Emanuel County's composite score of 73.5 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, ranking it in the upper quartile of American counties for livability. This strong showing reflects exceptional affordability and low-tax positioning.
2 / 5
Above Average Across Georgia
Scoring 73.5 places Emanuel County above Georgia's state average of 70.9, marking it among the better performers in the state's 159 counties. The county's consistent strength stands out in rural Georgia.
3 / 5
Most Affordable Housing in Group
Emanuel County features the region's best housing affordability with a cost score of 86.9, median home values of just $88,200, and lowest median rent at $742 monthly. Combined with a tax score of 74.8 and 0.975% effective rate, the county delivers exceptional value.
4 / 5
Income Levels Limit Opportunity
With a median household income of $50,053 and income score of 16.1, Emanuel County ranks among the lowest-income measured areas. Full livability assessment remains incomplete without data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality.
5 / 5
Best for Extremely Budget-Conscious
Emanuel County suits families and retirees seeking absolute minimum housing costs and property taxes, with income as a secondary concern. It's ideal for those willing to trade earnings potential for maximum financial stretch.
Emanuel County's composite score of 73.5 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, ranking it in the upper quartile of American counties for livability. This strong showing reflects exceptional affordability and low-tax positioning.
Above Average Across Georgia
Scoring 73.5 places Emanuel County above Georgia's state average of 70.9, marking it among the better performers in the state's 159 counties. The county's consistent strength stands out in rural Georgia.
Most Affordable Housing in Group
Emanuel County features the region's best housing affordability with a cost score of 86.9, median home values of just $88,200, and lowest median rent at $742 monthly. Combined with a tax score of 74.8 and 0.975% effective rate, the county delivers exceptional value.
Income Levels Limit Opportunity
With a median household income of $50,053 and income score of 16.1, Emanuel County ranks among the lowest-income measured areas. Full livability assessment remains incomplete without data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality.
Best for Extremely Budget-Conscious
Emanuel County suits families and retirees seeking absolute minimum housing costs and property taxes, with income as a secondary concern. It's ideal for those willing to trade earnings potential for maximum financial stretch.
Score breakdown
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🏛74.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Emanuel County's effective tax rate of 0.975% runs well below the national median of 0.927%, and its median annual tax of just $860 ranks among the lowest in America. Homeowners save approximately $1,830 per year compared to the national median of $2,690.
Among Georgia's most affordable
At 0.975%, Emanuel County's effective rate sits slightly above Georgia's state average of 0.898%, but the median tax of $860 is the lowest featured here—less than 57% of the state median of $1,529. This makes Emanuel one of Georgia's tax bargains.
Emanuel anchors the region's affordability
Emanuel County (0.975%, $860) has the lowest median home value at $88,200 and the lowest annual tax bill in this southeast Georgia cluster. Combined with comparable rates in Echols (0.986%) and Elbert (0.983%), the region is among Georgia's most tax-friendly.
Your estimated annual tax bill
On Emanuel County's median home value of $88,200, homeowners pay roughly $860 annually at the 0.975% effective rate. With mortgage and homestead exemptions applied, most residents pay around $737 per year.
Verify your value, even at low rates
Even in Emanuel County's affordable tax environment, overassessments happen and can inflate your modest bill further. Review your property assessment and file an appeal if comparable recent sales suggest your home is valued too high.
Emanuel County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% sits just below the national average, but the county achieves this through rock-bottom rents ($742/month) paired with well-below-average incomes ($50,053). Renters here spend less in absolute dollars than typical Americans, though earnings lag significantly behind national norms.
Near Georgia's affordability middle ground
Emanuel County's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio performs slightly better than Georgia's 18.6% state average, offering modest affordability advantages. The county's median rent of $742 sits well below the state median of $927, positioning it as one of Georgia's more budget-friendly rental markets.
Emanuel's budget-friendly positioning
Emanuel County offers the lowest median rent in this regional cohort at $742/month—undercutting Evans County ($720 is lower, but Evans has a stronger rent-to-income ratio at 16.0%). Emanuel's 17.8% ratio ranks mid-pack regionally, competitive with Early County (17.3%) but below the affordability-leader Effingham (15.7%).
