CountyScore

Jennings County

Indiana · IN

#34 in Indiana
72.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Jennings County, Indiana

Jennings County well above national median

Jennings County's 72.7 composite score significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0, ranking in the top 45th percentile nationally. This southeastern Indiana county demonstrates solid livability across its measured dimensions.

Slightly above Indiana average

Jennings County scores 72.7 against Indiana's 71.2 state average, placing it in the upper-middle tier among Indiana's 92 counties. It represents a slightly stronger-than-typical Indiana county.

Competitive income and tax profile

Jennings County combines an 85.8 tax score with a 0.584% effective rate and a 28.1 income score backed by a $68,476 median household income. The 78.7 cost score with $154,600 median home values creates favorable earnings-to-housing dynamics.

Health lags despite solid fundamentals

The health score of 68.1 ranks lower than several peers in this group, suggesting localized health concerns worth investigating. School and safety data remain unavailable, leaving important family-readiness factors unassessed.

Best for working families seeking balance

Jennings County suits working families and young professionals seeking balanced income prospects, reasonable housing costs, and tax efficiency, particularly those unconcerned about above-average health outcomes. Its moderate risk profile and solid fundamentals make it a practical choice for steady, middle-class living.

Score breakdown

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

Tax85.8Cost78.7SafetyComing SoonHealth68.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome28.1Risk68.1WaterComing Soon
🏛85.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼28.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤68.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡68.1
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 Jennings County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Marion County
Alabama
72.7
Median income: $50,714
Polk County
Arkansas
72.7
Median income: $49,252
Yuma County
Colorado
72.7
Median income: $60,051
Schley County
Georgia
72.7
Median income: $59,647
Wheeler County
Georgia
72.7
Median income: $45,262

Deep Dives

Jennings County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Jennings County

via TaxByCounty

Jennings County taxes near national average

Jennings County's 0.584% effective tax rate sits just above the national median of 0.571%, placing it in the middle 40th percentile. At $903 annually on a median home of $154,600, homeowners experience moderate tax burdens compared to national peers.

Below Indiana's average tax rate

Jennings County's 0.584% effective rate falls below Indiana's average of 0.671%, providing modest relief versus state peers. The median tax of $903 undercuts Indiana's median of $1,199 by roughly 25%.

More affordable than northern counties

Jennings County's 0.584% rate sits between Jackson County's low 0.472% and the higher-tax Henry, Howard, Huntington trio to the north. Its tax burden ranks favorably within the southeastern Indiana region.

What you'll pay in Jennings County

On a median home valued at $154,600, Jennings County homeowners pay roughly $903 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, that increases to $1,023 due to lender escrow requirements.

Appeal if overassessed

Jennings County homeowners should verify their assessments reflect fair market value, especially if recent home sales in the area suggest lower valuations. Contact your assessor to request a reassessment or appeal process details.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Jennings County

via CostByCounty

Jennings County's Balanced Housing Market

Jennings County delivers one of the region's better affordability stories with a 15.9% rent-to-income ratio sitting just below Indiana's 15.6% state average, thanks to a solid median household income of $68,476. At $906 monthly, rents here feel manageable relative to what residents earn.

Jennings County's Indiana Position

At 15.9%, Jennings County's rent-to-income ratio essentially matches Indiana's 15.6% state average, placing it squarely in the state's affordability mainstream. The county's median income of $68,476 sits above many peers, helping residents weather housing costs more comfortably than less affluent counties.

Jennings Among Regional Peers

Jennings County's 15.9% rent burden and $68,476 median income position it favorably against weaker performers like Jefferson ($59,987 income, 17.3% ratio) and Jay ($54,114 income, 17.0% ratio). At $906 monthly, Jennings rents run moderate for this cluster while incomes provide better cushion.

Jennings County Housing Breakdown

Jennings County residents earning the median $68,476 spend about $906 monthly on rent—a reasonable 15.9% of gross income. Homeowners face $877 monthly costs on median-valued properties around $154,600, making ownership a realistic path for stable earners in the county.

Considering Jennings County?

