CountyScore

Gordon County

Georgia · GA

#123 in Georgia
64.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Gordon County, Georgia

Competitive national livability position

Gordon County scores 72.9, substantially above the national median of 50.0 by nearly 46%. The county delivers solid livability through strong tax efficiency and reasonable housing costs.

Above average among Georgia counties

Gordon County scores 72.9, exceeding Georgia's state average of 70.9. The county ranks in the upper tier of livability among this comparison group of eight.

Strong taxes and housing values

Gordon County's tax score of 82.4 with an effective rate of 0.705% delivers strong tax savings. The cost score of 78.1 supports median home values of $205,600 and rent at just $872 monthly.

Lower incomes limit household wealth

The income score of 23.9 reflects a median household income of $61,997, relatively modest despite the county's industrial base. Data on safety, health, schools, risk, and water remain unavailable.

Working families seeking affordable stability

Gordon County attracts working families and retirees prioritizing low taxes and stable housing costs over high incomes. The county delivers small-town living with industrial employment and genuine affordability.

Score breakdown

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

Tax82.4Cost78.1SafetyComing SoonHealth52.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome23.9Risk32.8WaterComing Soon
🏛82.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼23.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤52.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡32.8
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 Gordon County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

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Median income: $63,316
Platte County
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Median income: $95,748

Deep Dives

Gordon County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Gordon County

via TaxByCounty

Gordon County offers solid tax value

Gordon County's effective tax rate of 0.705% is below Georgia's state average of 0.898%, positioning it favorably among U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax of $1,450 sits well below the national median of $2,690, reflecting both a moderate rate and reasonable home values.

Below state average, competitive overall

Gordon County's 0.705% effective rate runs comfortably below Georgia's 0.898% state average, placing it among the state's more affordable counties for property owners. With a median tax of $1,450 versus Georgia's median of $1,529, Gordon delivers slightly better value than the typical Georgia county.

Middle ground for Northwest Georgia

Gordon County's 0.705% rate sits between Gilmer's exceptional 0.384% and Floyd's 0.804%, offering solid middle-ground value in Northwest Georgia. It undercuts Fulton County (0.892%) and most other urban areas while remaining slightly higher than the region's tax leaders.

Modest homes, moderate taxes

A typical Gordon County home valued at $205,600 generates $1,450 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, that cost rises to approximately $1,667; without one, homeowners pay roughly $1,057.

Simple appeal process could save money

Gordon County homeowners should verify that their assessments match recent comparable sales in the area; overvaluations do occur and appeals are straightforward. Even modest homes can be overassessed, and challenging your valuation annually takes only minutes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Gordon County

via CostByCounty

Gordon delivers sub-national affordability

Gordon County renters spend 16.9% of income on housing—0.4 percentage points below the national average—making it one of the most affordable counties in this analysis. On a $61,997 median income, Gordon achieves strong housing affordability.

Gordon ranks among Georgia's best buys

Gordon County's 16.9% rent-to-income ratio outperforms the state average by 1.7 percentage points, placing it in the upper tier of Georgia's affordable housing markets. Mountain-region living delivers measurable savings.

Gordon balances modest rent with modest income

At $872 monthly, Gordon rents are $55 below the state average and just $95 more than the cheapest option (Franklin County). Gordon's $61,997 median income is the lowest in this comparison, yet its 16.9% ratio proves affordability persists.

Gordon keeps housing manageable despite modest earnings

Gordon renters pay $872 monthly and homeowners $961, totaling 34% of the $61,997 median income toward housing. This keeps costs proportionally controlled even on the survey's lower income levels.

Gordon suits budget-conscious rural seekers

If your household earns $55,000–$70,000 and values affordable housing over urban amenities, Gordon County delivers real affordability without requiring major income. You'll stretch dollars in Appalachia's foothills.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Gordon County

via IncomeByCounty

Gordon County trails national income standard

At $61,997, Gordon County's median household income falls $12,758 below the U.S. median of $74,755—a 17% shortfall. This below-average performance reflects a county economy with fewer high-wage opportunities than the national mainstream.

Just above Georgia's state average

Gordon County's $61,997 income marginally exceeds Georgia's state median of $60,488 by $1,509, placing it slightly above the 50th percentile among all 159 Georgia counties. This positions Gordon as an average performer regionally.

Middling among regional peers

At $61,997, Gordon County ranks between Gilmer ($72,542) and Franklin ($52,264), earning slightly more than Floyd ($62,540) but less than Glascock ($55,250). Its per capita income of $31,642 closely mirrors the state average of $31,115.

Rent costs remain reasonable

Gordon County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.9% sits comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold, and the median home value of $205,600 aligns appropriately with household earnings. Housing remains accessible for working families throughout the county.

Establish consistent saving habits

Gordon County households earning $61,997 have modest surplus available for savings and investment after expenses. Start with automatic payroll deductions for retirement accounts and build gradually into diversified investments—compound growth rewards patience and consistency.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Gordon County

via HealthByCounty

Gordon County faces severe health disparities

At 73.1 years, Gordon County residents live 5.8 years below the U.S. average of 78.9 years. The county's 24.1% poor or fair health rate is the highest in this group—a third higher than the national average of 18%—indicating severe chronic disease burden.

Georgia's most challenged county

Gordon County's 73.1-year life expectancy matches Georgia's state average, but the 24.1% poor or fair health rate far exceeds state norms. The county faces compounding health inequities requiring urgent intervention.

Worst outcomes in the region

Gordon County's 73.1-year life expectancy ranks among the lowest, slightly better than Glascock County (71.8 years) but trailing Fulton County (77.5 years) by 4.4 years. The 24.1% poor or fair health rate is 7.2 points above Floyd County's 22.6%.

Crisis: highest uninsured rate statewide

Gordon County's uninsured rate of 19.9% is the highest in this group and 4.9 percentage points above Georgia's 15.0% average. Combined with just 46 primary care providers per 100K, residents face compounding barriers to healthcare access and prevention.

Coverage is urgent for Gordon County

With 19.9% uninsured, Gordon County residents must act now—visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 today. Many residents qualify for free or low-cost Medicaid or marketplace plans that provide life-changing access to preventive and chronic care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Gordon County

via RiskByCounty

Gordon County faces moderate hazard risks

Gordon County's composite risk score of 67.21 exceeds the national average, earning a "Relatively Low" rating within Georgia's broader context. The county faces meaningful exposure across several disaster types, though not at the severity levels seen in state leaders like Fulton County.

Above average risk for Georgia

Gordon County's score of 67.21 surpasses Georgia's state average of 39.49, placing it in the upper-middle range of the state's at-risk counties. This above-average exposure reflects the county's location in north Georgia's hazard-prone foothills and mountains.

Comparable to nearby Gilmer County

Gordon County (67.21) and adjacent Gilmer County (68.10) face nearly identical composite disaster risks, suggesting shared vulnerability patterns across this region. Both counties warrant similar preparedness approaches tailored to foothills and mountain hazard profiles.

Tornadoes and earthquakes top the list

Gordon County's tornado risk scores 76.97, making severe thunderstorm preparedness essential, while earthquake risk reaches 79.39 reflecting regional seismic potential. Flood risk at 62.05 rounds out the three primary hazards affecting the county.

Tornado and earthquake coverage vital

Gordon County residents should add tornado/windstorm and earthquake riders to standard homeowners policies, as these hazards drive the county's above-average risk profile. Families living in mobile homes or older structures should prioritize safe-room installation or relocation to safer housing in this tornado-prone zone.

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.