CountyScore

Hemphill County

Texas · TX

#38 in Texas
68.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Hemphill County, Texas

Well Above the National Norm

Hemphill County's composite score of 68.9 ranks substantially higher than the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top tier of American counties for overall livability. This strong performance reflects exceptional affordability and tax efficiency.

Outpacing Most Texas Counties

Hemphill scores 68.9 versus Texas's average of 66.8, positioning it in the upper tier of the state's counties. This edge comes primarily from its low cost of living and favorable tax environment.

Affordability and Low Taxes Rule

Hemphill shines with a cost score of 78.1 and tax score of 69.5, supported by a median home value of just $214,900 and an effective tax rate of only 1.164%. Monthly rent averages just $946, making it one of Texas's most pocket-friendly counties.

Income Growth and Data Gaps Persist

The income score of 30.4 is the county's weak point, with median household income of $72,052 trailing state standards. Limited data on safety, health, schools, and water quality leaves gaps in the livability assessment.

Ideal for Budget-Conscious Families

Hemphill is perfect for retirees, rural families, and anyone prioritizing low cost of living over high wages or urban amenities. If you can earn elsewhere or live on fixed income, Hemphill's unbeatable affordability makes it a smart choice.

Score breakdown

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

Tax69.5Cost78.1SafetyComing SoonHealth61.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome30.4Risk83.5WaterComing Soon
🏛69.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼30.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤61.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡83.5
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 Hemphill County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Etowah County
Alabama
68.3
Median income: $53,070
Greene County
Arkansas
68.3
Median income: $56,793
Charlton County
Georgia
68.3
Median income: $48,534
Wilkes County
Georgia
68.3
Median income: $52,542
Greene County
Illinois
68.3
Median income: $60,976

Deep Dives

Hemphill County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Hemphill County

via TaxByCounty

Hemphill slightly below national average

Hemphill County's 1.164% effective tax rate falls below the national median of 1.199%, placing it roughly at the 45th percentile. Homeowners pay $2,502 annually on a median home valued at $214,900—modestly above the national median tax of $2,690 due to lower home values.

Below average for Texas

At 1.164%, Hemphill County's effective rate ranks below Texas's 1.276% state average, making it a relatively affordable county by state standards. The median property tax of $2,502 sits above the state median of $2,193, driven by this county's slightly higher home valuations.

Competitive with surrounding counties

Hemphill's 1.164% rate sits comfortably between Henderson County (0.981%) and Hill County (1.234%), making it moderately taxed for the region. The $2,502 median tax is among the most affordable in this part of the Panhandle.

What $214,900 home costs yearly

A median-priced Hemphill County home generates $2,502 in annual property taxes under standard conditions, or $3,663 with a mortgage. That amounts to roughly $209 per month—a reasonable tax burden for this rural county.

Appeal if assessed too high

Even in modestly taxed Hemphill County, overassessment happens—particularly for properties that haven't sold recently. Filing a formal assessment challenge costs nothing and could reduce your tax bill; many county appraisers overvalue agricultural and rural properties.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Hemphill County

via CostByCounty

Hemphill punches above affordability weight

With a 15.8% rent-to-income ratio, Hemphill County renters enjoy one of Texas's better affordability stories, beating the national norm. Despite median income of $72,052—below the national $74,755—low rents keep housing accessible here.

Texas's most affordable rental county

Hemphill's 15.8% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the best in Texas, well below the state's 18.1% average. At just $946 monthly rent—nearly $20 cheaper than the Texas median—this rural Panhandle county offers genuine affordability.

The budget champion of the region

Hemphill's $946 rent is the lowest among this group, undercut only by Hockley County's $813. Homeowners face similarly gentle costs at $865 monthly, making this one of Texas's true affordability havens.

Housing claims just 23% of income

Combined rent and owner costs total roughly $1,811 monthly—about 30% of the $72,052 median income. Renters alone allocate only 15.8% of their paychecks to housing, well within the 30% affordability guideline.

