CountyScore

Jefferson County

Arkansas · AR

#69 in Arkansas
65.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Jefferson County, Arkansas

Notably above national median

Jefferson County scores 65.8, placing it 31 percentile points above the national median of 50.0 and outperforming roughly three in five U.S. counties overall. This score reflects solid performance across livability metrics despite some specific challenges.

Slightly below state average

With a score of 65.8, Jefferson County falls modestly below Arkansas's state average of 70.3, positioning it in the lower-middle tier of Arkansas counties. It faces more headwinds than the strongest regional performers.

Low taxes and moderate housing costs

Jefferson County scores well on tax burden at 84.6 with an effective tax rate of 0.629%, and offers reasonably affordable housing with median values of $106,000. The combination provides stable, predictable costs for residents.

Very low risk resilience

Jefferson County's risk score of 14.8 is among the lowest in this group, suggesting significant exposure to natural disasters, economic volatility, or other environmental challenges. This vulnerability should factor heavily into relocation decisions, particularly for those with limited financial buffers.

Consider carefully before committing

Jefferson County works best for established residents with deep community ties and sufficient financial reserves to weather economic or environmental shocks. New arrivals should thoroughly investigate the county's specific risk factors before settling, particularly if they lack strong emergency savings.

Score breakdown

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

Tax84.6Cost82.7SafetyComing SoonHealth58.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome15.1Risk14.8WaterComing Soon
🏛84.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼15.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡14.8
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 Jefferson County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Kent County
Delaware
65.8
Median income: $72,872
Citrus County
Florida
65.8
Median income: $55,355
Jefferson County
Georgia
65.8
Median income: $46,561
Polk County
Georgia
65.8
Median income: $55,308
Walker County
Georgia
65.8
Median income: $55,887

Deep Dives

Jefferson County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Jefferson County

via TaxByCounty

Jefferson County taxes remain low nationally

At 0.629%, Jefferson County's effective property tax rate ranks in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties, still significantly below the national median of 0.72%. While higher than most Arkansas counties, the rate remains favorable compared to nationwide averages.

Jefferson ranks above state average taxes

Jefferson's 0.629% effective rate exceeds Arkansas's state average of 0.532% by nearly 0.1 percentage points, placing it in the upper third of the state's 75 counties for tax burden. Among state counties, Jefferson residents face moderately higher property taxes.

Jefferson's rate highest in immediate region

At 0.629%, Jefferson carries the highest effective tax rate among its regional peers, exceeding Izard County's 0.585% and Johnson County's 0.566%. The elevated rate likely reflects higher property values and local funding needs in the Pine Bluff area.

Median home tax bill: $667 annually

On Jefferson's median home value of $106,000, the typical homeowner pays $667 per year in property taxes. With mortgage adjustments included, that annual commitment reaches approximately $847.

Appeal overassessments and reclaim savings

Overassessed properties are common in Arkansas, and homeowners rarely challenge them despite easy appeal processes. Your county assessor's office will review your assessment at no cost—many appeals result in lower tax bills.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Jefferson County

via CostByCounty

Jefferson County's housing costs run high

Jefferson County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.0% ranks significantly above the national standard, with median gross rent of $849 substantially outpacing national norms. Median household income of $48,552 falls 35% short of the national median, creating affordability strain despite reasonable incomes for Arkansas.

Arkansas's least affordable county here

At 21.0%, Jefferson County's rent-to-income ratio stands well above Arkansas's 18.1% average, making it the least affordable in this group. Median rent of $849 is the highest among these eight counties, reflecting higher costs relative to state and regional patterns.

Rental costs spike in Jefferson County

Jefferson County's median rent of $849 significantly exceeds nearby counties—$223 more than Izard County and $137 more than Jackson County. Home values of $106,000 remain moderate, but overall housing costs push affordability into challenging territory regionally.

Housing consumes over 40% of income

Jefferson residents with median income of $48,552 spend 21.0% on rent ($849/month) and 16.9% on mortgage costs, totaling 37.9% toward housing. This leaves constrained budgets for other essentials and savings, placing significant pressure on household finances.

