countyscore
56.9
County Score
Water Quality 86Disaster Risk 83.5Schools 81.7

County Report Card

About Hemphill County, Texas

Beating the National Livability Median

Hemphill County outperforms most of the country with a composite score of 53.4, surpassing the national median of 50.0. This puts the county in a competitive position for quality of life on a national scale. It represents a rare high-performer in its region.

A Top Performer in Texas

The county's score of 53.4 is over 10 points higher than the Texas state average of 41.9. This makes Hemphill one of the more desirable locations in the state when looking at balanced data metrics. It offers a level of stability that many neighboring counties lack.

Exceptional Schools and Low Risk

The county boasts an impressive school score of 81.7 and a resilient risk score of 83.5. Water quality is another major asset, scoring 86.0 to ensure long-term sustainability. These high marks reflect a well-managed community with strong public investments.

High Taxes and Average Healthcare

The tax score of 27.2 is the county's weakest dimension, reflecting an effective tax rate of 1.164%. Healthcare accessibility is moderate with a score of 47.7, suggesting some room for improvement in medical infrastructure. Despite these points, the county maintains a very high floor for livability.

Ideal for Education-Focused Families

Hemphill County is a premier choice for families who prioritize top-tier public schools and environmental safety. It suits those looking for a stable, low-risk community with solid middle-class incomes. The higher tax burden is a direct investment in the county's excellent public services.

2040608010025.361.15447.781.738.783.58653.3Tax25.3Cost61.1Safety54Health47.7Schools81.7Income38.7Risk83.5Water86Weather53.356.9/100
This county
National avg
4 above average2 below average

Hemphill County DNA

Foverall

How Hemphill County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Hemphill County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Disaster Risk (83.5/100) but notably weak in Property Tax (25.3/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
25.3-26.7
Cost
61.1+13.100000000000001
Safety
54
Health
47.7
Schools
81.7+27.700000000000003
Income
38.7-12.299999999999997
Risk
83.5+36.5
Water
86+28
Weather
53.3
Sponsored

Think property taxes are too high in Hemphill County?

Many homeowners in Hemphill County pay more than they should. A professional appeal could save you hundreds per year.

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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$205,700

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$836/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$205,700/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$33,440/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum3.3x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $61,563/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

90.6

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
Compare Hemphill County with Lawrence County →Share on X

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Nearby counties

Wheeler County
Texas
47.6
Lipscomb County
Texas
50
Ellis County
Oklahoma
52.6
Roger Mills County
Oklahoma
57.5
Roberts County
Texas
60.8
Gray County
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31.2
Ochiltree County
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40.6
Beckham County
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41

Deep Dives

Hemphill County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 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

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

Safety in Hemphill County

via CrimeByCounty

Hemphill County Ranks Among the Safest

Hemphill County maintains an impressive safety score of 98.4, signaling a very secure environment for its residents. The total crime rate of 1,038.3 per 100K is less than half the national average of 2,385.5.

Outperforming the Texas Average

The county performs exceptionally well against the state average, staying well below the Texas mean crime rate of 2,052.5 per 100K. With a safety score of 98.4, it outperforms the typical Texas county score of 96.8.

Stability in the Texas Panhandle

Located in the Panhandle, Hemphill County shows lower crime rates than many of its neighbors, though data comes from a single reporting agency. This centralized reporting suggests a tight-knit community where crime remains rare.

Minimal Violent and Property Crime

Violent crime is notably low at 178.0 per 100K, while property crime sits at 860.3 per 100K. These figures remain well below national benchmarks, indicating a stable and peaceful local climate.

Maintain Your Peace of Mind

Maintaining this high level of safety starts with basic home security and community awareness. Even in low-crime areas, keeping doors locked and reporting suspicious activity helps preserve the county’s 98.4 safety score.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Hemphill County

via WeatherByCounty

Snowy and Semi-Arid Panhandle

Hemphill County receives 21.3 inches of rain and 7.9 inches of snow annually. While local temperature averages are unavailable, its climate is classified as semi-arid.

A Drier, Snowier Texas County

The county receives 10 inches less rain than the 31.9-inch state average. Its 7.9 inches of snow is significantly higher than the typical Texas county.

Northern Panhandle Extremes

Like Hartley County, Hemphill deals with significant winter snow. It is wetter than Hartley but remains much drier than the eastern half of the state.

Focus on Winter Precipitation

Seasonal temperature data for this station is limited, but 7.9 inches of snow falls annually. This indicates much colder winters than Central or South Texas.

Preparing for Panhandle Winters

Snow-clearing equipment and winterized vehicles are essential for the 7.9 inches of snowfall. Residents should plan for a dry climate with only 21.3 inches of rain.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Hemphill County

via SoilByCounty

Alkaline Panhandle Soils

Hemphill County soils are distinctly alkaline with an average pH of 7.47. This is significantly higher than the national median of 6.5 and even exceeds the Texas state average of 7.09.

High Sand and Workability

The soil is dominated by a 54.3% sand content, paired with 25.9% silt and 18.1% clay. This sandy mix provides high workability but requires careful management to retain moisture and nutrients over time.

Low Organic Matter Potential

Organic matter sits at 1.28%, trailing behind the state average of 1.66% and the national 2.0% benchmark. However, the available water capacity of 0.135 in/in slightly outperforms the state average of 0.133.

Surface Runoff Challenges

Classified in hydrologic group D, these soils exhibit high runoff potential despite the sandy texture. This combination means water moves quickly over the surface rather than soaking in during heavy Panhandle rain events.

Sturdy Zone 7a Plants

Gardening in zone 7a allows for a variety of cool-season vegetables and hearty grains. Wheat and native grasses perform well here, especially with supplemental irrigation to offset the alkaline pH.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Hemphill County

via LawnByCounty

Favorable Conditions in the Panhandle

Hemphill County scores a 44.5 on the lawn difficulty scale, which is notably better than the Texas state average of 31.7. In USDA Zone 7a, the cooler winters offer a slightly different rhythm for turf management than the rest of the state.

Dry Air and Limited Rainfall

Annual precipitation is light at 21.3 inches, falling well below the state average of 31.9 inches. This semi-arid climate means supplemental irrigation is vital to keep grass green through the growing season.

Sandy Soils With High Alkalinity

The soil here is sandy at 54.3% with a slightly alkaline pH of 7.47, exceeding the ideal lawn range of 6.0 to 7.0. You will likely need sulfur amendments to lower the pH and improve nutrient uptake for your turf.

Managing Abnormally Dry Conditions

Current conditions are manageable, with only 15 weeks spent in drought over the past year. While 100.0% of the county is currently abnormally dry, the absence of severe (D2+) drought provides a window for proactive lawn care.

Resilient Turf for Zone 7a

Buffalograss or heat-resistant Tall Fescue thrive well in Zone 7a's unique mix of Texas sun and cooler nights. Get your lawn established in late spring to capitalize on the early growing season before the dry summer peak.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hemphill County's county score?
Hemphill County, Texas has a composite county score of 56.9 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Hemphill County rank among counties in Texas?
Hemphill County ranks #25 among all counties in Texas on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Hemphill County, Texas?
The median annual property tax in Hemphill County is $2,390, with an effective tax rate of 1.16%. This earns Hemphill County a tax score of 25.3/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Hemphill County?
The median household income in Hemphill County, Texas is $61,563 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Hemphill County earns an income score of 38.7/100 on CountyScore.
Is Hemphill County, Texas a good place to live?
Hemphill County scores 56.9/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #25 in Texas. The best way to evaluate Hemphill County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Hemphill County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

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