Emanuel County housing essentials
Renters pay just $742 monthly on a median household income of $50,053, consuming 17.8% of gross earnings. Homeowners spend $543 per month on owner-occupied housing, with median home values at $88,200—among the state's lowest, making homeownership accessible to lower-income households.
Emanuel County for budget-first relocators
Emanuel County is ideal if affordability is your top priority and you're willing to embrace rural living with fewer urban amenities. The lowest median home value ($88,200) and rents ($742) in this peer group stretch tight budgets furthest, though median household incomes here are also the lowest.
Emanuel County's median household income of $50,053 trails the U.S. median by $24,702, ranking the county in the lower tier nationally. This 33% gap reflects limited job diversity and economic opportunities compared to more prosperous regions.
Among Georgia's lowest-income counties
Emanuel County ranks well below the Georgia state average of $60,488, with a median household income of $50,053. The $10,435 shortfall places residents in the lower-income bracket across the state.
Most challenged in rural southeast cluster
Emanuel County's $50,053 median is among the lowest in this rural group, slightly above Elbert County ($49,727) but significantly below Echols County ($61,723). Low per capita income of $24,356 also suggests wage constraints across the local economy.
Low home values offset tight incomes
Emanuel County's median home value of $88,200 is the lowest in this comparison, and at 17.8%, the rent-to-income ratio is moderate. However, the combination of very low income and limited housing affordability data suggests residents must carefully budget to cover housing plus other essentials.
Build wealth through disciplined saving
Emanuel County residents should prioritize establishing an emergency fund of $500–$1,000 before investing, given income constraints. Take full advantage of any employer retirement matching and consider free financial literacy resources to maximize the impact of every dollar saved.
At 70.1 years, Emanuel County's life expectancy falls 5.4 years short of the U.S. average of 75.5 years, marking one of the nation's lower benchmarks. The 25.7% poor or fair health rate—among the eight counties' highest—nearly triples the national average.
Georgia's struggling health counties
Emanuel County ranks among Georgia's worst-performing counties, with life expectancy 3.2 years below the state average of 73.3 years. The 25.7% poor health rate stands among the highest in the state.
Worst health outcomes in region
Emanuel County's 70.1-year life expectancy significantly underperforms Effingham County (75.0 years) and Fannin County (74.1 years), and ranks near Early County (69.7 years). Its 25.7% poor health rate represents the darkest picture among these eight regional counties.
High uninsured rate limits care
Emanuel County's 16.5% uninsured rate exceeds Georgia's average, leaving a sizable population without coverage for essential care. The county offers 40 primary care providers per 100K and 91 mental health providers per 100K—adequate mental health capacity but tight primary care access.
Coverage changes health trajectories
With 16.5% uninsured and the region's worst health outcomes, Emanuel County residents must prioritize insurance enrollment through Georgia's marketplace or Medicaid. Health insurance enables preventive visits and treatment of chronic disease—essential steps to reverse the county's health decline.
Emanuel County scores 39.85 on the composite risk scale, sitting just at Georgia's state average of 39.49 and slightly below the national median. This "Very Low" rating reflects balanced exposure to multiple hazards with no single dominant threat.
Middle-of-pack Georgia county
Emanuel County ranks near the middle of Georgia's counties for natural disaster risk, with a composite score essentially matching the state average. The county faces typical Georgia-level exposure to tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
Similar risk to nearby communities
Emanuel County's 39.85 score closely mirrors neighboring Johnson and Laurens counties, making it a representative mid-risk Georgia community. It carries notably higher risk than safer Evans County to the south but lower risk than Effingham to the east.
Tornadoes and hurricanes primary concerns
Emanuel County faces a tornado risk of 58.81 and hurricane risk of 84.02, the two hazards most likely to affect residents. Earthquake exposure (72.52) and wildfire risk (52.54) also present seasonal or structural concerns requiring attention.
Prioritize wind coverage and flood insurance
Emanuel County residents should ensure comprehensive wind and hail protection in their homeowners policies given tornado and hurricane exposure. Adding federally backed flood insurance proves prudent given moderate flood risk (34.13), particularly for properties in identified floodplain zones.