CountyScore

Cleburne County

Alabama · AL

#6 in Alabama
74.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Cleburne County, Alabama

Cleburne County ranks in nation's top quartile

Cleburne County's composite score of 74.5 places it in the 74th percentile nationally, well above the U.S. median of 50.0. This strong performance reflects consistent excellence across taxes, housing affordability, and risk resilience.

Second-strongest performer in Alabama cohort

Scoring 74.5 versus Alabama's state average of 70.8, Cleburne County ranks among the state's top performers, trailing only Clay County (76.5) in this group. The 3.7-point advantage over state average reflects its balanced strengths across multiple dimensions.

Risk, taxes, and balance create winning formula

Cleburne County's risk score of 72.5 ranks second only to Clay County, signaling exceptional resilience and stability. Its effective tax rate of 0.289% combined with median housing costs of $792/month and home values of $144,200 create a fiscally sound, secure environment.

Income growth potential remains constrained

Median household income of $53,319 (score: 18.2) ranks in the middle of this group, offering limited upside for wage advancement. Health scores of 59.4 are respectable but not exceptional, suggesting room for expanded healthcare access or wellness initiatives.

Excellent for stability-seeking families and workers

Cleburne County suits families and workers seeking a stable, affordable home base with strong risk protection and reasonable taxes. The county's second-place overall ranking and balanced profile make it an attractive option for those wanting security and cost efficiency without sacrificing walkable community infrastructure.

Score breakdown

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

Tax94.1Cost85.6SafetyComing SoonHealth59.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome18.2Risk72.5WaterComing Soon
🏛94.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠85.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼18.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤59.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡72.5
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 Cleburne County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Gilpin County
Colorado
74.5
Median income: $88,654
Custer County
Idaho
74.5
Median income: $56,957
Lewis County
Idaho
74.5
Median income: $49,643
Franklin County
Indiana
74.5
Median income: $79,702
Posey County
Indiana
74.5
Median income: $79,124

Deep Dives

Cleburne County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Cleburne County

via TaxByCounty

Cleburne taxes rank among lowest nationally

Cleburne County's 0.289% effective rate places it in the bottom 6% nationally, with homeowners paying just $417 annually compared to the U.S. median of $2,690. This means Cleburne residents pay less than one-sixth the national property tax burden.

Below Alabama's state average rate

At 0.289%, Cleburne County sits below Alabama's state average of 0.339%, ranking in the lower-middle tier among state counties. The county's median tax of $417 is $94 less than Alabama's median of $511.

Mid-range for east-central Alabama

Cleburne's 0.289% rate sits between Clay County's 0.225% and Chilton County's 0.336%, reflecting moderate variation across the region. Compared to higher-tax neighbors like Cherokee at 0.388%, Cleburne offers meaningful savings.

Median tax of $417 per year

On Cleburne County's median home value of $144,200, homeowners pay approximately $417 annually in property taxes. With mortgage escrow factored in, the total reaches $508—a manageable expense for most residents.

Appeal overvalued assessments today

Cleburne County homeowners should review their assessments for potential overvaluation, which is common throughout Alabama. The county's free appeal process can help reduce your tax bill if your home is assessed above fair market value.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Cleburne County

via CostByCounty

Cleburne balances income and rental costs well

Cleburne County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% sits just below Alabama's state average of 18.0% and well below the national norm, with a median household income of $53,319 and monthly rent of $792. The county offers solid affordability for a mid-income Alabama community.

Slightly better than Alabama average affordability

Cleburne County's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio edges below the state average of 18.0%, ranking it among Alabama's more affordable counties. Median rent of $792 sits just below the state average of $799, combining modest costs with reasonable regional incomes.

Mid-range costs with solid income base

Cleburne's $792 rent falls between Cherokee ($750) and Chilton ($855), while its $53,319 median income provides a strong earnings foundation compared to rural peers. The 17.8% rent-to-income ratio reflects this balanced positioning within the region.

Reasonable housing burden for regional standard

Monthly rent of $792 consumes 17.8% of Cleburne's $53,319 median household income, while homeownership averages $563 per month on $144,200-valued homes. Total housing costs represent roughly 24–25% of income—solidly within the comfortable range.

