CountyScore

Ellis County

Texas · TX

#224 in Texas
55.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Ellis County, Texas

Ellis Slightly Above National Baseline

Ellis County's composite score of 57.4 edges past the national median of 50.0 by 15%, indicating above-average livability with significant room for improvement. The county's strength in income partially offsets challenges in affordability.

Below Texas Average Despite High Incomes

Ellis County scores 57.4, falling 9.4 points below the Texas state average of 66.8, making it one of the lower-performing counties among these eight. This gap is surprising given the county's exceptional income performance.

Highest Incomes Among Comparison Counties

Ellis County's income score of 46.0 reflects a median household income of $95,898—the highest among these eight counties and 63% above the national median. This income advantage provides households with substantial economic power and opportunity.

Housing Costs and Taxes Erode Income Advantage

A cost score of just 57.3 reflects median home values of $306,400 and median rent of $1,449 per month—among the highest in this group—consuming much household income. An effective tax rate of 1.460% is above average, further reducing net financial benefit. Safety, health, school, and environmental data are unavailable.

Best for High-Income Families Seeking Growth

Ellis County works for affluent families with strong, stable incomes who can absorb expensive housing and taxes while prioritizing economic opportunity. If your household earns well above median and values access to higher-earning employment markets, Ellis provides livability despite premium costs.

Score breakdown

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

Tax61.2Cost57.3SafetyComing SoonHealth63.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome46Risk18.4WaterComing Soon
🏛61.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠57.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼46
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤63.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡18.4
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 Ellis County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

McKinley County
New Mexico
55.6
Median income: $44,496
Cattaraugus County
New York
55.6
Median income: $58,248
Solano County
California
55.7
Median income: $99,994
Bell County
Texas
55.5
Median income: $66,051
McLennan County
Texas
55.5
Median income: $63,888

Deep Dives

Ellis County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Ellis County

via TaxByCounty

Ellis taxes rank above national average

Ellis County's effective tax rate of 1.460% sits well above the national median, with a median property tax of $4,472 exceeding the national median of $2,690 by 66%. The county's higher home values and robust suburban school systems drive this premium tax burden.

Among Texas's highest-taxing counties

Ellis County's 1.460% effective rate significantly outpaces the Texas state average of 1.276%, placing it in the top tier of the state's 254 counties. The median property tax of $4,472 runs more than double the state median of $2,193.

Steepest taxes in North-Central Texas

Ellis County's 1.460% rate and $4,472 median tax substantially exceed surrounding counties, reflecting its position as a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb with excellent schools. Erath County, its closest neighbor, averages 1.126% and $2,836 in median tax.

Expect $4,472 annually on median home

With a median home value of $306,400—the highest among these eight counties—typical Ellis County homeowners pay approximately $4,472 per year in property taxes. Those with mortgages often pay around $5,264 when combining school, county, and municipal levies.

Protect yourself with annual valuations

Ellis County's booming real-estate market creates risk of inflated assessments; appraisers sometimes lag market reality. File a property tax protest annually with the Ellis County appraisal district, supported by recent comparable sales, to ensure your bill stays aligned with true market value.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Ellis County

via CostByCounty

Ellis County: prosperity meets affordability

Renters in Ellis County spend 18.1% of their income on housing—matching Texas's state average—while earning $95,898, far exceeding the national median of $74,755. This high-income county achieves affordability through sheer earning power despite expensive rents and mortgages.

Highest income in entire comparison

Ellis County's median household income of $95,898 is the highest among these eight counties and 28% above Texas's typical earner. This wealth allows residents to absorb above-average housing costs while maintaining strong financial flexibility.

Premium pricing reflects prosperity

Ellis County's $1,449 rent and $306,400 median home value are the highest in this comparison, reflecting its proximity to Dallas's booming exurban market. The county offers suburban growth without core Dallas pricing, attracting affluent commuters.

High costs, but manageable burden

Renters spend $1,449/month and homeowners pay $1,608/month against the $95,898 income, consuming only 18% of household earnings. These are the largest absolute housing expenses in the comparison, yet the highest incomes make them proportionally manageable.

Affluent families seeking Dallas suburbs

Ellis County delivers suburban living, top-tier schools, and Dallas job access for households earning $100,000+. If you can afford $1,600+ monthly housing costs, Ellis offers prosperity and growth potential unmatched elsewhere in this comparison.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Ellis County

via IncomeByCounty

Ellis ranks well above national income

Ellis County's median household income of $95,898 significantly exceeds the U.S. median of $74,755 by roughly $21,100—a 28% advantage. This places Ellis among the nation's stronger-earning counties, driven by Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan proximity and growing professional employment.

