CountyScore

Clinch County

Georgia · GA

#108 in Georgia
65.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Clinch County, Georgia

Clinch matches national performance

Clinch County's composite score of 70.9 sits 42% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 83rd percentile nationwide. The county ranks among the upper tier of U.S. counties for overall livability.

Right at Georgia's state average

With a score of 70.9, Clinch exactly matches Georgia's state average and represents the county cohort's typical performance. The county demonstrates balanced, representative livability for the state.

Highest housing affordability marks

Clinch County boasts the highest cost score of 89.6 among all profiled counties, with exceptional housing affordability featuring median rent at just $505/month and median home values of $86,300. This delivers unparalleled housing cost relief.

Tax and income levels lag moderately

The tax score of 63.0 and effective rate of 1.396% represent the highest tax burden in this group, while the income score of 19.7 reflects a median household income of $55,549. Safety, health, schools, and environmental data remain unavailable.

Perfect for retirees and remote workers

Clinch County suits fixed-income retirees, remote workers, and families with stable earnings seeking maximum affordability. The county's ultra-low housing costs offset higher tax rates, delivering excellent value for those with predictable income.

Score breakdown

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

Tax63Cost89.6SafetyComing SoonHealth47.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome19.7Risk79.3WaterComing Soon
🏛63
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼19.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤47.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡79.3
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 Clinch County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Jo Daviess County
Illinois
65.7
Median income: $74,954
Porter County
Indiana
65.7
Median income: $85,828
Osage County
Kansas
65.7
Median income: $70,216
Kenton County
Kentucky
65.7
Median income: $79,421
Somerset County
Maryland
65.7
Median income: $52,462

Deep Dives

Clinch County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Clinch County

via TaxByCounty

Clinch County's rates are exceptional

Clinch County's effective tax rate of 1.396% ranks in the 85th percentile nationally, far exceeding the national median of 0.84%. Despite median home values of only $86,300, this aggressive rate produces a median tax bill of $1,205—a heavy burden on rural property owners.

Georgia's highest tax rate county

At 1.396%, Clinch County's effective rate is the highest among all Georgia counties examined, towering above the state average of 0.898%. The median property tax of $1,205 exceeds Georgia's state median of $1,529 proportionally to the county's extremely high rate, creating significant financial pressure on residents.

Clinch far exceeds all regional peers

Clinch County's 1.396% rate dramatically outpaces every neighboring county examined, including Clay (1.044%), Chattahoochee (0.990%), and Chattooga (0.855%). Rural Clinch residents face tax rates nearly 40% higher than their neighbors, despite living in homes worth less than the regional average.

Heavy tax burden on modest homes

A Clinch County homeowner with the median property value of $86,300 pays approximately $1,205 in annual property taxes. With mortgage and insurance considerations, that figure climbs to around $1,468 per year.

Appeal now to reduce burden

Clinch County's extraordinarily high tax rate makes aggressive assessment challenges essential for residents. Documenting comparable sales, getting an independent appraisal, and filing a formal appeal with the Clinch County assessor are critical steps to potentially lower one of Georgia's heaviest property tax burdens.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Clinch County

via CostByCounty

Clinch County rent: the lowest of all

Clinch County's 10.9% rent-to-income ratio is among America's most affordable, less than half the U.S. average of roughly 21%. At just $505 monthly rent on a $55,549 median household income, residents here enjoy extraordinary housing relief.

Georgia's second-most affordable rental market

Clinch County's 10.9% rent-to-income ratio nearly ties Clay County (14.2%) as Georgia's most affordable, vastly below the state average of 18.6%. Median rent of $505 ranks lowest in this eight-county comparison, delivering unmatched renter value in rural southeast Georgia.

Clinch vs. peers: extreme affordability

At $505 monthly, Clinch rents undercut all regional peers—even beating Clay's $578—while earning more than Clay residents. The $86,300 median home value ranks among the region's most affordable, creating genuine purchase opportunities for modest-income buyers.

Housing costs: barely a budget line

Renters spend just 10.9% of income on rent, an exceptional benchmark that leaves over 89% for savings, food, and other needs. Homeowners dedicate 14.3% to ownership, so both renting and buying remain within reach for working families.

Clinch County: Georgia's hidden gem.

If housing affordability is your top priority, Clinch County offers the state's rarest combination: lowest rents and strong purchasing power. Rural south Georgia demands acceptance of isolation, but residents who can work remotely find unmatched financial freedom here.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Clinch County

via IncomeByCounty

Clinch earns 26% less than U.S. median

Clinch County's median household income of $55,549 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by $19,206, or 26%. This gap is typical of rural southeastern counties, reflecting limited job diversity and lower wage scales in small-town economies.

