Giles County

Tennessee · TN

#53 in Tennessee
69.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Giles County, Tennessee

Giles Exceeds National Median by 54%

Giles County's composite score of 77.2 is 54% higher than the national median of 50.0, marking it as a strong livability destination nationally. The score reflects consistent strength across tax efficiency and housing affordability.

Slightly Above Tennessee Average

At 77.2, Giles County edges above Tennessee's 76.3 state average, ranking among the better-performing counties in the state. This positions it squarely in the upper tier of Tennessee's livability profile.

Excellent Taxes and Solid Incomes

Giles County excels with a tax score of 89.1 (effective rate 0.467%) and an income score of 23.5, reflecting median household income of $61,476. The cost score of 81.6 supports this strength with median home value of $204,100 and rent averaging $836 monthly.

Schools and Safety Data Unavailable

Information on safety, health, schools, water quality, and risk remains incomplete, leaving important livability factors unmeasured. Community research on education and safety outcomes is recommended for families.

Attractive for Upper-Middle-Income Households

Giles County appeals to professionals and families with moderate-to-good incomes who value low taxes and reasonable housing costs. The county provides economic stability and financial efficiency for those seeking established residential communities.

Score breakdown

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

Tax89.1Cost81.6SafetyComing SoonHealth61SchoolsComing SoonIncome23.5Risk39.1WaterComing Soon
🏛89.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠81.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼23.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
61
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
39.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Giles County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Giles County

via TaxByCounty

Giles taxes below state and national averages

Giles County's effective tax rate of 0.467% sits below Tennessee's state average of 0.511% and well below the national median of 0.76%. The median annual property tax of $953 represents less than a third of the national median of $2,690.

Giles ranks in state's lower-tax tier

At 0.467%, Giles County's effective tax rate places it in Tennessee's bottom 40% for tax burden. The median annual bill of $953 is roughly $60 below the state median, giving Giles households a modest tax advantage.

Giles offers competitive regional tax rates

Giles County's 0.467% rate sits comfortably below Gibson (0.679%) and Franklin (0.565%), comparable to Hamblen (0.457%) and Greene (0.431%). The county offers moderate tax relief for homeowners in the eight-county region.

What your Giles home costs in taxes

On the county median home value of $204,100, the annual property tax bill totals approximately $953. With a mortgage, you'll pay about $1,106; owning outright brings the bill to roughly $788.

Review assessments to maximize savings

Even in lower-tax Giles County, many homeowners carry assessments that exceed their home's actual value. Submitting a property tax appeal every two years ensures you're only paying taxes on what your home is truly worth.

Cost of Living in Giles County

via CostByCounty

Giles County Rents Below National Standards

Giles County's 16.3% rent-to-income ratio beats the national average, allowing renters more financial cushion than typical American households. With a $61,476 median income supporting $836 monthly rent, Giles renters enjoy affordability relative to national norms.

Giles County Above Tennessee Average

Giles County's 16.3% rent-to-income ratio is slightly better than Tennessee's 17.6% state average, placing it in the more affordable half of Tennessee counties. Renters pay just $24 less than the state median, showing solid but not exceptional affordability within Tennessee.

Moderate Pricing for South-Central Tennessee

Giles County's $836 median rent sits between more affordable Gibson County ($797) and pricier Franklin County ($863), making it a middle-ground option. This positioning offers a balance of rural character with modest service availability.

Giles County Housing Expenses

Giles County renters allocate 16.3% of their $61,476 median income to $836 monthly housing, maintaining strong discretionary income. Homeowners spend 15.1% on $773 monthly costs, among the lowest owner-cost burdens in the comparison region.

Giles County for Balanced Tennessee Living

If you're exploring South-Central Tennessee relocation, Giles County offers reasonable $836 rent and $204,100 median home values without extreme affordability constraints. Compare its moderate costs against both more rural and more developed neighboring counties to assess fit.

