CountyScore

Garfield County

Nebraska · NE

#17 in Nebraska
74.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Garfield County, Nebraska

Garfield ranks in top quarter nationally

Garfield County's score of 74.5 significantly surpasses the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 74th percentile across all U.S. counties. This high national ranking demonstrates measurably above-average livability conditions.

Among Nebraska's strongest performers

Garfield County scores 74.5, exceeding Nebraska's state average of 71.2 by more than 3 points. The county ranks in the upper tier of Nebraska's 93 counties, placing it among the state's livability leaders.

Health, affordability, and risk management excel

Garfield excels with a health score of 78.3—one of the state's strongest—and a cost score of 86.6 featuring remarkable rent at just $519 per month. Risk management scores an outstanding 98.8, indicating exceptional economic and environmental stability.

Income growth lags despite solid performance

Income scores 28.2 with a median household income of $68,611, which is reasonable but below what higher-scoring regions achieve. Tax burden (61.8) is moderate and could be lower relative to peer counties.

Best for health-focused rural families

Garfield County suits families prioritizing strong health outcomes, rock-bottom rent, and exceptional economic stability in a rural setting. This county offers an enviable combination of affordability and security, making it perfect for those building stable lives off the income treadmill.

Score breakdown

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

Tax61.8Cost86.6SafetyComing SoonHealth78.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome28.2Risk98.8WaterComing Soon
🏛61.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼28.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤78.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡98.8
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 Garfield County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Cleburne County
Alabama
74.5
Median income: $53,319
Gilpin County
Colorado
74.5
Median income: $88,654
Custer County
Idaho
74.5
Median income: $56,957
Lewis County
Idaho
74.5
Median income: $49,643
Franklin County
Indiana
74.5
Median income: $79,702

Deep Dives

Garfield County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Garfield County

via TaxByCounty

Garfield taxes stay well below national median

Garfield County's 1.439% effective rate sits significantly below the national median of 2.44%, placing it in the lower-tax tier nationally. The median property tax of $2,085 falls short of the national median of $2,690, even as local homes approach average U.S. values.

Above Nebraska's state average

At 1.439%, Garfield County's effective rate exceeds Nebraska's state average of 1.281%, ranking it in the upper-middle tier among the state's 93 counties. The median tax of $2,085 surpasses the state median of $1,972, reflecting above-average tax pressure by statewide standards.

Higher taxes than most neighbors

Garfield County's 1.439% rate exceeds all neighboring counties examined except Greeley (1.563%) and Furnas (1.449%), placing it among the region's higher-tax areas. Only Greeley County residents face steeper effective tax rates in this comparison set.

Estimated annual tax payment

Owners of median-valued homes at $144,900 pay approximately $2,085 in annual property taxes without a mortgage. With a mortgage, estimated taxes increase to $2,347 due to escrow requirements.

Review your assessment today

Many Garfield County homeowners are overassessed and can file free appeals with the county assessor. Comparing your assessed value to recent comparable sales in your area may reveal significant tax-saving opportunities.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Garfield County

via CostByCounty

Garfield offers exceptional rental affordability

Garfield County's 9.1% rent-to-income ratio is among the lowest in America and dramatically undercuts the national average of 14.2%, making it exceptionally affordable for renters. With a median income of $68,611—only 8% below the national median—residents enjoy genuine housing security.

Garfield is Nebraska's affordability leader

Garfield County's 9.1% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest in this entire eight-county group and substantially beats Nebraska's state average of 14.2%. This exceptional affordability reflects modest local rents paired with respectable incomes, creating genuine housing security for residents.

Lowest rents in the region by far

Garfield County's median rent of $519 is dramatically lower than every neighbor in this group, with the next-lowest (Greeley at $643) running 24% higher. The combination of rock-bottom rents and decent incomes creates the region's best housing affordability story.

Rent is a non-issue; homeownership is the trade

Garfield's $68,611 median income easily absorbs the $519 monthly rent—just 9% of gross earnings—leaving ample room in household budgets. Homeownership costs $843 monthly for properties valued at $144,900, making buying slightly costlier than renting but still accessible to most residents.