Jennings County offers solid affordability with a 15.9% rent-to-income ratio matching state averages and median income of $68,476 that provides real budget flexibility. If you're comparing Indiana counties, Jennings' balanced housing costs and decent incomes make it a sensible middle-ground choice worth serious consideration.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Jennings County

via IncomeByCounty

Jennings County approaches national average

Jennings County's median household income of $68,476 narrows the gap with the U.S. median of $74,755 to just $6,279, representing only an 8% shortfall. This positioning puts Jennings closer to national norms than most peer counties.

Competitive with Indiana average

Jennings County's $68,476 is nearly identical to Indiana's median of $68,681, placing it right at state average for earnings. Per capita income of $31,077 trails the state average of $34,773, suggesting income concentration in fewer households.

Mid-tier performer regionally

Jennings County ($68,476) outpaces Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jefferson, and Jay counties but trails Jackson ($70,208) and Jasper ($79,634). At the state median, Jennings represents solid middle-ground economic performance.

Housing costs well-managed

Jennings County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.9% ranks among the best in this eight-county group, enabling renters to maintain financial flexibility. The median home value of $154,600 aligns reasonably well with local earning power.

Build balanced investment approach

Jennings County households earning $68,476 should diversify savings across tax-advantaged and regular investment accounts for optimal wealth accumulation. Contributing $300 monthly to a mix of retirement and brokerage accounts at 7% annual returns generates roughly $350,000 in 30 years.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Jennings County

via HealthByCounty

Jennings County has lowest life expectancy

At 72.7 years, Jennings County residents live approximately 6.2 years less than the U.S. average of 78.9 years—the lowest life expectancy among these eight counties. With 19.2% reporting poor or fair health, the county faces significant chronic disease and population health challenges.

Bottom tier for Indiana health metrics

Jennings County's 72.7-year life expectancy is 2.4 years below Indiana's state average of 75.1 years, ranking worst among these eight counties. The 7.3% uninsured rate is below state average, but health outcomes suggest deeper issues—poverty, education, or healthcare quality disparities—beyond insurance access.

Moderate providers, bottom-tier outcomes

Jennings County's 44 primary care providers per 100K and 120 mental health providers per 100K are both middle-of-the-road in this peer group, yet the county suffers the worst life expectancy. This gap suggests that availability alone doesn't solve health disparities—utilization, trust, and effectiveness matter equally.

Moderate access cannot offset deeper issues

With 44 primary care providers per 100K and 120 mental health providers per 100K, Jennings County has respectable provider density, yet residents report modest health—and life expectancy is the county's lowest. The 7.3% uninsured rate is below state average, indicating that insurance alone does not drive the disparity.

Jennings County must expand health coverage

Though Jennings County's 7.3% uninsured rate is below state average, that still means roughly 1 in 13 residents lack health insurance. Call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit healthcare.gov, or contact your local health department to enroll uninsured neighbors in Medicaid or marketplace plans.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Jennings County

via RiskByCounty

Jennings County: Very low risk county

Jennings County scores 31.90 on the composite risk scale, placing it firmly in the very low category and well below Indiana's 45.52 state average. Residents here enjoy substantially lower natural disaster exposure than most Americans.

Among Indiana's safest counties

Jennings County ranks in the bottom quartile of Indiana's 92 counties for natural disaster risk, placing it among the state's safest areas. Only about 30% of Indiana counties present lower overall risk exposure.

Safer than Jackson County to the west

Jennings County's 31.90 risk score significantly outperforms nearby Jackson County (52.93) and Jefferson County (48.28) to the west, making it one of the lowest-risk zones in southern Indiana. Even Madison County to the north carries substantially higher hazard exposure.

Tornadoes and earthquakes lead

Tornado risk reaches 67.84 in Jennings County, the primary concern though still below Indiana state norms. Earthquake risk (63.45) ranks moderately elevated locally, while flood (44.37), hurricane (23.45), and wildfire (14.22) risks remain well-managed.

Earthquake insurance recommended

Jennings County residents should maintain homeowners insurance with wind and hail protection for tornado safety, the county's leading hazard. Adding earthquake coverage is prudent given the 63.45 seismic score, which exceeds Indiana state norms.

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.