countyscore
54.6
County Score
Cost of Living 86.5Disaster Risk 75.2Property Tax 58

County Report Card

About Ellis County, Oklahoma

Ellis County Beats the National Median

With a score of 54.6, Ellis County stands above the national median of 50.0. It is a rare rural Oklahoma county that outperforms the average American county in overall livability.

A Leader in Oklahoma Livability

Ellis County's 54.6 score is significantly higher than the state average of 43.0. It represents one of the strongest lifestyle values available in the state of Oklahoma today.

Unmatched Affordability and High Safety

A Cost Score of 86.5 is supported by a median gross rent of just $728. The county also features strong environmental safety (Risk Score 75.2) and a solid Safety Score of 52.6.

Water and Income Limitations

While strong overall, the county has a lower Water Score of 26.9 and an Income Score of 30.4. The median household income of $56,992 is modest despite the very low cost of living.

Perfect for Retirees and Remote Workers

Ellis County is an ideal destination for those who want their dollars to go further while living in a safe, quiet area. It offers the best balance of safety and affordability in this county group.

204060801005886.552.628.745.930.475.226.952.5Tax58Cost86.5Safety52.6Health28.7Schools45.9Income30.4Risk75.2Water26.9Weather52.554.6/100
This county
National avg
2 above average3 below average

Ellis County DNA

Foverall

How Ellis County compares to the national average across 9 dimensions

Ellis County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Cost of Living (86.5/100) but notably weak in Water Quality (26.9/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
58
Cost
86.5+38.5
Safety
52.6
Health
28.7-21.3
Schools
45.9-8.100000000000001
Income
30.4-20.6
Risk
75.2+28.200000000000003
Water
26.9-31.1
Weather
52.5
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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$122,500

National median: $174,650

Median Rent

$728/mo

National median: $854/mo

Income Needed (home)

$122,500/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$29,120/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum2.1x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $56,992/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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Counties with similar scores

Routt County
Colorado
Median income: $104,803
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Chattahoochee County
Georgia
Median income: $59,221
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Nelson County
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Houghton County
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Livingston County
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Pike County
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Walsh County
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Harrison County
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Median income: $53,851
54.6

Nearby counties

Roger Mills County
Oklahoma
58.7
Hemphill County
Texas
53.4
Lipscomb County
Texas
51.2
Dewey County
Oklahoma
49.1
Woodward County
Oklahoma
38.1
Harper County
Oklahoma
58.8
Custer County
Oklahoma
41.4
Wheeler County
Texas
48.8

Deep Dives

Ellis County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Ellis County

via TaxByCounty

Ellis County taxes exceed national median

Ellis County's effective rate of 0.748% exceeds the national median of 0.73%, placing it in the upper-middle range of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $916 is still 66% lower than the national median of $2,690, reflecting Oklahoma's generally lower home values.

Second-highest tax rate in Oklahoma

Ellis County's 0.748% rate is the second-highest among Oklahoma counties, 15% above the state average of 0.652%. The median tax of $916 is only 5% below the state median of $959, a notable outlier in the state.

Highest taxes in the panhandle region

Ellis County's 0.748% rate significantly exceeds neighboring Garfield County (0.888%) to the east, making it the highest-taxing county in the immediate area. Only Garfield surpasses it regionally.

Median home costs $916 per year

A homeowner with the median-valued property of $122,500 pays approximately $916 annually in property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages face bills of $1,135 once mortgage-related assessments apply.

Review your assessment for accuracy

Ellis County's high effective rate means overassessments have outsized impact. File an appeal with your assessor if you believe your home's taxable value exceeds its fair market value.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Ellis County

via CostByCounty

Ellis County: Oklahoma's rental bargain

Ellis County's 15.3% rent-to-income ratio sits well below national affordability concerns, signaling exceptional rental value for residents. With a median income of $56,992 and median rent of just $728 monthly, renters here enjoy sustainable housing costs comparable to the nation's most affordable regions.

Second-best affordability in Oklahoma

Ellis County ranks among Oklahoma's most affordable counties for renters, with a 15.3% rent-to-income ratio that beats the state average of 17.0% by more than one percentage point. Only a handful of Oklahoma counties match this level of rental accessibility.

The affordable sweet spot of the panhandle

Ellis County's $728 median rent is the second-lowest among these eight counties and ties with Cotton County ($742) for lowest rents, while maintaining strong affordability at 15.3%. Combined with a median home value of just $122,500, Ellis County offers exceptional value across both rental and ownership markets.

Homeowners enjoy rare affordability edge

Ellis County renters commit 15.3% of their $56,992 income to median rent of $728, while homeowners dedicate just 10.9% to monthly costs of $520. This exceptionally low owner burden—among the lowest nationally—makes homeownership accessible to workers at multiple income levels.

Ellis County welcomes cost-conscious relocators

Ellis County delivers the rare combination of low rents ($728), affordable ownership ($520/month), and modest home values ($122,500), making it ideal for any worker prioritizing cost of living. Whether renting or buying, housing will consume less of your paycheck here than almost anywhere in Oklahoma.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Ellis County

via IncomeByCounty

Ellis County below national income median

Ellis County's median household income of $56,992 falls approximately $17,700 short of the national median of $74,755, representing a 24% gap. This income shortfall is typical for rural panhandle counties.

