countyscore
60.3
County Score
Safety 97.5Disaster Risk 86.4Water Quality 86

County Report Card

About Dickens County, Texas

Dickens County outperforms the national median

Dickens County earns an impressive composite score of 60.3, placing it well above the national median of 50.0. This high ranking is driven by exceptional safety and affordability.

One of the top-performing Texas counties

The county's 60.3 score far exceeds the Texas state average of 41.9. It represents one of the more livable rural areas in the state according to the CountyScore index.

Unmatched safety and housing value

Dickens County shines with a safety score of 97.5 and a cost score of 84.7. Median home values are just $65,000, and the water score is an excellent 86.0.

Low income levels and health scores

The income score is low at 15.4, reflecting a median household income of $50,417. Health infrastructure also lags with a score of 19.6, a common challenge in rural areas.

Ideal for retirees or remote workers

Dickens County is a haven for those seeking peace, safety, and rock-bottom living costs. It is best suited for those who don't rely on high-paying local jobs.

2040608010018.484.797.519.665.915.486.48648.8Tax18.4Cost84.7Safety97.5Health19.6Schools65.9Income15.4Risk86.4Water86Weather48.860.3/100
This county
National avg
5 above average3 below average

Dickens County DNA

Doverall

How Dickens County compares to the national average across 9 dimensions

Dickens County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Safety (97.5/100) but notably weak in Income (15.4/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
18.4-33.6
Cost
84.7+36.7
Safety
97.5+42.5
Health
19.6-30.4
Schools
65.9+11.900000000000006
Income
15.4-35.6
Risk
86.4+39.400000000000006
Water
86+28
Weather
48.8
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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$65,000

National median: $174,650

Median Rent

$753/mo

National median: $854/mo

Income Needed (home)

$65,000/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$30,120/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum1.3x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $50,417/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Nearby counties

Crosby County
Texas
52.9
King County
Texas
65.5
Motley County
Texas
50.4
Kent County
Texas
61.4
Garza County
Texas
46.6
Stonewall County
Texas
57.6
Floyd County
Texas
49.5
Cottle County
Texas
61.5

Deep Dives

Dickens County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 11 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Dickens County

via TaxByCounty

Dickens's rate exceeds national by 57%

Dickens County's 1.37% effective tax rate is 57% above the national median of 0.87%, placing it in the top 30% of U.S. counties by tax burden. However, the median property tax of $888 remains modest because homes are significantly less valuable than the national median of $281,900.

Middle tier among Texas counties

Dickens County 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 $888 is far below the statewide median of $2,193 due to low home values in this rural West Texas county.

Highest tax rate in West Texas region

Dickens County's 1.37% rate exceeds neighboring Dimmit (1.14%), Deaf Smith (1.37%), and Dawson (1.73%) in a mixed comparison across the region. This reflects Dickens's role as a small rural hub serving ranching and agricultural communities.

Modest homes, modest tax bills

The typical Dickens County home valued at $65,000 generates $888 in annual property taxes at the 1.37% rate. With mortgage-related costs factored in, total annual obligations reach $1,700.

Rural properties warrant fair appraisals

Rural county assessments sometimes undervalue comparable ranch and farm properties or fail to account for specific land conditions, creating appeal opportunities. Dickens County homeowners should request an appraisal review if their property's assessed value seems inconsistent with neighboring similar properties.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Dickens County

via CostByCounty

Dickens offers Texas's deepest affordability

Dickens County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.9% beats the national norm significantly, achieved through ultra-low rents of $753 on a median income of $50,417. This High Plains county represents rare affordability: renters spend roughly one-fifth of income on housing.

Texas's most affordable living

Dickens County ranks among Texas's most affordable with a 17.9% rent-to-income ratio matching DeWitt County and edging below the state average of 18.1%. Its median rent of $753 represents some of the lowest in the state, paired with correspondingly low incomes of $50,417.

High Plains affordability extreme

Dickens County's $753 median rent and $50,417 median income place it among the state's most economical, comparable to Dimmit County ($753 rent) but with higher relative incomes. The county's median home value of just $65,000 creates genuine pathways to ownership for rural Texans.

Budget living in rural Texas

Dickens County renters pay $753 monthly while homeowners spend $495, both among Texas's lowest absolute costs. On a median income of $50,417, housing consumes 17.9% for renters and just 11.8% for owners—exceptional ratios reflecting genuine affordability.

Dickens County: maximum affordability

Move to Dickens County for the state's lowest housing costs—rent under $800 and homeownership near $500 monthly. You'll trade urban job markets and services for unmatched affordability and a median home value of just $65,000.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Dickens County

via IncomeByCounty

Dickens County severely underearns

Dickens County's median household income of $50,417 falls 32.5% below the national median of $74,755, placing it among America's lowest-earning counties. Despite a per capita income of $31,451 that nearly matches the national per capita, household earnings lag significantly.

Ranks lowest in this analysis

At $50,417, Dickens County falls 22.1% below the Texas state average of $64,737, ranking as the lowest-earning county in this eight-county analysis. Its per capita income of $31,451 exceeds the state average of $33,197—a rare case where per capita income doesn't track household earnings.

