CountyScore

Edwards County

Texas · TX

#101 in Texas
64
County Score

County Report Card

About Edwards County, Texas

Edwards Significantly Tops National Median

Edwards County's composite score of 72.2 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by 44%, placing it among the more livable American counties. This strong performance is anchored by exceptional housing affordability.

Above-Average Texas County

Edwards County scores 72.2, exceeding Texas's state average of 66.8 and ranking among the state's better-performing counties for overall livability. Its consistent outperformance reflects foundational strengths in tax and housing policy.

Exceptional Affordability and Tax Efficiency

Edwards County excels with a cost score of 87.8 and the lowest effective tax rate among these eight counties at 1.051%, plus median home values of just $78,300. Housing at $714 per month (median rent) and minimal tax burden make Edwards exceptionally affordable.

Very Low Incomes Present Major Concern

An income score of 8.5—the lowest among these counties—reflects a median household income of just $38,500, creating significant economic constraints. Additional data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality would clarify the full livability picture.

Best for Retirees on Fixed Incomes

Edwards County is ideal for retirees, remote workers, and others with stable income independent of local job markets who prioritize ultra-low housing costs. If you can live on modest means and value extreme affordability, Edwards delivers exceptional financial relief.

Score breakdown

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

Tax72.7Cost87.8SafetyComing SoonHealth32SchoolsComing SoonIncome8.5Risk94.3WaterComing Soon
🏛72.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠87.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼8.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤32
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡94.3
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 Edwards County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

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Median income: $40,338
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Median income: $60,417
Larimer County
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Median income: $91,364
Brooks County
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Median income: $47,656
Crisp County
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64
Median income: $42,745

Deep Dives

Edwards County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Edwards County

via TaxByCounty

Edwards ranks among America's lowest

Edwards County's effective tax rate of 1.051% represents the lowest in Texas and ranks exceptionally low nationally, with a median property tax of just $823—roughly 31% of the national median of $2,690. Few Americans enjoy a lighter property tax burden than Edwards County residents.

Lowest-taxing county in Texas

Edwards County claims the title of Texas's lowest effective tax rate at 1.051%, significantly undercutting the state average of 1.276%. With a median property tax of $823, Edwards residents pay less than 38% of the statewide median.

Southwest Texas tax champion

Edwards County's 1.051% rate beats every neighboring county in the Southwest Texas region, with only Duval County (1.077%) coming close statewide. This exceptional advantage reflects smaller school districts and a lean government structure.

Lowest annual bill in the state

On a median home value of $78,300, typical Edwards County homeowners pay just $823 per year in property taxes. Limited mortgage-tax data is available for Edwards, but the base tax bill represents extraordinary savings compared to statewide norms.

Even Edwards homeowners should verify values

Even in Texas's lowest-tax county, appraisal errors can inflate your bill needlessly. Contact Edwards County's appraisal district to confirm your property valuation aligns with current market conditions and file a protest if it appears overstated.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Edwards County

via CostByCounty

Edwards County faces affordability crisis

Renters in Edwards County spend 22.3% of their income on housing—one of the highest burdens in this analysis—while earning just $38,500 against the national median of $74,755. This represents one of the most strained housing situations among Texas rural counties.

Toughest housing burden in state

Edwards County's 22.3% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds Texas's 18.1% state average, making it among the least affordable counties statewide. The combination of low incomes and fixed housing costs creates a genuine affordability crisis.

Lowest income, high burden

Edwards County's $38,500 median income is the lowest in this comparison, while its 22.3% housing burden is among the highest. Neighboring Duval ($50,081) and Donley ($56,648) counties offer significantly better income stability.

Rents consume critical income share

Renters pay $714/month and homeowners pay $517/month against just $38,500 annual income, consuming 22% of household earnings on housing alone. This leaves limited resources for food, healthcare, and transportation.

Consider relocation for better prospects

Edwards County offers genuinely cheap housing ($714 rent, $78,300 home values), but residents should explore whether relocating to higher-wage counties might improve overall financial security. This county works best for retirees with fixed incomes or remote workers earning outside the local economy.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Edwards County

via IncomeByCounty

Edwards faces severe national income gap

Edwards County's median household income of $38,500 ranks among America's lowest, trailing the U.S. median of $74,755 by nearly $36,300—a staggering 49% gap. This deep shortfall reflects Edwards's rural isolation and very limited economic infrastructure.

