and seismic hazards.

Hurricane risk is primary concern

Hurricane risk of 76.18 is Bullock's leading hazard despite inland location, though this represents tropical system residual effects rather than direct exposure. All other risks—flood (20.17), tornado (56.74), earthquake (45.48)—rank well below state averages.

Basic coverage provides ample protection

Bullock homeowners can rely on standard homeowners insurance without specialized additions in most cases. Wind and hail coverage remains prudent as a general precaution, and flood insurance is optional for those outside mapped floodplains.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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