Jefferson County suits higher earners

If relocating to Jefferson County, ensure your income substantially exceeds the county median to weather its elevated housing costs comfortably. The area's higher rents and mortgage costs demand careful financial planning compared to other Arkansas options.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Jefferson County

via IncomeByCounty

Jefferson mirrors state income struggle

Jefferson County's median household income of $48,552 trails the national median of $74,755 by roughly 35%. However, it sits slightly below Arkansas's state average of $51,156, placing Jefferson in the state's lower-income counties despite proximity to Pine Bluff's economic center.

Lower-middle rank statewide

Jefferson ranks in the lower half of Arkansas counties by household income, earning about $2,600 less than the state average. The county's per capita income of $25,317 also sits above state average, but the gap suggests income concentration among a smaller earner base.

Outearns Jackson, trails Lincoln

Jefferson's $48,552 income beats Jackson County ($41,215) by $7,300 annually, but falls short of Lincoln County's $51,667 and Izard's $47,728. This mixed ranking reflects Jefferson's position as a more economically mixed county, with both stronger and weaker segments.

Housing costs squeeze budgets tightest

Jefferson's rent-to-income ratio of 21.0% is the highest among peer counties, signaling housing stress for median-income households. With a median home value of $106,000 and tight rental costs, Jefferson residents face real affordability challenges that limit discretionary spending.

Prioritize stability before investing

Given housing costs, Jefferson residents should first establish 3–6 months of emergency savings, then explore employer 401(k) matches for free retirement contributions. Once that foundation solidifies, even small regular investments in diversified funds can build meaningful wealth over 20+ years.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Jefferson County

via HealthByCounty

Jefferson falls short on life span

At 70.3 years, Jefferson County's life expectancy trails the U.S. average of 76.4 years by over 6 years, reflecting concentrated health disadvantages. With 27.6% reporting poor or fair health—well above the national rate of roughly 18%—Jefferson faces significant chronic disease and preventive care gaps.

Among Arkansas's lowest life expectancy

Jefferson County's 70.3 years falls noticeably below the state average of 72.3 years, making it one of Arkansas's worst-performing counties by this critical metric. The 27.6% poor/fair health rate suggests systemic barriers to care and higher disease burden than most state peers.

Strongest healthcare infrastructure regionally

Despite low life expectancy, Jefferson County boasts 73 primary care providers and 240 mental health providers per 100K—the most robust healthcare network in its region by far. This paradox suggests access alone cannot overcome broader socioeconomic and health challenges facing the county.

Best insured county in the region

At 7.8% uninsured, Jefferson County performs well below the state average of 9.9%, with nearly 9 in 10 residents carrying some coverage. Yet with 73 primary care and 240 mental health providers per 100K—the region's best access—Jefferson's health struggles point to poverty, chronic disease, and care quality issues beyond mere insurance status.

Verify your coverage keeps you safe

Jefferson County's strong provider network means coverage gaps leave you exposed—not stretched thin. If you're among the 7.8% uninsured, connecting with Medicaid or marketplace plans immediately strengthens your access to the excellent facilities in your county.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Jefferson County

via RiskByCounty

Jefferson ranks as state's riskiest county

Jefferson County's composite risk score of 85.18 earns a Relatively Moderate rating—the highest in Arkansas and well above the state average of 55.51. This score reflects dangerous exposure across nearly every natural hazard category.

Arkansas's most disaster-prone county

Jefferson County faces the greatest combined natural disaster risk of any Arkansas county. Its scores exceed state averages in flood (78.21), tornado (92.53), earthquake (95.58), and hurricane (65.29) risk.

Dramatically higher risks than neighbors

Jefferson's 85.18 composite score towers above Jackson County's 67.84 and Lawrence County's 67.88. The county's flood risk of 78.21 is nearly four times Lafayette County's 16.86, reflecting geographic and structural vulnerability.

Earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods threaten

Jefferson residents face earthquake risk at 95.58—the state's highest—combined with tornado risk at 92.53 and flood risk at 78.21. These three hazards alone make Jefferson the state's most comprehensively threatened county.

Layer all major disaster coverage

Jefferson homeowners need earthquake insurance (95.58 risk), flood insurance through NFIP (78.21 risk), and windstorm riders for tornado protection (92.53 risk). Don't rely on standard homeowners policies—these three separate coverages are critical.

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.