Cleburne balances cost and income opportunity

Choose Cleburne County if you want mid-range housing costs ($792 rent, $563 ownership) paired with income potential near $53,000. Its 17.8% rent-to-income ratio outperforms Chambers and Clarke while remaining stable against state benchmarks.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Cleburne County

via IncomeByCounty

Cleburne County earns 29% below national median

Cleburne County's median household income of $53,319 trails the national median of $74,755 by $21,436, placing it in the lower-income band nationally. Per capita income of $29,569 approximates Alabama's state average of $29,701, reflecting typical rural income distribution.

Nearly matches Alabama's statewide average

At $53,319, Cleburne County sits just 2% below Alabama's state median of $54,196, ranking it solidly in the middle of the state's 67 counties. Per capita income of $29,569 practically equals the state average, indicating balanced wealth distribution.

Mid-range income in northeast Alabama cluster

Cleburne County's $53,319 sits between Clay County ($51,852) and Chilton County ($61,873), part of a five-county northeast Alabama region with $50,000–$62,000 incomes. The county's position reflects moderate economic strength for rural Alabama.

Housing costs stay comfortably affordable

Cleburne County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% lies well below the 30% affordability ceiling, leaving meaningful income for other household needs. Median home values of $144,200 remain accessible to households earning the county median income.

Solid income supports disciplined investing

On $53,319 annually, Cleburne County residents can comfortably save 3–6 months of expenses, then allocate 12–15% to retirement accounts. Start with employer 401(k) matching, then maximize Roth IRA contributions for tax-free long-term growth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Cleburne County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy matches Alabama average

Cleburne County residents live to 72.1 years—matching Alabama's state average but 5.3 years below the U.S. average of 77.4 years. With 23.1% reporting poor or fair health, the county faces moderate health challenges.

Exactly at state health average

Cleburne County's 72.1-year life expectancy matches Alabama's state average exactly, placing it squarely in the middle of statewide rankings. Its 23.1% poor/fair health rate is slightly better than the state median.

Moderate performance regionally

Cleburne's 72.1-year life expectancy trails Choctaw (73.1), Cherokee (72.4), and Chilton (72.7), but exceeds Chambers (71.9) and Clay (71.8). Its mental health provider density of 45 per 100,000 is respectable but below leading counties like Chilton (84) and Coffee (110).

Balanced coverage, provider gaps persist

Cleburne's 12.4% uninsured rate is near the regional average, but the county struggles with only 27 primary care providers per 100,000 residents. Residents often must travel significant distances for routine care.

Close insurance gaps in Cleburne

With 12.4% uninsured, Cleburne families are missing preventive care opportunities that could improve the 23.1% poor/fair health rate. Visit healthcare.gov to find affordable plans and bring care closer to home.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Cleburne County

via RiskByCounty

Cleburne County Among Safest in America

Cleburne County's composite score of 27.48 places it in the Very Low risk category, substantially below the national average. Residents benefit from exceptional protection across multiple natural disaster hazard types.

Alabama's Lowest-Risk County Tier

At 27.48, Cleburne County ranks as Alabama's safest county, far below the state average of 61.54. This distinction reflects consistently low exposure across flood, wildfire, tornado, and earthquake hazards.

Safest County in East-Central Alabama

Cleburne County's 27.48 score makes it notably safer than neighboring Clay County (26.69), Chilton County (54.71), and Cherokee County (63.33). Its geographic position provides natural protection from most major natural disaster hazards.

Tornado Risk Tops Cleburne's Limited Threats

Tornado risk (70.04) represents Cleburne County's highest hazard, though it remains below state average levels. Wildfire risk (67.27) and hurricane risk (65.42) present secondary concerns, all moderate compared to regional and national benchmarks.

Standard Insurance Provides Adequate Protection

Cleburne County homeowners typically need only basic homeowners insurance to address your county's minimal natural disaster risks. Consider standard wind coverage for tornado protection, but your exceptional safety profile means comprehensive specialized policies aren't typically necessary.

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.