Texas's highest earner in this group

Ellis County's $95,898 median household income towers over Texas's state average of $64,737, by approximately $31,161. The county's per capita income of $39,646 also far exceeds the state average of $33,197, reflecting a prosperous suburban-exurban economy.

Clear income leader among all peers

Ellis County's $95,898 median income ranks 35% to 59% higher than all seven other counties analyzed—Erath County ($65,351) is the closest competitor. The county's growth as a Dallas-Fort Worth bedroom community has attracted higher-income households and corporate relocation.

Incomes support higher home values

Ellis's rent-to-income ratio of 18.1% remains reasonable even as median home values have surged to $306,400. The county's strong incomes allow residents to afford rising housing costs, though property appreciation has outpaced wage growth in recent years.

Maximize wealth through strategic investing

Ellis County's above-average incomes create opportunity to aggressively fund retirement accounts, college savings, and diversified portfolios. Consider working with a wealth advisor to optimize tax strategy, real estate holdings, and investment allocation as property values and incomes continue to appreciate.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Ellis County

via HealthByCounty

Ellis leads nation in life expectancy

Ellis County residents live to 76.8 years on average, nearly 1.5 years above the U.S. average of 75.4 years. Only 18.8% report poor or fair health, below the national average of 19.5%, indicating consistently strong health outcomes.

Ellis is Texas's healthiest county here

At 76.8 years, Ellis County leads Texas's state average of 74.3 years by more than 2.5 years and ranks highest among these eight counties. With a 16.5% uninsured rate below the Texas average of 19.8%, Ellis demonstrates strong coverage and health outcomes.

Clear health advantage over peers

Ellis County's 76.8-year life expectancy ties Erath County but far exceeds Duval County (70.3 years) and Donley County (73.3 years). Its 18.8% poor/fair health rate and 16.5% uninsured rate are the best in this group, suggesting a healthier, better-insured population.

Moderate access, strong coverage

Ellis County provides 38 primary care providers and 108 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—solid infrastructure for a suburban county. The 16.5% uninsured rate means most residents have coverage, enabling regular access to preventive care and specialists.

Maintain coverage for continued health

Ellis County's exceptional health outcomes reflect strong insurance coverage rates and provider access; maintaining these gains requires keeping all residents insured. Those without coverage should enroll in Texas Health Insurance Marketplace plans to sustain the county's health leadership.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Ellis County

via RiskByCounty

Ellis County's Substantial Risk Exposure

Ellis County scores 81.62 on the national composite risk scale, earning a Relatively Moderate rating and placing it well above the U.S. average. This elevation reflects Ellis's exposure across multiple hazard categories, particularly flood, wildfire, and tornado risks. Residents face natural disaster exposure approximately 65% higher than typical American counties.

Among Texas's Highest-Risk Counties

At 81.62, Ellis County exceeds Texas's state average of 49.00 by 67%, ranking among the state's most hazard-exposed counties. Only a handful of Texas counties—notably El Paso (95.45) and Ector (82.82)—score higher in composite risk. Ellis residents occupy the upper tier of statewide natural disaster vulnerability.

Riskier Than Most Surrounding Counties

Ellis County's 81.62 significantly exceeds Erath County (75.00) and dramatically surpasses Edwards County (5.73) and Donley County (26.62). It ranks nearly identically to Ector County (82.82), making both counties statistical peers in terms of hazard exposure. This concentration reflects Ellis's North Texas location and proximity to flood-prone river corridors.

Flood, Wildfire, and Tornado Dominance

Ellis County's highest risks are flood (83.46), tornado (87.75), and wildfire (86.07)—all in the elevated range and reflecting North Texas's vulnerability to severe spring storms and water events. Hurricane risk at 52.19 adds a secondary concern, while earthquake exposure at 51.11 is moderate. These hazards collectively make Ellis one of Texas's most multi-hazard-exposed counties.

Multi-Hazard Insurance Essential

Ellis County residents must purchase separate flood insurance immediately, as the county's 83.46 flood risk score makes this non-negotiable and standard policies exclude it. Add tornado/hail riders and comprehensive wildfire coverage given those hazard scores near 87%. Review your policy limits annually and maintain a current home inventory for disaster recovery purposes.

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.