CountyScore

Foard County

Texas · TX

#23 in Texas
70
County Score

County Report Card

About Foard County, Texas

Foard County Exceeds National Baseline

Foard County's composite score of 72.4 substantially outperforms the national median of 50.0. The county ranks in the upper quartile nationally for measured livability.

Above-Average Performer in Texas

Foard County scores 72.4 versus the Texas state average of 66.8, placing it solidly above the midpoint statewide. It ranks among the stronger Texas counties for overall livability on composite measures.

Housing Affordability Reaches Extremes

Foard County delivers the highest cost score of all eight counties at 90.3, with median home values of $71,400 and rent averaging $577/month. The tax score of 69.0 (1.182% effective rate) adds to its financial appeal.

Income Levels Lag Significantly Behind

Foard County's income score of 11.0 is the lowest among these eight counties, with median household income of just $42,212. This income constraint limits quality-of-life purchases despite exceptional housing affordability; data on schools, health, and safety remains unavailable.

Best for Retirees on Fixed Incomes

Foard County suits retirees, fixed-income households, and those with remote or highly portable income sources. It appeals most to individuals prioritizing maximum affordability and minimal living costs over employment opportunities or local services.

Score breakdown

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

Tax69Cost90.3SafetyComing SoonHealth54.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome11Risk95.6WaterComing Soon
🏛69
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠90.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼11
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤54.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡95.6
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 Foard County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

St. Clair County
Alabama
70
Median income: $78,993
Sumter County
Alabama
70
Median income: $37,981
Sitka City and Borough
Alaska
70
Median income: $101,207
Lee County
Arkansas
70
Median income: $36,860
Pike County
Georgia
70
Median income: $84,184

Deep Dives

Foard County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Foard County

via TaxByCounty

Foard County taxes slightly above national norm

Foard County's effective tax rate of 1.182% is moderately higher than the national median of 1.026%, placing it in the middle range of U.S. counties. The median property tax of just $844 is less than one-third the national median of $2,690, reflecting some of the nation's most affordable home values.

Below-average taxes for Texas

Foard County's 1.182% effective rate falls slightly below Texas's state average of 1.276%, positioning it in the lower-middle tier of Texas counties. The median property tax of $844 is far below the state average of $2,193, driven by the county's very modest home values.

Foard has competitive tax rates regionally

Foard County's 1.182% rate is lower than Falls County (1.469%), Fisher County (1.705%), and Fort Bend County (1.988%), and comparable to Fannin County (1.103%). It's slightly higher than Fayette County (1.008%) and Floyd County (1.079%), offering middle-ground affordability.

Annual tax on typical home: $844

A homeowner with the median home value of $71,400 in Foard County pays approximately $844 annually in property taxes, among the lowest in the nation. With a mortgage, taxes rise to around $1,313; without one, they drop to about $791.

Challenge your assessment for added savings

Even in low-tax Foard County, overassessments happen and appeal processes are free. If comparable property sales suggest your home's assessed value is high, contacting the county appraisal district could further reduce your already modest tax burden.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Foard County

via CostByCounty

Foard County delivers rock-bottom housing costs

Foard County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.4% sits 5.2 percentage points below the national average, with renters spending less than one-sixth of their income on housing. The $577 median rent ranks among the cheapest in America, making this West Texas county exceptionally accessible.

Below-average housing burden in Texas

Foard County's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio edges below Texas's state average of 18.1%, despite the county's below-median household income of $42,212. This makes Foard an outlier: low incomes paired with genuinely affordable housing.

Cheapest rents among comparable counties

Foard County's $577 median rent ties with Floyd County ($587) as the lowest in the comparison group, beating Fannin County ($994) by 42%. Median home values of $71,400 are the lowest among all counties analyzed, reflecting the region's ultra-rural affordability.

Low costs meet lower incomes

Foard County renters pay $577 monthly from a median household income of just $42,212, consuming 16.4% of earnings, while homeowners spend $527 on homes valued at $71,400. The challenge isn't affordability relative to income—it's that median incomes lag statewide, limiting overall purchasing power.

