CountyScore

Harnett County

North Carolina · NC

#74 in North Carolina
64.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Harnett County, North Carolina

Clearly above the national baseline

Harnett County scores 69.5, nearly 40 points above the national median of 50.0, placing it well within the top tier of U.S. counties. This strong composite score reflects consistent performance across available dimensions.

Competitive but slightly below state mark

Harnett ranks just below North Carolina's state average of 72.7, positioning it in the solid middle range among the state's counties. The county remains a respectable choice for those evaluating options within the state.

Best-in-group tax rate anchors appeal

Harnett boasts the lowest effective tax rate in this group at 0.744%, earning a tax score of 81.3. With a median household income of $69,012 and median home value of $220,700, the county balances cost efficiency with reasonably strong earnings.

Income potential not a top draw

The income score of 28.4 indicates median household earnings lag behind state and national averages. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable, preventing a complete assessment of day-to-day livability factors.

Smart pick for tax-minimizing residents

Harnett appeals to those seeking a low tax environment with solid, stable incomes—particularly attractive for small business owners and families. The county delivers reliable fundamentals without premium housing costs or tax burdens.

Score breakdown

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

Tax81.3Cost70.9SafetyComing SoonHealth65.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome28.4Risk24.7WaterComing Soon
🏛81.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠70.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼28.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤65.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡24.7
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 Harnett County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Amador County
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Median income: $81,526
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Mono County
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64.7
Median income: $86,953
Bartow County
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64.7
Median income: $79,431
Clinton County
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Median income: $65,177

Deep Dives

Harnett County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Harnett County

via TaxByCounty

Harnett taxes align closely with NC

Harnett's 0.744% effective rate sits just above North Carolina's 0.701% average and below the national median of 0.703%, placing it near the 50th percentile nationally. At $1,642 annually on a median home worth $220,700, Harnett residents pay roughly 39% less than the national median tax bill of $2,690.

Harnett near middle of NC pack

At 0.744%, Harnett ranks slightly above the state average of 0.701%, landing in the middle third of North Carolina's 100 counties. The county represents a balanced tax environment compared to high-burden areas like Halifax and low-burden ones like Henderson.

Harnett reasonable within Piedmont region

Harnett's 0.744% rate sits between Hoke County's lower 0.692% and Guilford's higher 0.883%, offering moderate tax positioning in the central Piedmont. The 14-percentage-point gap between Harnett and high-rate Halifax is significant for homeowners.

Typical Harnett property tax payment

On the median home valued at $220,700, Harnett homeowners pay approximately $1,642 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, the escrow-included amount typically rises to about $1,796.

Even moderate rates warrant review

Even in counties with reasonable tax rates, individual overassessments occur regularly—assessment offices sometimes lag market value trends. Harnett homeowners should verify their valuation matches recent comparable home sales to ensure they're not overpaying.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Harnett County

via CostByCounty

Harnett offers near-perfect affordability

Harnett County's 18.8% rent-to-income ratio sits right at the national comfort zone, with renters paying $1,080/month against a median household income of $69,012. This is among the healthiest housing burden ratios in our analysis.

Best-in-class NC affordability

Harnett's 18.8% rent-to-income ratio beats North Carolina's state average of 18.6%, making it one of the most affordable counties statewide. Median household income of $69,012 also outpaces several rural peers.

Harnett undercuts Guilford and Henderson

At $1,080/month, Harnett's median rent runs $28 below Guilford and $40 below Henderson, while incomes remain competitive. The county offers the best rent-to-income math in this immediate cluster.

Homeowners pay more, but manageable

Renters spend $1,080/month while homeowners face $1,171/month in mortgage costs—a $91 monthly gap reflecting the county's $220,700 median home value. Both housing types remain accessible relative to median income.

Harnett: NC's balanced housing market

If you're relocating to North Carolina, Harnett delivers rare affordability paired with solid regional income—Fort Bragg proximity adds job stability. Your housing costs will consume just under 19% of income, leaving breathing room for other needs.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Harnett County

via IncomeByCounty

Harnett outearns state, approaches nation

Harnett County's median household income of $69,012 exceeds North Carolina's state average of $61,072 by 13%, bringing it within striking distance of the national median of $74,755. The county ranks above many American counties and demonstrates economic strength for its size and rural character.

Harnett ranks among state's strongest earners

At $69,012, Harnett County's median household income places it comfortably above the state average, positioning it in the upper third of North Carolina's counties. This performance reflects the county's access to regional employment hubs and a diversified local economy.

Harnett leads rural county peer group

Harnett's $69,012 median household income edges out Guilford ($66,027) and surpasses smaller neighbors like Hoke ($60,095) and Haywood ($61,001), making it a top earner among rural counties. The county's per capita income of $31,382 reflects strong earning potential, though it lags more urbanized peers like Henderson ($38,976).

Housing affordable, rent well-managed

Harnett households spend just 18.8% of income on rent, the lowest ratio among comparable counties, leaving substantial room for savings and other expenses. The median home value of $220,700 represents a reasonable multiple of median household income, making homeownership accessible for families with modest down payments.

Harnett's advantage: invest early

With above-state-average income and below-average rent burdens, Harnett households have genuine capacity to invest 10–15% of earnings toward retirement and wealth-building goals. Families here should maximize employer retirement matches, open IRAs, and explore diversified investment accounts to capitalize on this favorable income-to-cost-of-living position.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Harnett County

via HealthByCounty

Harnett slightly below national average

Life expectancy in Harnett County stands at 74.5 years, roughly matching the U.S. average of 74.5 years. However, 19.5% report poor or fair health, slightly above the national average of 18%.

Harnett edges ahead of NC average

At 74.5 years, Harnett's life expectancy slightly exceeds North Carolina's state average of 74.4 years, placing it near the middle of the state's county rankings. The uninsured rate of 11.8% is marginally better than the state's 12.5%.

Primary care access needs improvement

Harnett offers just 27 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—substantially below state norms. With 111 mental health providers per 100,000, mental healthcare is also limited.

11.8% of Harnett residents uninsured

Nearly 1 in 8 Harnett residents lack health insurance, and with fewer primary care providers available, seeking care becomes harder. Many residents travel outside the county for routine medical services.

Coverage matters in rural Harnett

Check your eligibility for NC marketplace plans or Medicaid at nchealthplans.gov. With limited local providers, insurance helps you travel and receive the care you need.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Harnett County

via RiskByCounty

Harnett's risk aligns with U.S. average

Harnett County scores 75.29 on the composite risk index, landing it squarely in the Relatively Low category and near the national median. Residents face typical American-level disaster exposure rather than exceptional vulnerability.

Middle of the pack in North Carolina

At 75.29, Harnett ranks slightly above North Carolina's average of 66.72, placing it in the mid-range of the state's 100 counties. The county experiences moderate hazard exposure compared to both high-risk and low-risk regions statewide.

Risk comparable to nearby counties

Harnett (75.29) sits between Halifax (72.90) to the east and Lee County to the west, with similar exposure patterns. Neighboring Johnson and Wake counties show slightly different risk profiles despite geographic proximity.

Hurricanes and tornadoes create compound threat

Harnett faces a hurricane risk of 88.86 and tornado risk of 87.09, making tropical systems and spring severe weather the dominant concerns. Wildfire risk (69.05) has increased in recent years and warrants attention during dry seasons.

Multi-hazard insurance strategy recommended

Given hurricane (88.86) and tornado (87.09) risks, ensure your homeowners policy explicitly covers wind damage and consider additional wildfire protection. Flood insurance is a separate purchase but worth evaluating given the county's 73.92 flood risk score.

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.