CountyScore

Dallam County

Texas · TX

#206 in Texas
57.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Dallam County, Texas

Solid Above National Median

Dallam County's composite score of 64.6 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by 29%, placing it in the upper-middle range of U.S. counties. This respectable performance reflects accessible housing and moderate tax burdens.

Slightly Below Texas Average

At 64.6, Dallam County ranks just below Texas's average of 66.8, placing it in the lower-middle tier of Texas counties. It's a middle-of-the-road option within the state.

Balanced Affordability and Income

Dallam County scores 75.8 on cost with median rents of $1,074/month and homes at $140,500, while median household income of $72,332 is respectable. An effective tax rate of 1.470% keeps overall costs manageable for working families.

Income Score Could Be Higher

The income score of 30.6, while not the lowest in this group, still suggests room for wage growth and better employment opportunities. Critical data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unmeasured, limiting full livability assessment.

Good Fit for Balanced-Lifestyle Families

Dallam County suits working families seeking a middle ground between affordability and reasonable incomes, without extreme trade-offs. It's appealing to those comfortable with rural or small-town living and modest employment prospects.

Score breakdown

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

Tax60.9Cost75.8SafetyComing SoonHealth41.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome30.6Risk48.9WaterComing Soon
🏛60.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠75.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼30.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤41.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡48.9
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 Dallam County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Chautauqua County
New York
57.5
Median income: $56,507
Cortland County
New York
57.5
Median income: $67,527
Plymouth County
Massachusetts
57.6
Median income: $109,698
Chemung County
New York
57.4
Median income: $63,469
Steuben County
New York
57.4
Median income: $64,740

Deep Dives

Dallam County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Dallam County

via TaxByCounty

Dallam's rate exceeds national median

Dallam County's effective tax rate of 1.470% runs above the national median of 1.29%, placing it in the higher-taxed half of American counties. The median property tax of $2,065 on a $140,500 median home falls below the national median tax of $2,690, reflecting lower property values.

Above Texas average, notable burden

Dallam County's 1.470% effective rate significantly exceeds Texas's state average of 1.276%, ranking it among the state's higher-rate counties. The median tax of $2,065 falls just below the state median of $2,193, indicating a moderate-to-high tax burden.

Dallam ranks high in regional cluster

Dallam County's 1.470% rate exceeds most regional neighbors, surpassed only by Crosby County's 1.782%. Its $2,065 median tax is among the higher values in the comparison group, reflecting aggressive rate setting.

Dallam homeowners pay $2,065 median

A median-value home in Dallam County at $140,500 generates approximately $2,065 in annual property taxes at the 1.470% rate. With a mortgage, lenders typically escrow $2,762 annually for property taxes and related costs.

Challenge assessments in Dallam County

Dallam County's above-average rate makes assessment accuracy especially important—homeowners should verify valuations against recent market comparables. Filing a tax appeal is free and can yield significant savings if your property is overassessed.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Dallam County

via CostByCounty

Dallam's affordability near national norms

Dallam County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% aligns closely with U.S. housing affordability patterns, positioning it just below the national median household income benchmark of $74,755. Renters here maintain affordability similar to typical American households across the country.

Slightly better than Texas average affordability

At 17.8%, Dallam County's rent-to-income ratio performs marginally better than Texas's state average of 18.1%, placing it in the more affordable half of Texas counties. The median rent of $1,074 is 11.5% above the state average, but household income of $72,332 provides proportional support.

Mid-range affordability in the panhandle

Dallam's median rent of $1,074 exceeds rural affordability leaders like Cottle ($323) and Crockett ($585), but remains below growing communities like Coryell ($1,120). This positions Dallam as a moderate option balancing rural character with reasonable housing access.

Balanced housing costs in Dallam

With a median household income of $72,332, Dallam County residents managing $1,074 in monthly rent dedicate 17.8% of gross income to housing. Owner costs of $857 per month consume about 14.2% of household income, creating manageable affordability for both renters and homebuyers.

