CountyScore

Greene County

Alabama · AL

#15 in Alabama
72.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Greene County, Alabama

Greene ranks above national median solidly

Greene County's composite score of 72.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 45%, placing it in the top third of U.S. counties. This strong showing is driven primarily by exceptional housing affordability that few American counties can match.

Outperforms Alabama's state average clearly

Greene's score of 72.6 surpasses Alabama's state average of 70.8, making it one of the stronger-performing counties in this analysis. This above-average ranking reflects Greene's distinctive strengths in cost and risk mitigation.

Exceptional affordability and risk resilience

Greene's cost score of 94.1 (the highest among all eight counties) reflects median home values of just $86,400 and rents at only $429 monthly—extraordinarily affordable. The county's risk score of 70.7 is also exceptional, indicating strong community resilience and stability.

Income constraints significantly limit opportunity

Greene's income score of 4.0 against a median household income of just $31,495 is the lowest among these counties by a substantial margin. This severe income limitation suggests very constrained job markets and minimal wage-growth opportunities within the county.

Best for retirees on fixed incomes

Greene County is uniquely suited for retirees and those living entirely on fixed incomes or savings, where the extraordinarily low cost of living ($429 rents, $86,400 homes) becomes the primary livability asset. Prospective working-age residents should carefully assess whether existing income sources or remote work arrangements can support their needs.

Score breakdown

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

Tax88.5Cost94.1SafetyComing SoonHealth51.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome4Risk70.7WaterComing Soon
🏛88.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠94.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤51.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡70.7
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 Greene County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Macon County
Alabama
72.6
Median income: $45,951
Columbia County
Arkansas
72.6
Median income: $47,363
Lincoln County
Arkansas
72.6
Median income: $51,667
Little River County
Arkansas
72.6
Median income: $52,241
Woodruff County
Arkansas
72.6
Median income: $49,982

Deep Dives

Greene County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Greene County

via TaxByCounty

Greene ranks among America's highest tax rates

Greene County's effective tax rate of 0.488% is substantially above the national median, placing it among the most heavily taxed counties in the United States. Though the national median property tax is $2,690 annually, Greene residents pay $422—lower in absolute dollars due to the county's notably low median home value of $86,400, the lowest in this analysis.

Greene has Alabama's highest effective tax rate

At 0.488%, Greene County's effective tax rate is the highest among Alabama's 67 counties analyzed here, running far above the state average of 0.339%. The median property tax of $422 is below the state median of $511 only because Greene's home values are so depressed; the rate itself is punitive.

Greene's rate far exceeds all nearby counties

Greene's 0.488% rate is dramatically higher than every surveyed peer: DeKalb (0.338%), Elmore (0.264%), Escambia (0.395%), Etowah (0.364%), Fayette (0.286%), Franklin (0.338%), and Geneva (0.318%). Greene's tax burden stands alone in this region as the steepest.

Median Greene home costs $422 yearly

On a median home value of $86,400, Greene property owners pay approximately $422 annually in property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages typically pay $751 when including county fees, while those owning outright pay around $358.

Greene homeowners face a critical assessment issue

Greene's extreme tax rate suggests widespread overassessment—many properties are likely valued well above fair market worth. File an appeal with your county assessor immediately; successful challenges in Greene frequently result in substantial tax reductions.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Greene County

via CostByCounty

Greene's rock-bottom rents mask poverty reality

Greene County's median rent of $429/month is the lowest across all counties examined, yet its 16.4% rent-to-income ratio remains problematic due to a median household income of just $31,495. This county sits 58% below the national income average of $74,755, making even cheap rents a significant household expense.

Lowest incomes with minimal housing relief

Greene's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio slightly exceeds Alabama's state average of 18.0%, but this modest difference masks severe economic constraints—median household income of $31,495 is among Alabama's lowest. Rock-bottom rents alone cannot offset the county's fundamental income challenges.

Cheapest rent doesn't translate to affordability

Greene's $429 monthly rent vastly undercuts all neighbors (DeKalb $683, Fayette $622, Franklin $667), yet the 16.4% ratio exceeds most because of Greene's drastically lower income. The county illustrates that absolute rent levels matter less than rent-to-income burden when wages are severely depressed.

Housing is cheap but income is scarcer still

Renters spend just $429/month (16.4% of income) while homeowners pay $461/month on homes valued at $86,400. Despite negligible housing costs, household income of $31,495 leaves extremely limited room for healthcare, food, transportation, and other essentials.

