With a composite score of 67.6, Deaf Smith County ranks in the 84th percentile nationally, well above the national median of 50.0. This Texas Panhandle county demonstrates strong overall livability foundations.
2 / 5
Among Texas' better counties
Deaf Smith County's score of 67.6 edges above the Texas state average of 66.8, placing it in the upper third of Texas counties. Despite its small size, it outperforms many larger urban and suburban peers.
3 / 5
Low taxes and excellent affordability
Deaf Smith County shines with a tax score of 63.7 and an effective tax rate of just 1.37%—the lowest among these eight counties. Cost score of 82.7 brings truly budget-friendly living: median home values of $116,000 and rent at $919/month.
4 / 5
Income levels remain modest
An income score of 18.7 reflects median household income of $54,114, indicating limited wage-earning opportunities. Data gaps on safety, health, schools, and water quality leave other livability dimensions unmeasured.
5 / 5
Perfect for tax-conscious rural dwellers
Deaf Smith County suits retirees, remote workers, and families who value low taxes, affordable housing, and a rural lifestyle. Those seeking diverse job markets, metropolitan amenities, or significantly higher incomes should consider counties closer to Texas' major cities.
With a composite score of 67.6, Deaf Smith County ranks in the 84th percentile nationally, well above the national median of 50.0. This Texas Panhandle county demonstrates strong overall livability foundations.
Among Texas' better counties
Deaf Smith County's score of 67.6 edges above the Texas state average of 66.8, placing it in the upper third of Texas counties. Despite its small size, it outperforms many larger urban and suburban peers.
Low taxes and excellent affordability
Deaf Smith County shines with a tax score of 63.7 and an effective tax rate of just 1.37%—the lowest among these eight counties. Cost score of 82.7 brings truly budget-friendly living: median home values of $116,000 and rent at $919/month.
Income levels remain modest
An income score of 18.7 reflects median household income of $54,114, indicating limited wage-earning opportunities. Data gaps on safety, health, schools, and water quality leave other livability dimensions unmeasured.
Perfect for tax-conscious rural dwellers
Deaf Smith County suits retirees, remote workers, and families who value low taxes, affordable housing, and a rural lifestyle. Those seeking diverse job markets, metropolitan amenities, or significantly higher incomes should consider counties closer to Texas' major cities.
Score breakdown
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🏛63.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Deaf Smith County's 1.37% effective tax rate exceeds the national median of 0.87% by 58%, placing it in the top 30% of U.S. counties. The typical property tax of $1,590 is below the national median of $2,690 only because homes here are significantly less valuable.
Middle-of-pack among Texas counties
Deaf Smith ranks 95th by effective tax rate among 254 Texas counties at 1.37%, modestly above the state average of 1.28%. The median tax bill of $1,590 reflects lower home values than the statewide median of $2,193.
Higher than most surrounding counties
Neighboring Dawson County at 1.73% is higher, but Dimmit (1.14%), Dickens (1.37%), and Randall counties tax property at similar or lower rates. Deaf Smith's position reflects its role as a regional hub in the Texas Panhandle.
Median home generates $1,590 tax
A Deaf Smith County home worth $116,000—the county median—results in $1,590 in annual property taxes at the 1.37% rate. With mortgage-related additions, total tax obligations reach $2,765.
Challenge your assessment if values rose
Property values in West Texas Panhandle counties can fluctuate with agricultural and energy markets, sometimes inflating assessments. Filing a tax protest with Deaf Smith County's appraisal district during the annual protest period could reveal overvaluation and lower your bill.
Deaf Smith County's rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% exceeds the national ideal but reflects a modest household income of $54,114—27% below the national median. Renters here face measurable housing pressure, though less acute than peers in high-cost metros.
Mid-range affordability in Texas
Deaf Smith County's 20.4% rent-to-income ratio places it slightly above Texas's 18.1% state average, indicating modest housing affordability challenges. The county's median rent of $919 sits close to the state median of $963, reflecting typical West Texas costs.
Competitive with surrounding counties
Deaf Smith County's $919 median rent falls between Dawson County ($873) and DeWitt County ($955), positioning it as a middle ground in the state. Despite a lower median income of $54,114, the county's rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% remains more manageable than nearby Dallas County at 23.8%.