Income & Jobs in Giles County

via IncomeByCounty

Giles County earns above Tennessee

Giles County's median household income of $61,476 surpasses Tennessee's state average ($58,994) by $2,482, yet trails the national median of $74,755 by $13,279. The county ranks in the lower-middle tier nationally, outperforming most rural counties while lagging urban centers.

One of Tennessee's stronger earners

At $61,476, Giles County ranks above the state average and among Tennessee's better-performing counties for median household income. Strong local industries and stable employment contribute to this above-average standing within the state.

Regional leader in household earnings

Giles County's $61,476 rivals Franklin County ($61,553) for the highest income in this group, both significantly outpacing Grundy County ($45,573) and Fentress County ($50,865). The county stands as an economic anchor in its region.

Higher income offsets home values

Giles County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.3% is reasonable given its median home value of $204,100, which ranks among the highest regionally. Higher earnings allow households to comfortably manage the cost of homeownership here.

Strong income powers wealth building

Giles County's above-state-average income creates real capacity for wealth accumulation beyond homeownership. Residents should leverage this advantage by maximizing retirement contributions, starting investment accounts, and diversifying assets.

Health in Giles County

via HealthByCounty

Giles life expectancy below U.S. average

Giles County residents have a life expectancy of 71.6 years, falling 4.4 years short of the U.S. average of 76 years. The county's poor or fair health rate of 22.4% is better than the national average, suggesting relatively good self-reported health despite the life expectancy gap.

Below Tennessee's average, but improving

At 71.6 years, Giles County's life expectancy is 0.8 years below Tennessee's average of 72.4 years, placing it in the middle tier of state counties. The uninsured rate of 10.9% is slightly better than Tennessee's 11.9%, indicating good coverage penetration.

Mid-range performer among regional peers

Giles County's 71.6-year life expectancy ranks between Gibson County (70.3 years) and Franklin County (73.8 years), showing moderate health outcomes regionally. Its 36 primary care providers per 100,000 fall short of Franklin's 56 but exceed Gibson's 40 in density.

Decent coverage, strong mental health support

With 10.9% uninsured and 36 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Giles County offers reasonable healthcare access, strengthened by 65 mental health providers per 100,000—well above regional averages. This robust mental health infrastructure suggests the county prioritizes behavioral health alongside primary care.

Secure your family's coverage

Giles County's low uninsured rate of 10.9% shows most residents have found coverage—you can too. If you lack insurance, local health departments and community centers can guide you to Marketplace plans or Medicaid options.

Disaster Risk in Giles County

via RiskByCounty

Giles County's risk exceeds national average

Giles County's composite risk score of 60.94 places it in the Relatively Low category but above the typical American county's risk profile. The county faces above-average tornado and earthquake exposure that warrant specific preparedness measures for residents.

Moderately at-risk for Tennessee

Giles County's 60.94 score ranks above Tennessee's state average of 52.45, making it one of the state's more hazard-exposed counties. Its tornado risk (85.18) and earthquake risk (76.59) are particularly elevated compared to other Tennessee regions.

Riskier than Franklin, safer than Gibson

Giles County's 60.94 score positions it between Franklin County (57.51) to the east and Gibson County (85.94) to the northwest. Its risk profile is representative of South-Central Tennessee's moderate hazard exposure, with notable tornado and seismic vulnerabilities.

Tornadoes and earthquakes dominate hazard profile

Tornado risk peaks at 85.18, placing Giles County squarely in Tennessee's tornado-prone corridor where severe spring storms regularly develop. Earthquake risk (76.59) ranks second, reflecting the county's position near seismic fault lines that occasionally produce damaging tremors.

Build tornado readiness into home safety

Install a safe room or basement shelter designed to withstand high-wind tornadic events, and ensure your homeowners policy explicitly covers tornado and hail damage. Given moderate earthquake risk, consider adding seismic coverage to your policy for added protection during fault movement.

ByCounty Network

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