Dallam offers panhandle affordability balance

Relocating to Dallam County in the Texas Panhandle provides competitive housing affordability with a median home value of $140,500 and rent-to-income ratios near national norms. Compare with neighboring Culberson County to understand how household income dramatically affects affordability in this region.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Dallam County

via IncomeByCounty

Dallam County nearly matches U.S. income levels

At $72,332, Dallam County's median household income runs virtually even with the U.S. median of $74,755, just 3% below. This strong national positioning reflects economic stability rooted in agriculture, ranching, and energy sectors.

Solid above-average Texas earner

Dallam County's $72,332 median income exceeds the Texas state median of $64,737 by 12%, ranking it among the state's stronger-earning counties. However, per capita income of $27,774 falls short of the state average of $33,197, suggesting concentrated household earnings.

Competitive with upper-tier regional counties

Dallam County's $72,332 median income ranks nearly equal to nearby Cooke ($72,472) and exceeds most other regional peers including Coryell ($68,904) and Cottle ($58,819). This strong positioning reflects Panhandle economic resilience.

Housing costs stay manageable

At 17.8% of income, Dallam County residents maintain healthy housing affordability well below the concerning 30% threshold. Median home values of $140,500 remain accessible for median-income households, allowing room for savings and financial planning.

Build wealth on stable economic foundation

With above-average income and manageable housing costs, Dallam County households have meaningful capacity for wealth-building through homeownership, retirement savings, and investments. Maximize employer benefits, establish diversified investments, and plan strategically for long-term financial security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Dallam County

via HealthByCounty

Dallam County life expectancy among lowest in nation

At 70.4 years, Dallam County residents live 4.3 years shorter than the U.S. average of 74.7 years—one of the lowest life expectancies in the country. A quarter of residents (25.1%) report poor or fair health, indicating severe, widespread chronic disease.

Critical health crisis in the Panhandle

Dallam County's 70.4-year life expectancy falls nearly 4 years below Texas's state average of 74.3 years, ranking among the lowest in the state. The 25.1% poor/fair health rate underscores urgent need for preventive care and disease management infrastructure.

Among the sickest counties in the region

Dallam County's 70.4-year life expectancy ranks second-lowest in this eight-county analysis, above only Crosby County (69.3 years). The 28.0% uninsured rate—highest in the region—severely limits residents' ability to access the abundant primary care providers (84 per 100,000).

Highest uninsured rate despite strong provider supply

Dallam County boasts the highest primary care provider density in the analysis at 84 per 100,000, yet 28.0% of residents lack any health insurance—the worst rate in the eight-county group. Mental health providers number 42 per 100,000, offering some behavioral health capacity that remains largely inaccessible to uninsured residents.

Close coverage gap immediately

More than 1 in 4 Dallam County residents lack health insurance, the highest rate in this analysis, despite excellent primary care availability. Visit Healthcare.gov or contact a local health navigator today to explore Medicaid, Marketplace subsidies, or charity programs—strong providers are available if you have coverage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Dallam County

via RiskByCounty

Dallam County faces moderate disaster risk

Dallam County's composite risk score of 51.15 places it in the "Relatively Low" category and slightly above the national average. This modest elevation reflects concentrated wildfire and tornado exposure in the Texas Panhandle.

Above-average risk for Texas overall

Dallam County's score of 51.15 exceeds Texas's state average of 49.00 by 4%, positioning it in the upper-middle tier of Texas hazard exposure. The county experiences notably higher wildfire and tornado risks than the state norm.

Riskier than most surveyed West Texas counties

Dallam County (51.15) carries higher composite risk than Culberson County (11.64), Crane County (1.15), and Crockett County (5.82), but less than Cooke County (73.31). Its Panhandle location drives elevated wildfire and tornado exposure.

Wildfire and tornado dominate hazard profile

Wildfire risk at 74.55 and tornado risk at 35.97 represent Dallam County's primary threats; earthquake (34.29) and flood (14.95) risks remain secondary. Hurricane data is not available for this region.

Comprehensive storm and fire preparation needed

Dallam County residents should prioritize defensible space, vegetation management, and tornado shelter access. Standard homeowners and flood insurance, supplemented by wildfire coverage, provides essential multi-hazard protection.

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.