Lowest-income county in Texas grouping

Edwards County's $38,500 median household income is the weakest among all eight Texas counties analyzed, falling $26,237 short of the state average of $64,737. Per capita income of $25,240 also ranks last, indicating minimal earning capacity across the population.

Stark contrast to regional income peers

Edwards County's $38,500 median income represents a dramatic 50% shortfall compared to higher-earning neighbors like Ector County ($71,031). Even struggling Duval County ($50,081) earns $11,600 more, highlighting Edwards's position as one of Texas's most economically disadvantaged rural counties.

Housing costs consume unusual income share

Edwards's rent-to-income ratio of 22.3% is the highest in this county group, meaning housing costs squeeze household budgets heavily relative to earnings. Although median home values of $78,300 appear affordable, the combination of very low incomes and high housing burden creates acute financial stress.

Seek training and regional opportunity

Edwards County residents face structural economic challenges requiring focused strategies to increase earnings; explore federal and state workforce development programs targeting rural poverty. Even modest skills training in high-demand fields can significantly boost income potential and create pathways to financial stability.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Edwards County

via HealthByCounty

Edwards health data incomplete, concerns evident

Life expectancy data for Edwards County is unavailable, but 31.1% of residents report poor or fair health—well above the national average of 19.5%. The county's uninsured rate of 29.4% is the highest among all eight counties analyzed, affecting nearly three in ten residents.

Highest uninsured rate among eight

Edwards County's 29.4% uninsured rate far exceeds the Texas average of 19.8%, suggesting significant barriers to healthcare access. The 31.1% poor/fair health rate indicates acute health challenges, though life expectancy data remains unavailable for full state comparison.

Coverage crisis in rural South Texas

Edwards County's 29.4% uninsured rate dwarfs all peers in this analysis—more than 10 percentage points higher than Ector County (21.8%) and Donley County (21.5%). Its 31.1% poor/fair health rate rivals Duval County's, signaling concentrated rural health disparities.

Highest provider ratio, lowest coverage

Paradoxically, Edwards County offers 70 primary care providers and 72 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—the highest ratios in this group—yet 29.4% of residents remain uninsured. This suggests robust supply exists but coverage and affordability barriers prevent access.

Coverage access is urgent priority

Nearly three in ten Edwards County residents lack insurance despite strong local provider availability, making enrollment in Texas Health Insurance Marketplace plans or Medicaid critical. Community health centers in the area offer sliding-scale services and can help residents navigate coverage options immediately.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Edwards County

via RiskByCounty

Edwards County: Texas's Safest

Edwards County scores just 5.73 on the national composite risk scale, placing it in the Very Low category and among the safest counties in America. This exceptionally low exposure reflects Edwards's isolation from major seismic zones, flood plains, tornado corridors, and coastal hazards. Residents enjoy natural disaster risk levels that are roughly 90% below the national average.

Texas's Lowest-Risk County

At 5.73, Edwards County ranks as the safest county in Texas, sitting 88% below the state average of 49.00. No other Texas county comes close to matching Edwards's exceptionally low composite risk score across all natural disaster categories. This makes Edwards a statistical outlier in terms of overall hazard exposure.

Dramatically Safer Than Regional Peers

Edwards County's 5.73 is a fraction of every nearby county's score: Duval (54.42), Ector (82.82), and Erath (75.00) all carry exponentially higher risk. Even the relatively safe Donley County (26.62) scores nearly five times higher than Edwards. This dramatic difference reflects Edwards's protected location in remote South-Central Texas.

Wildfire and Hurricane Concerns

While Edwards County's overall risk is extraordinarily low, wildfire risk at 74.49 and hurricane risk at 45.22 represent the county's only elevated individual hazard scores. Flood risk (17.84) and tornado risk (13.68) remain manageable, while earthquake exposure (5.03) is negligible. Even these "higher" scores reflect relative values within an exceptionally safe county.

Minimal But Smart Precautions

Edwards County residents face such low overall risk that standard homeowners insurance typically provides adequate protection for most scenarios. However, adding wildfire coverage is prudent given that hazard's 74.49 score, particularly during dry season months. Annual policy review remains a best practice even in Texas's safest county.

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.