Affordability seekers should explore Hemphill

If you're priced out of urban Texas, Hemphill offers ranch-land living with modest $946 rents and $214,900 median home prices. Factor in lower incomes here, but the math favors anyone seeking genuine housing affordability in the Panhandle.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Hemphill County

via IncomeByCounty

Hemphill County slightly below U.S. average

Hemphill County's median household income of $72,052 falls just 3.6% below the national median of $74,755. The county's per capita income of $45,325 is notably robust, suggesting productive earning power across diverse demographics.

Well above Texas state average

At $72,052, Hemphill County's median household income exceeds Texas's state average of $64,737 by $7,315 per household. The per capita income of $45,325 ranks 36.5% higher than the state average of $33,197, indicating strong individual earning capacity.

Competitive with regional peers

Hemphill County's $72,052 median income positions it between regional neighbors, competing favorably with Henderson County ($63,955) but trailing Hood County ($86,802). The county's income profile reflects a stable, diversified local economy.

Housing highly affordable relative to income

With a rent-to-income ratio of just 15.8%, Hemphill County residents enjoy one of the lowest housing cost burdens, meaning housing consumes less than 1 in 6 dollars of gross income. At $214,900, median home values remain accessible to households earning the county median.

Leverage low housing costs for savings

Hemphill County's exceptional rent-to-income ratio of 15.8% frees up significant monthly cash flow compared to national averages. Consider directing these savings into emergency funds, retirement accounts, and investment portfolios to compound wealth over time.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Hemphill County

via HealthByCounty

Hemphill County outpaces nation in longevity

Hemphill County's life expectancy of 80.6 years exceeds the U.S. average by over 6 years, placing residents among America's longest-living communities. Yet 19.5% still experience poor or fair health, suggesting that higher longevity masks some underlying health challenges.

Top life expectancy in Texas

At 80.6 years, Hemphill County boasts the highest life expectancy in this dataset, surpassing the Texas average of 74.3 years by 6.3 years. However, its 20.8% uninsured rate creeps above the state average of 19.8%, indicating some residents lack coverage despite living longer.

Hemphill leads in longevity, not access

While Hemphill County beats neighboring Hays County (79.4 years) and Hood County (76.0 years) in life expectancy, its uninsured rate of 20.8% is higher than both peers. The county's 122 primary care providers per 100K suggest strong doctor availability but uninsured residents may struggle to use these services.

High provider density, coverage gaps remain

Hemphill County excels with 122 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 94 mental health providers per 100,000, among the highest in the comparison. Yet 20.8% of residents lack insurance, meaning access to these providers is uneven across the population.

Don't skip insurance despite good providers

Even in a county with excellent doctor availability, the 20.8% uninsured rate puts families at financial risk. Explore health plans at healthcare.gov or speak with a local navigator to find coverage you can afford.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Hemphill County

via RiskByCounty

Hemphill is exceptionally safe nationally

Hemphill County's composite risk score of 16.51 earns a "Very Low" rating, placing it well below the national average and among the safest counties in America. This exceptional profile makes Hemphill one of the lowest-risk places to live in the country.

Lowest-risk county in Texas

Hemphill County's score of 16.51 is dramatically lower than Texas's state average of 49.00, making it the safest county in the state by a wide margin. The county's remote panhandle location insulates it from many of the hazards that affect more populated areas of Texas.

Far safer than surrounding panhandle counties

Hemphill County's 16.51 score stands alone—neighboring panhandle counties face substantially higher risks, with Hockley County at 51.43 and other regional peers ranging much higher. Hemphill's geographic isolation from major population centers contributes to its exceptional safety profile.

Wildfires are your primary concern

Wildfire risk at 89.79 is dramatically higher than all other hazards in Hemphill County, creating a clear and specific vulnerability. All other risks—flood (3.63), tornado (51.18), earthquake (15.59), and hurricane (22.70)—are well below state and national averages.

Focus on wildfire preparedness and coverage

While overall risk is very low, Hemphill residents should ensure homeowners insurance covers wildfire damage and maintain defensible space around structures. Standard homeowners policies typically exclude wildfire, so verify your coverage includes this critical peril.

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.