Panhandle economic struggle

Dickens County's low household income reflects the challenges facing rural Panhandle counties dependent on ranching and agriculture during economic downturns. The county's isolation and small population limit employer diversity and wage competition.

Housing costs remain minimal

Dickens County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.9% ranks among the healthiest in the analysis, with a median home value of just $65,000 making homeownership extremely affordable. Low housing costs provide crucial breathing room for financially stretched households.

Every dollar saved matters

In Dickens County, building wealth requires disciplined savings habits—even small automatic transfers to savings accounts accumulate meaningfully over decades. Exploring workforce development programs, trade certifications, or remote work opportunities can unlock higher earning potential.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Dickens County

via CrimeByCounty

Minimal Reported Crime in Dickens County

Dickens County currently reports a total crime rate of 0.0 per 100,000 residents, leading to a perfect safety score of 100.0. This is an exceptional departure from the national average crime rate of 2,385.5. Such data often indicates either a period of no reported incidents or very limited reporting activity.

Top Rated Safety Score in Texas

Dickens County holds a safety score of 100.0, placing it well above the Texas average of 96.8. While the state average crime rate is 2,052.5, Dickens reports zero incidents across its two reporting agencies. This ranking reflects a very quiet public safety environment for the 2022 data year.

Leading Nearby Counties in Reported Safety

Compared to nearby Dawson County's crime rate of 2,438.8, Dickens County appears as an oasis of security with zero reported crimes. Even compared to safer neighbors like Delta County, Dickens stands out for its lack of recorded incidents. This makes it one of the most statistically quiet areas in the region.

A Rare Look at Zero Crime Data

The county reports 0.0 violent crimes and 0.0 property crimes per 100,000 residents. This may be due to the small population and the specific reporting habits of the two local agencies. In practical terms, this suggests that crime is an extremely rare occurrence for local residents.

Maintain Your Safe Environment

Even with a perfect safety score, it is wise to maintain basic home security habits like locking doors and windows. Since data can change year to year, staying connected with local sheriff reports keeps you informed. Dickens County remains a model of low-activity public safety.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Schools in Dickens County

via SchoolsByCounty

Intimate All-Level Rural Schools

Dickens County operates a very small educational system with just two public schools serving 302 total students. Each school belongs to its own district and serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade on a single campus.

High Investment and Competitive Scores

The county spends $9,291 per pupil, which is significantly higher than the Texas average of $7,498. This investment supports a 90% graduation rate and a school score of 58.5, which is notably higher than the state average.

Spur and Patton Springs Districts

Spur ISD is the larger of the two districts, enrolling 225 students at the Spur School campus. Patton Springs ISD serves the remaining 77 students, with no charter options available in this strictly traditional rural system.

Quiet Rural Learning Environments

Both schools are located in rural locales, creating an environment where every student is well-known to the staff. With an average school size of just 151, students receive a level of individual attention rarely found in larger counties.

A Rare Small-Town Educational Experience

Dickens County is perfect for buyers who value a high-investment, low-ratio educational setting. Explore the rural real estate market near Spur for a unique and dedicated learning community.

Full schools analysis on SchoolsByCounty

Disaster Risk in Dickens County

via RiskByCounty

Dickens County enjoys exceptional safety

Dickens County's composite risk score of 13.61 ranks as "Very Low," placing it among the safest counties nationwide. This rural Panhandle county experiences minimal overall exposure to natural disasters.

Well below Texas average risk

At 13.61, Dickens County scores substantially lower than the Texas state average of 49.00, making it one of the state's safest jurisdictions. Low population density and geographic isolation contribute to minimal hazard impact.

Safer than most region peers

Dickens (13.61) edges out Delta County (8.91) as the next-safest option and significantly outpaces Deaf Smith (61.80) and Dimmit (35.88). The Panhandle's sparse settlement patterns reduce disaster exposure across this tier of counties.

Wildfire is the sole notable hazard

Wildfire risk of 76.40 stands out as Dickens's primary concern, though all other hazards score below 50. Tornado (18.00), flood (1.88), earthquake (4.52), and hurricane (12.64) risks are negligible.

Wildfire defense is primary focus

While overall risk is exceptionally low, the 76.40 wildfire score warrants attention to defensible space and roofing maintenance. Standard homeowners insurance covers wildfire; maintain coverage and keep brush cleared within 30 feet of structures.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

Water Quality in Dickens County

via WaterByCounty

Dickens County achieves perfect water grade

The county has recorded zero health violations over the past five years, earning a Grade A. This puts the county far ahead of the Texas average violation rate of 581.9. Local water systems are effectively meeting all Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

No federal impairment data for Dickens County

The water bodies in Dickens County have not yet been evaluated for the federal Clean Water Act §303(d) list. Therefore, there is no official record of impairment for local streams in recent reporting cycles. Future assessments will be needed to confirm the ecological health of the watershed.

Dickens County lacks federal monitoring records

There are no water quality monitoring records currently available for this county in the federal Water Quality Portal. Without this data, it is impossible to track trends in local pollutants or biological health over time. Establishing new monitoring sites could help protect the county's clean water record.