Garfield is Nebraska's affordability gem

If minimizing housing costs is your priority, Garfield County delivers—the lowest rents in this region consume just 9% of income, freeing resources for savings or quality of life. Remote workers or those with portable income will find exceptional value here, with genuine affordability paired with reasonable incomes.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Garfield County

via IncomeByCounty

Garfield edges toward national parity

Garfield County's median household income of $68,611 falls $6,144 short of the national median of $74,755, representing just an 8.2% gap—among the smallest shortfalls in this regional cluster. This relatively strong position reflects economic stability and employment diversity beyond typical agricultural patterns.

Above Nebraska's median household income

At $68,611, Garfield County exceeds Nebraska's state median of $66,880 by $1,731, positioning residents above the statewide average. The county's per capita income of $35,332 is in the middle range for Nebraska, suggesting fairly balanced economic distribution.

Strong earner among regional peers

Garfield County ranks fourth in median household income within its eight-county cluster, ahead of Furnas ($60,625), Gage ($64,426), and Greeley ($58,894), but trailing the highest earners Gosper ($79,145) and Grant ($69,063). The $144,900 median home value reflects solid real estate values tied to economic strength.

Excellent housing affordability ratio

Garfield County's rent-to-income ratio of just 9.1% is the lowest in the entire regional cluster, far below the 28–30% threshold indicating stress. This exceptional affordability means households retain the vast majority of earnings for savings, investment, and quality-of-life spending.

Invest in retirement and real estate

With above-average income and exceptional housing affordability, Garfield County residents are well-positioned to maximize retirement contributions and explore real estate investment. The combination of stable earning power and low housing burdens creates an ideal foundation for building long-term wealth and financial independence.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Garfield County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy near but not above average

Garfield County residents live to 77.1 years, about 1.8 years below the U.S. average of 78.9 years. With just 12.7% reporting poor or fair health—the lowest among these eight counties—residents generally report better health status.

Solid health profile within Nebraska

At 77.1 years, Garfield County's life expectancy closely matches Nebraska's 77.5-year state average. The county's 12.7% poor-health rate ranks among the best in the state sample.

Strongest health outcomes in the region

Garfield County's 12.7% poor-health rate significantly outperforms neighboring Garden County (19.5%) and Gosper County (14.5%). The county maintains competitive primary care access at 54 per 100K, though mental health provider data is limited.

Lowest uninsured rate among the eight

Garfield County leads this group with just 6.4% uninsured—well below Nebraska's 8.1% average and the lowest in this comparison. Primary care access at 54 per 100K is modest, and mental health provider data is unavailable.

Most residents have coverage; stay protected

Garfield County's high insurance coverage rate reflects strong community health engagement. If you're among the uninsured, Healthcare.gov makes it easy to find a plan and protect your family's health.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Garfield County

via RiskByCounty

Garfield County offers exceptional safety

Garfield County's composite risk score of 1.27 ranks among the safest in the entire nation and represents just 5% of Nebraska's state average of 25.80. This remote panhandle county faces negligible exposure to major natural disasters.

Nearly the safest county in Nebraska

Garfield ranks as one of the two or three safest counties in the entire state across all hazard categories. Its extremely low score reflects minimal flooding, tornado, and earthquake risk combined with manageable wildfire exposure.

Tied with Grant as Nebraska's safest zone

Garfield sits alongside Grant County (0.19)—essentially Nebraska's zero-risk zone—and benefits from the same stable panhandle geography. This entire northwestern pocket experiences remarkably low natural disaster frequency and intensity.

Wildfire presents minimal seasonal concern

Wildfire risk (50.03) is your only measurable hazard exposure, though it remains moderate at worst. Tornado (17.84), flood (4.20), and earthquake (4.99) risks are negligible.

Standard homeowner's coverage is sufficient

Garfield County residents can rely on basic homeowner's insurance without need for specialized flood or earthquake coverage. Maintaining defensible space around structures during wildfire season provides practical additional protection.

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.