Balanced housing costs
Deaf Smith households allocate $919 monthly for rent or $598 for mortgages on a median income of $54,114. Homeownership here costs roughly 35% less monthly than renting, creating a clear incentive for those able to purchase.
Deaf Smith for modest budgets
Moving to Deaf Smith County makes sense if you prioritize stable housing costs over high wages—rent at $919 consumes just over 20% of typical incomes. The county's lower homeownership costs offer a path to equity for buyers willing to relocate to West Texas.
Deaf Smith County's median household income of $54,114 trails the national median by 27.7%, placing it well below typical American household earnings. The county's per capita income of $24,087 reflects a regional economy centered on agriculture and lower-wage industries.
Ranks low among Texas counties
At $54,114, Deaf Smith County falls 16.5% below the Texas state average of $64,737, positioning it in the lower half of Texas counties by household income. Per capita earnings of $24,087 lag the state average of $33,197 by 27.4%.
Panhandle economic patterns
Deaf Smith County's income mirrors nearby Panhandle counties like Oldham and Parmer, all dependent on cattle ranching, grain production, and related agribusiness. The region's economies rise and fall with commodity prices and seasonal agricultural demand.
Housing costs remain manageable
The rent-to-income ratio of 20.4% sits just slightly above the healthy 20% threshold, meaning housing expenses consume a reasonable share of income. A median home value of $116,000 makes homeownership achievable for dual-income families despite lower overall earnings.
Agricultural workers can build wealth
Even in agricultural communities, establishing automatic transfers to savings accounts and exploring cooperative or farm-related investment opportunities can build equity over time. Those with land access may find wealth-building through agricultural enterprise or conservation programs.
Deaf Smith County's 74.2-year life expectancy matches the national average but masks a deeper crisis: 34.9% of residents report poor or fair health—nearly double the national rate. This disconnect reveals that while Deaf Smith residents reach average age, many live with chronic disease and disability.
High disease burden, low provider supply
Deaf Smith County's life expectancy slightly trails Texas's 74.3-year average, but its 34.9% poor/fair health rate towers above the state average, ranking among Texas's most health-stressed counties. The county's critical shortage of 11 primary care providers per 100,000 means residents cannot access the preventive care needed to reverse this trend.
West Texas health access desert
Deaf Smith's 74.2-year life expectancy and 34.9% poor/fair health rate place it among the most challenged in West Texas, below Dimmit (71.0 years) despite similar uninsured rates. With only 11 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, Deaf Smith mirrors the provider scarcity seen in Dawson, isolating residents from essential mental health care.
Extreme shortage of doctors and mental health
Deaf Smith County's 11 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 11 mental health providers per 100,000 represent a healthcare access crisis—families often drive 50+ miles for a routine checkup. The 22.7% uninsured rate worsens the situation, as uninsured residents postpone visits until emergencies arise.
Insurance is first step to care
With 22.7% of Deaf Smith County uninsured and severe provider shortages, health insurance becomes even more critical to access distant specialists and mental health care. Visit healthcare.gov or call 211 Texas to explore coverage options that can connect you to care outside the county when needed.
Deaf Smith County's composite risk score of 61.80 places it in the "Relatively Low" category, exceeding the national average but remaining below the most dangerous counties. This Panhandle region contends with concentrated hazards that demand targeted preparation.
Above Texas average but not extreme
With a score of 61.80, Deaf Smith County exceeds the Texas state average of 49.00, ranking among the state's mid-to-higher-risk counties. The Panhandle's geography and climate create distinct hazard patterns compared to the rest of Texas.
Wildfire risk ties Panhandle counties together
Deaf Smith (61.80) faces significantly higher wildfire risk (85.75) than nearby Dawson County (38.74) or Dimmit County (35.88). The county's agricultural landscape and proximity to grasslands make it part of a wildfire-prone regional corridor.
Wildfire and tornado drive exposure
Wildfire risk (85.75) and tornado risk (69.69) are Deaf Smith's dominant hazards, each far exceeding national typical values. Flood risk remains minimal at 13.14, but earthquake (38.77) and the complete absence of hurricane threat (0.00) round out the county's profile.
Prioritize wind and wildfire defenses
Homeowners insurance should explicitly cover wildfire damage and high wind; verify limits given the 85.75 wildfire score. Create and maintain defensible space by trimming trees, removing dead vegetation, and keeping roofing and gutters clear of debris.