Foard County for minimal housing burden

If you earn less than the state median but need affordable shelter, Foard County's $577 rents and $71,400 home values provide exceptional value. Compare your current rent-to-income ratio (16.4% is your baseline) against your actual burden to assess whether this remote county makes financial sense for your household.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Foard County

via IncomeByCounty

Foard County faces steepest income challenge

Foard County's median household income of $42,212 ranks among the lowest in Texas, sitting 44% below the national median of $74,755. This $32,543 annual gap represents one of the most significant income disparities in the broader region.

Lowest earners in the F-county cohort

At $42,212, Foard County trails the Texas state average of $64,737 by $22,525 per household—the largest gap in this county group. The per capita income of $27,873 falls well below the state average of $33,197, indicating substantial economic challenges.

Significantly below all regional peers

Foard County's $42,212 income falls far behind every other F-county, including Floyd ($55,461), Falls ($55,372), Fisher ($64,700), Franklin ($66,800), Fannin ($68,377), and Fayette ($76,541). This isolation reflects deep structural economic differences.

Housing affordability is the bright spot

Foard County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.4% and median home value of $71,400—representing 1.7 years of median income—provide some financial breathing room. However, affordable housing alone cannot offset the county's substantial income deficiency.

Focus on income growth and skills

Given income constraints, Foard County residents should prioritize career development, skills training, and education as primary wealth-building tools. Consider leveraging low housing costs to invest in certifications or education that increase earning potential over time, alongside steady contributions to retirement accounts.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Foard County

via HealthByCounty

Limited data on Foard County health

While Foard County's 25.7% poor or fair health rate exceeds the national average of 19%, life expectancy data is unavailable. This data gap limits our ability to fully assess how Foard compares to national health benchmarks.

Foard County data gaps persist

Life expectancy figures for Foard County are not available, preventing direct state-level comparison. The 25.7% poor/fair health rate aligns with lower-performing Texas counties, suggesting potential challenges.

Healthcare access data unavailable

Provider data for Foard County is incomplete, with no figures available for primary care or mental health providers per 100K. This data scarcity makes regional comparison and planning difficult.

Uninsured rate known; access unclear

Foard County's 18.3% uninsured rate is close to the state average, yet the lack of provider data obscures whether residents can actually access care. Better data collection is needed to understand daily healthcare realities here.

Explore coverage options today

If you're uninsured in Foard County, visit Healthcare.gov or contact your local health department to explore Medicaid, marketplace plans, and community health services. Coverage is a vital step toward better health.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Foard County

via RiskByCounty

Foard County ranks among safest nationwide

Foard County's composite risk score of 4.45 places it in the very low risk category with minimal natural disaster exposure. Residents enjoy exceptional protection from natural hazards compared to typical Americans across most major threat categories.

Exceptional safety for Texas

Foard County's score of 4.45 vastly underperforms the Texas state average of 49.00, making it among the state's safest jurisdictions. This remarkable advantage stems from minimal flood (1.05), tornado (17.05), and hurricane (12.97) risks.

Safe as Fisher County, safer than Floyd

Foard County's risk score of 4.45 rivals Fisher County (1.94) as the region's safest area, with exceptional flood (1.05) and earthquake (7.32) protection. Only wildfire risk (41.06) moderately exceeds neighboring counties' averages.

Wildfire presents only notable concern

Wildfire risk (41.06) represents Foard County's primary hazard, though it remains below state average. All other threats—tornado (17.05), hurricane (12.97), earthquake (7.32), and flood (1.05)—score among the state's lowest.

Maintain basic coverage for wildfire risk

Foard County's exceptionally low overall risk means standard homeowners insurance typically suffices for most residents. Verify wildfire coverage in your policy given the 41.06 score; maintaining defensible space and brush management provides cost-effective additional protection against this primary local hazard.

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.