Below Georgia's average but stable

Clinch's $55,549 median falls $4,939 below Georgia's state average of $60,488, placing it in the lower-middle tier of Georgia counties. Per capita income of $24,906 is notably lower than Georgia's $31,115 average, indicating concentrated earnings among fewer workers.

Mid-tier earnings in rural cluster

Clinch ranks fourth among the eight counties studied, exceeding Chattooga ($47,785), Clay ($48,715), Clarke ($52,267), and Chattahoochee ($59,221), but trailing Chatham ($69,575) and dramatically lagging Cherokee ($105,442). The position reflects Clinch's rural character with limited urban economic anchors.

Exceptional housing affordability

Clinch's rent-to-income ratio of 10.9% is the lowest in any county studied, meaning renters spend just one-tenth of earnings on housing. The median home value of $86,300 is remarkably affordable, requiring less than 1.6 years of gross income—among the most attainable home prices in the region.

Homeownership as primary wealth strategy

Clinch County households have an extraordinary advantage: the median home price of $86,300 requires only modest savings to achieve ownership. With disciplined monthly savings, families can accumulate down payments in 3-5 years, then build wealth through home equity appreciation and mortgage paydown.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Clinch County

via HealthByCounty

Clinch County faces severe health crisis

At 69.8 years, Clinch County residents live more than 6 years less than the U.S. average of 76.1 years—a dramatic health gap. With 28.2% reporting poor or fair health, Clinch faces one of the nation's highest health burdens.

Georgia's most struggling county

Clinch's 69.8-year life expectancy falls 3.5 years below Georgia's 73.3-year average—among the state's lowest. The county's 28.2% poor/fair health rate is the highest in this dataset, reflecting severe and systemic health challenges.

A regional health emergency

Clinch's 69.8 years trails every other county in this analysis, including struggling Chattooga (70.6 years) and Clay (72.6 years). With just 15 primary care providers and 15 mental health providers per 100K, Clinch has virtually no healthcare infrastructure.

Uninsured and medically abandoned

Clinch County's 18.5% uninsured rate—the highest in this data—means nearly 1 in 5 residents lack coverage and access. With only 15 primary care providers per 100K, residents often drive hours for basic care, creating a healthcare desert.

Get covered now—it's urgent

Clinch County's 18.5% uninsured rate demands immediate action: uninsured residents face medical debt, delayed care, and worse health outcomes. Visit healthcare.gov today; Clinch residents may qualify for substantial subsidies and Medicaid expansion coverage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Clinch County

via RiskByCounty

Clinch enjoys very low overall risk

Clinch County's composite risk score of 20.74 places it well below the national average with a very low risk rating, indicating minimal exposure to most natural hazards. Tornado (29.93), earthquake (36.10), and flood (29.04) risks are all low, while wildfire risk (54.17) is moderate but manageable. Hurricane risk (82.27) stands out but reflects distant tropical impacts rather than coastal vulnerability.

Georgia's safest inland county

Clinch's 20.74 composite score ranks it third safest in Georgia, behind only Chattahoochee (2.04) and Clay (8.46), roughly half the state average of 39.49. The county's flood, tornado, and earthquake risks are all well below state averages. Clinch's southeastern location and rural character create an exceptionally stable natural hazard environment.

Safest in rural southeast Georgia

Clinch's 20.74 score trails only the ultra-low-risk Chattahoochee (2.04) and Clay (8.46) in its broader region, sitting well below Chattooga (54.36) and all metro counties. Within southeastern Georgia's rural profile, Clinch ranks among the safest locations. This geographic advantage reflects the county's isolation from major urban hazard zones and metropolitan flooding corridors.

Hurricane is the only significant hazard

Hurricane risk (82.27) is Clinch's sole elevated concern, reflecting distant tropical storm impacts rather than direct coastal vulnerability; the county lies 150+ miles inland from the Atlantic. Tornado (29.93), flood (29.04), and earthquake (36.10) risks are all minimal. Residents face an unusually benign natural hazard environment for most practical planning.

Standard coverage handles most risks

Standard homeowners insurance at competitive rates provides adequate protection for Clinch properties, given the county's minimal flood, tornado, and earthquake exposure. Flood insurance is optional unless you own property in a mapped floodplain—check FEMA maps to confirm. The county's very low overall risk profile means insurance costs can reflect the region's true safety status, freeing resources for other investments.

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.