Slightly below Oklahoma average

Ellis County's median income of $56,992 trails Oklahoma's state average of $58,273 by roughly $1,300 per household. The county ranks in the lower-middle portion of state counties for earnings.

Mixed performance versus peer counties

Ellis County's $56,992 median income ranks above Craig County and Delaware County but below Cotton County, Dewey County, Creek County, and Garfield County. Economic diversity and employment opportunities vary across the region.

Affordable housing supports households

Ellis County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.3% is among the lowest in this peer group, well below the 30% affordability benchmark. Median home values of $122,500 are very accessible for households earning $56,992.

Strong housing affordability enables savings

Ellis County's low housing burden—just 15.3% of income—creates genuine room for emergency funds and retirement investing. Per capita income of $31,354 combined with modest housing costs positions households to build wealth systematically.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Ellis County

via CrimeByCounty

Ellis County Sets a National Safety Benchmark

Ellis County reports a total crime rate of just 1,065.2 per 100,000, which is more than 50% lower than the national average. This performance results in a nearly perfect safety score of 98.3.

Top-Tier Safety Ranking in Oklahoma

With a safety score of 98.3, Ellis County far outpaces the Oklahoma state average of 95.8. It is one of the safest counties in the state by a significant margin.

Unmatched Regional Security in Ellis

Ellis County’s crime rate of 1,065.2 is much lower than all surrounding counties, including Dewey and Custer. It is nearly three times safer than Garfield County by total crime volume.

Understanding Local Crime Breakdown

Violent crime is extremely low at 106.5 per 100,000, and property crime is only 958.7. These numbers represent some of the lowest crime figures seen across the United States.

Protecting Your Peaceful Ellis County Home

Maintain your county's peaceful status by following basic home security protocols. Even in the safest areas, documented property crime can be deterred by visible security measures.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Schools in Ellis County

via SchoolsByCounty

Ellis County's Focused School System

Six public schools serve the 741 students of Ellis County, organized into three local districts. The system is split evenly between three elementary schools and three high schools.

Solid Graduation and Strong Scoring

The county boasts an 86.1% graduation rate, outperforming the state average of 84.3%. With an $8,724 per-pupil expenditure, the county invests well above the Oklahoma average in its students' futures.

Small Districts, Big Impact

Shattuck is the largest district in the county, educating 357 students between its elementary and high school campuses. The county does not host any charter schools, relying exclusively on its three traditional districts.

Exclusive Rural Learning Environment

All six schools are located in rural locales, creating an intimate learning atmosphere with an average of 124 students per school. Shattuck Elementary is the largest campus at 245 students, while Fargo and Arnett provide even smaller cohorts.

Discover Rural Living and Great Schools

Ellis County offers high graduation rates and strong per-pupil spending for families who value a rural lifestyle. Explore real estate options in Shattuck or Arnett to find a home within these high-performing small-town districts.

Full schools analysis on SchoolsByCounty

Disaster Risk in Ellis County

via RiskByCounty

Ellis County's risk ranks far below national average

Ellis County's composite risk score of 24.78 and "Very Low" rating place it well below the national average for natural disaster exposure. Your county faces substantially less combined hazard threat than the typical U.S. county. This low score reflects relative safety across most major disaster types.

Among Oklahoma's safest counties

Ellis County's 24.78 composite score ranks it among the lowest-risk counties in Oklahoma, falling well below the state average of 55.47. Only Cotton County (4.90) and Dewey County (15.65) achieve lower risk ratings within the state. Ellis County sits in Oklahoma's safest tier.

Notably safer than surrounding region

Ellis County's 24.78 score significantly undercuts Custer County (62.02), Garfield County (82.09), and other nearby counties that face substantially higher composite risks. Among its immediate region, Ellis stands out as a relative refuge of disaster safety. This geographic distinction highlights Ellis County's relative protection.

Wildfire is the main concern; others are minor

Wildfire risk (85.18) is Ellis County's only substantially elevated hazard, though tornado risk (38.17) and hurricane risk (24.99) remain secondary. Earthquake risk (22.61) and flood risk (7.00) pose minimal threats. Wildfire represents Ellis County's primary preparedness priority.

Add wildfire coverage; standard insurance usually adequate

Ellis County homeowners should confirm their standard insurance is current and consider supplementing it with wildfire coverage for your county's primary hazard. Trimming trees, clearing dead vegetation, and maintaining defensible space around your home provide practical, low-cost wildfire protection. Most residents will find that basic preparation combined with adequate insurance provides solid protection for Ellis County's relatively low-risk profile.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

Water Quality in Ellis County

via WaterByCounty

Excellent Compliance Rate Despite Grade

Ellis County receives an F grade but recorded only 2 health violations over a five-year period. Its violation rate of 80.2 per 100,000 people is remarkably low compared to the Oklahoma average of 960.4. These data points suggest that the county's water systems are generally performing well compared to state norms.