No active streamgages in Dickens County

There are no representative USGS streamgages currently providing live flow data for Dickens County. The absence of real-time monitoring makes it difficult to track the immediate impact of weather on local water levels. Residents should rely on the county's excellent compliance data as a primary safety signal.

Protect the county's high water standards

Dickens County currently enjoys a perfect compliance record with zero health violations. To maintain this, residents should support future monitoring initiatives to fill existing data gaps in the watershed. Since no live streamflow data is available, local awareness of groundwater levels is especially important.

Full water quality analysis on WaterByCounty

Weather & Climate in Dickens County

via WeatherByCounty

A Dry and Sunny Rolling Plains Environment

Dickens County averages 61.4°F annually, which is several degrees warmer than the national median. It receives 22.5 inches of rain, placing it in a drier category than the average American county.

Cooler Than the Average Texas County

The county's 61.4°F average is 4.1 degrees lower than the Texas state average of 65.5°F. Its 22.5 inches of annual rain also falls nearly 10 inches short of the statewide average.

Typical Rolling Plains Weather Patterns

Dickens matches the climate of its neighbors in the Rolling Plains region, characterized by high winds and moderate rainfall. It stays slightly warmer than the High Plains counties situated atop the nearby caprock.

Frequent Triple Digits and Light Snow

Summers are hot, featuring 101 days of heat at or above 90°F and a July average of 81.5°F. Winters are dry and cool, averaging 42.5°F with about 2.8 inches of snowfall.

Focus on Drought Prep and Heat

With 101 extreme heat days, efficient home cooling is the top priority for residents. Native landscaping is recommended to survive the frequent dry spells and limited 22.5-inch annual rainfall.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Dickens County

via SoilByCounty

Alkaline profiles of the rolling plains

Dickens County soils average a pH of 7.41, which is higher than both the national median of 6.5 and the state average of 7.09. This alkaline nature reflects the mineral-rich sediments found across the region's rolling landscape.

A sandy-dominant mix with good silt

The composition is 49.2% sand, 26.6% silt, and 20.2% clay. This creates a balanced texture that prevents the soil from being too heavy while providing enough silt for decent nutrient storage.

Exceptional water capacity in dry lands

While organic matter is low at 1.27%, the soil boasts a high available water capacity of 0.141 in/in. This exceeds the state average of 0.133 in/in, providing a crucial buffer for plants during West Texas droughts.

Low infiltration rates in group D

Categorized in hydrologic group D, the soil exhibits slow water movement through the profile. This characteristic requires careful irrigation management to ensure water reaches the roots rather than running off the surface.

Drought-tolerant selections for Zone 8a

Zone 8a allows for a variety of hardy crops like native grasses and sunflowers that can handle the alkaline soil. Focus on moisture-conserving techniques like mulching to make the most of the high water-holding capacity.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Dickens County

via LawnByCounty

Tough Going in West Texas

Dickens County presents a challenging environment with a lawn difficulty score of 28.6, below the already low state average of 31.7. In hardiness zone 8a, residents deal with limited rainfall and high summer temperatures. Gardeners here must be intentional with their grass choices to maintain any level of green cover.

Low Precipitation and Moderate Heat

The region receives only 22.5 inches of rain per year, falling short of the 30-50 inch ideal range for healthy turf. There are 101 extreme heat days annually, which is standard for Texas but still stressful for non-native grasses. With 5,201 growing degree days, the growth rate is moderate but limited by the available moisture.

Managing Alkaline and Sandy Earth

The soil in Dickens County is 49.2% sand, providing a loose structure that drains quickly and requires frequent monitoring. The pH level of 7.41 is on the alkaline side, which can make it harder for certain grasses to thrive without soil acidifiers. Focus on hardy species that aren't sensitive to higher pH levels for the best results.

Persistence Through Severe Drought

The county has spent 27 weeks in drought over the last year, and currently, 67.8% of the area is facing severe D2+ conditions. These dry spells are a regular feature of life in Dickens, making water conservation techniques essential for any homeowner. Drip irrigation and xeriscaping are often more practical than maintaining a traditional wall-to-wall lawn.

Plan for an April Start

Wait until the threat of frost passes on April 6th before seeding or sodding your yard. Buffalograss is a highly recommended native option that can withstand the local heat and drought better than common alternatives. You'll have until the first fall frost on November 4th to establish your landscape.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dickens County's county score?
Dickens County, Texas has a composite county score of 60.3 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Dickens County rank among counties in Texas?
Dickens County ranks #13 among all counties in Texas on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Dickens County, Texas?
The median annual property tax in Dickens County is $888, with an effective tax rate of 1.37%. This earns Dickens County a tax score of 18.4/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Dickens County?
The median household income in Dickens County, Texas is $50,417 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Dickens County earns an income score of 15.4/100 on CountyScore.
Is Dickens County, Texas a good place to live?
Dickens County scores 60.3/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #13 in Texas. The best way to evaluate Dickens County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Dickens County with other counties side by side.
By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

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