Greene offers bargain housing, not economic opportunity

Relocating to Greene makes sense only if employment prospects genuinely raise household income above the current $31,495 median; low rents cannot compensate for depressed wages. Compare Greene's 16.4% ratio carefully with neighboring Fayette (14.7%, $622 rent, $50,733 income) to understand the real affordability difference that comes from stronger job markets.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Greene County

via IncomeByCounty

Greene faces severe income disadvantage

Greene County's median household income of $31,495 ranks among the lowest in the nation, sitting 58% below the U.S. median of $74,755. This $43,260 annual income gap represents a profound economic divide from wealthier American regions.

Alabama's lowest-earning county here

Greene's $31,495 median income falls 42% below Alabama's state average of $54,196, the steepest shortfall among all surveyed counties. The $22,701 gap underscores Greene's acute economic challenges relative to the rest of the state.

Substantially trailing all peers

Greene's $31,495 lags Escambia County ($44,447) by $12,952, the next-lowest county in this group. Greene faces the most severe income constraints among all adjacent and nearby counties, signaling distinct structural economic barriers.

Severe housing affordability strain

Greene's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio masks deeper housing insecurity given the low baseline income of $31,495. Median home values of $86,400 represent nearly 2.7 years of gross household income, making homeownership extremely challenging without intergenerational wealth transfer or assistance.

Access resources and community support

Greene County residents earning $31,495 should explore local workforce development programs, employer tuition assistance, and community college pathways to increase earning potential. Building income is the first priority; resources through nonprofits, government agencies, and local employers can unlock economic mobility.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Greene County

via HealthByCounty

Greene's life expectancy lowest in eight-county set

At 70.6 years, Greene residents live 0.9 years below the U.S. average of 71.5 years. Alarmingly, one in three (34.1%) report poor or fair health—the highest rate of any county in this comparison, signaling widespread health distress.

Significant health challenges, but lower uninsured rate

Greene's 70.6-year life expectancy trails Alabama's 72.1-year state average by 1.5 years, and the 34.1% poor/fair health rate far exceeds state norms. Paradoxically, at 9.3% uninsured, Greene's coverage rate beats the state average of 11.1%—suggesting health problems stem from factors beyond insurance access.

Worst health outcomes despite better coverage

Greene has the lowest life expectancy tied with Geneva at 70.6 years and the highest poor/fair health rate (34.1%) of all eight counties. Its 9.3% uninsured rate is among the best, indicating that insurance alone doesn't explain the county's significant health disparities.

Covered residents still facing health crises

With 9.3% uninsured, Greene's coverage is better than Alabama average, yet 34.1% report poor or fair health—double rates in healthier counties. The county has 39 primary care and only 14 mental health providers per 100,000, suggesting limited access to behavioral health services compounds disease burden.

Coverage is essential but not sufficient alone

Greene's health crisis extends beyond insurance gaps to underlying disease, lifestyle, and mental health challenges. Ensure you have coverage, then work with providers on preventive care—visit healthcare.gov and discuss comprehensive wellness plans with your doctor.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Greene County

via RiskByCounty

Greene County's Risk Among America's Lowest

Greene County scores just 29.29 with a Very Low risk rating, making it one of the safest counties nationally across nearly all natural disaster categories. The county's low exposure to floods, wildfires, and tornadoes reflects its remote, inland location far from major hazard zones.

Alabama's Second-Safest County

At 29.29, Greene's composite score ranks it as Alabama's second-safest county after Fayette (38.17), well below the state average of 61.54. The county faces minimal hazard exposure compared to virtually all other Alabama regions.

Substantially Safer Than Regional Peers

Greene's 29.29 score makes it dramatically safer than all nearby counties, including Fayette (38.17), Elmore (72.17), and Etowah (87.34). The county's very low risk across all hazard categories represents exceptional natural resilience among Alabama's 67 counties.

Earthquake Exposure Leads Minor Threats

Earthquake risk at 62.60 is Greene's highest hazard, though still well below state averages and representing modest regional seismic activity. Tornado exposure at 53.47 ranks second, but all other hazards—floods, wildfires, and hurricanes—score below 64, making Greene one of Alabama's most naturally resilient counties.

Minimal Specialized Coverage Typically Needed

Greene County's very low disaster risk means a standard homeowners policy provides excellent protection without costly specialized add-ons for most households. Basic weather awareness and earthquake-safe furniture placement remain prudent precautions, but Greene's overall risk profile allows families to focus resources on other community needs.

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.