Clean Bill of Health for Assessed Waters

Ellis County stands out with a 0% impairment rate for its assessed water bodies in the 2022 reporting cycle. This is significantly better than the state average of 76.7% impairment. The waters measured meet the required Clean Water Act standards, showing no top impairment causes at this time.

Monitoring Focuses on Nutrient Tracking

Environmental agencies maintain 6 monitoring sites in Ellis County, capturing 4,574 measurements in five years. The data collection focuses primarily on physical and nutrient characteristic groups. This targeted monitoring helps ensure the county's streams maintain their rare 0% impairment status.

Wolf Creek Flows Near Half Capacity

The USGS gauge on Wolf Creek near Gage currently shows a discharge of 6 cfs. This flow is 48% of the long-term mean of 12 cfs, reflecting a moderate drought condition. While the creek is below typical levels, it is performing better than many other Oklahoma streams.

Maintain High Standards for Clean Water

With a 0% impairment rate, Ellis County has some of the healthiest assessed watersheds in the state. However, the 48% flow level in Wolf Creek means residents should still practice water conservation to protect these resources. Despite the low violation rate, the F grade suggests that keeping an eye on the few recorded compliance issues remains important.

Full water quality analysis on WaterByCounty

Weather & Climate in Ellis County

via WeatherByCounty

Arid Climate Above National Median

Ellis County's 57.9°F average temperature sits above the national median despite being one of the cooler counties in its region. It is very dry, averaging 23.4 inches of rain.

One of Oklahoma's Driest Counties

The county's 23.4 inches of rain is nearly 14 inches below the Oklahoma state average. Its temperature also tracks about 2.5 degrees cooler than the state mean.

Defining the Dry Western Edge

Ellis County is much drier than the central and eastern parts of the state. It shares a semi-arid profile with its neighbors on the Texas border.

Intense Sun and Dry Air

The county endures 74 days of extreme heat over 90°F each year. While official snowfall averages are unavailable, winters stay cold with a 35.5°F January mean.

Focus on Water and Insulation

Drought-resistant practices are vital given the low 23.4 inches of rain. Good home insulation helps manage the significant gap between winter lows and summer highs.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Ellis County

via SoilByCounty

The Sweetest Soils in the Region

Ellis County features the most alkaline soil in this group with a pH of 7.11, notably higher than the national median of 6.5. This 'sweet' soil stands out compared to the typically acidic Oklahoma state average of 6.06.

Sandy Profiles Drain Rapidly

With 57.4% sand and only 13.1% clay, this soil is gritty and loose. It drains very rapidly and warms up quickly in the spring, though it can struggle to hold onto essential nutrients over time.

Sparse Organic Matter and Water Storage

Organic matter is relatively sparse at 1.15%, compared to the state average of 1.72%. The available water capacity is also low at 0.127 in/in, suggesting a strong need for mulching to retain moisture.

Unique Runoff and Infiltration Mix

The county is classified in Hydrologic Group D, which typically indicates high runoff potential. However, the high sand percentage helps water move, requiring gardeners to watch for unpredictable water behavior during storms.

Hardy Herbs and Natives in Zone 7a

Hardiness Zone 7a is perfect for growing heat-loving herbs like lavender and rosemary. Despite a lower soil score of 25.5, patient gardeners can thrive by focusing on native species adapted to these sandy conditions.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Ellis County

via LawnByCounty

Dry Climate Testing Ellis County Lawns

Ellis County scores 45.5 on the difficulty scale, making it slightly more challenging than the state average. This Zone 7a region is characterized by an arid environment that requires specific grass choices.

Low Rainfall Dictates Lawn Care Strategy

With only 23.4 inches of annual precipitation, Ellis County is significantly drier than the state average of 37.2. Lawns must also endure 74 extreme heat days, placing a high premium on efficient irrigation systems.

Sandy Soils Offer High Drainage Capacity

The soil is dominated by 57.4% sand, which allows for great drainage but poor moisture retention. A pH of 7.11 is slightly alkaline but still very close to the ideal range for most common grass types.

Consistent Hydration Essential for Survival

While currently avoiding severe drought, the county saw 15 weeks of drought over the past year. Since the sandy soil dries out quickly, watering in the early morning is vital to minimize evaporation losses.

Success with Drought-Tolerant Native Species

Buffalograss is a standout performer in Ellis County because it evolved to thrive on limited rainfall. Wait until after April 17 to seed, ensuring the soil is warm enough for these hardy varieties to germinate.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ellis County's county score?
Ellis County, Oklahoma has a composite county score of 54.6 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 Ellis County rank among counties in Oklahoma?
Ellis County ranks #8 among all counties in Oklahoma 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 Ellis County, Oklahoma?
The median annual property tax in Ellis County is $916, with an effective tax rate of 0.75%. This earns Ellis County a tax score of 58/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Ellis County?
The median household income in Ellis County, Oklahoma is $56,992 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Ellis County earns an income score of 30.4/100 on CountyScore.
Is Ellis County, Oklahoma a good place to live?
Ellis County scores 54.6/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #8 in Oklahoma. The best way to evaluate Ellis 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 Ellis County with other counties side by side.
By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

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