CountyScore

Jones County

Texas · TX

#141 in Texas
62
County Score

County Report Card

About Jones County, Texas

Jones ranks notably above average

Jones County's composite score of 65.3 outperforms the national median of 50.0 by 31%, demonstrating solid livability. This standing reflects strong housing affordability and reasonable income levels supporting household stability.

Slightly below Texas's median

With a score of 65.3 against Texas's 66.8 average, Jones ranks just shy of the state middle. Higher-than-average tax burden accounts for most of this slight gap relative to peer counties.

Affordable housing and solid incomes

Jones features a Cost Score of 80.1 with median home values just $92,700—the lowest in this group. Median household income of $63,472 and an Income Score of 24.8 provide respectable earning power for daily living.

Tax burden above regional average

The Tax Score of 59.0 reflects an effective rate of 1.537%, the second-highest among these eight counties, reducing household savings. Critical data gaps on safety, health, schools, water, and environmental risks prevent complete livability assessment.

Best for practical-minded families

Jones suits budget-conscious families who value very affordable housing and moderate incomes while accepting moderate tax loads. Those highly sensitive to property taxes should explore lower-tax alternatives, but practical families seeking value will find it appealing.

Score breakdown

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

Tax59Cost80.1SafetyComing SoonHealth53.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome24.8Risk62.1WaterComing Soon
🏛59
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼24.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤53.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡62.1
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 Jones County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Bryan County
Georgia
62
Median income: $94,234
Cherokee County
Georgia
62
Median income: $105,442
Marion County
Illinois
62
Median income: $60,839
Johnson County
Kansas
62
Median income: $107,261
Delaware County
New York
62
Median income: $60,226

Deep Dives

Jones County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Jones County

via TaxByCounty

Jones County taxes run above national average

Jones County's effective tax rate of 1.537% sits well above the national median of 1.264%, placing it in the top quarter of taxed counties across America. Property owners here pay a noticeably higher percentage than the typical U.S. homeowner.

Among Texas's higher-tax counties

At 1.537%, Jones County exceeds the Texas state average of 1.276%, ranking in the upper tier of Texas property tax rates. Most Texas homeowners pay a smaller percentage of their home's value than Jones County residents do.

Second-highest rate in the region

Jones County's 1.537% rate trails only Jefferson County (1.575%) among regional peers, significantly exceeding Jasper (1.036%), Karnes (0.982%), and Jeff Davis (0.547%). It's among the pricier tax jurisdictions in West-Central Texas.

High rate on modest home values

Jones County's median home value of $92,700 is the lowest in this group, yet its 1.537% rate produces a median property tax of $1,425 annually. This unusual combination—lowest home values, second-highest tax rate—creates a disproportionate burden.

Overassessments hit harder here

In Jones County, where a high tax rate applies to already-modest property values, an overassessment has outsized impact. Even a 5% valuation error costs $46+ per year; challenging inflated assessments is especially worthwhile in high-rate, low-value markets.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Jones County

via CostByCounty

Jones County achieves best-in-class affordability

Jones County renters spend just 17.7% of income on housing, the lowest burden among these eight counties and nearly a full point better than the national average of 18.1%. The county's median household income of $63,472 and moderate rent of $938 combine to create truly accessible housing.

Outperforms Texas average affordability

Jones County's 17.7% rent-to-income ratio beats the Texas state average of 18.1%, placing it among the state's most affordable counties. The median rent of $938 sits just below the state average of $963, delivering genuine accessibility.

Best affordability in the entire comparison

Jones County's 17.7% burden outperforms all seven peers, including even Jasper County (19.0%) and Karnes County (17.7% tie). The $938 median rent provides excellent value against higher-cost neighbors like Jefferson ($1,079) and Jeff Davis ($1,314).

Lower ownership costs, moderate rents

Renters pay $938 monthly while homeowners spend $746—an $192 advantage for purchasing that makes the county's $92,700 median home value an exceptional value. Together, housing claims roughly 18% of typical household income regardless of tenure type.

Texas's smartest housing bargain

Jones County delivers the best housing affordability in this analysis—lowest rent-to-income burden, competitive incomes, and among the lowest home values. If you're relocating to Texas and prioritize genuine affordability without sacrificing income potential, Jones County deserves your serious consideration.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Jones County

via IncomeByCounty

Jones County approaches national income levels

At $63,472, Jones County's median household income falls short of the U.S. median of $74,755 by about 15%, positioning it as a moderately prosperous rural Texas county. This West Texas community demonstrates stronger economic performance than most rural peers.

Close to Texas state average

Jones County's $63,472 median household income nearly matches the Texas state average of $64,737, placing it solidly in the middle tier of Texas counties. This performance reflects economic stability in this West Texas region.

Mid-tier income in statewide context

Jones County earns more than Jasper ($49,919), Jim Hogg ($42,230), and Jim Wells ($47,492) counties, but less than Johnson County ($81,826) and Jefferson County ($59,934). The ranking reflects Jones County's position as a stable rural economy without major metropolitan influence.

Excellent housing affordability in Jones

At 17.7%, Jones County's rent-to-income ratio ranks among the best profiled, with families spending less than one-fifth of income on housing. The median home value of $92,700—the lowest in this group—enables homeownership for nearly all working households.

Leverage affordable housing for wealth building

With median household income near $63,500 and exceptionally affordable housing, Jones County families can redirect savings toward retirement accounts, modest investment portfolios, and long-term wealth accumulation. The combination of decent income and low housing costs creates genuine opportunity for generational wealth building.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Jones County

via HealthByCounty

Jones County health slightly below U.S.

At 73.6 years, Jones County residents live 2.8 years shorter than the national average of 76.4 years, indicating modest but meaningful health disparities. With 25.9% reporting poor or fair health—nearly 5 percentage points above the national rate—the county faces above-average chronic disease burden. These gaps, while not extreme, reflect rural economic stress and limited specialist access.

Below state average, rural Texas pattern

At 73.6 years, Jones County falls 0.7 years short of Texas's state average of 74.3 years, placing it just below the median of Texas health outcomes. Its 25.9% poor/fair health rate exceeds the state average, suggesting higher diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease prevalence. Like many rural West Texas counties, Jones faces classic rural health challenges: aging population, economic decline, and provider shortages.

Compared to Abilene region peers

Jones (73.6 years) sits between Fisher County (72.0 years) and Callahan County (74.5 years), with the fewest primary care providers in its region: just 10 per 100,000 residents versus 41 in Johnson County and 51 in Jeff Davis County. Mental health coverage (25 per 100K) trails all neighbors except rural Jim Hogg County. Rural residents in Jones often drive to Abilene (30 miles) for specialists.

A rural provider shortage in action

While 17.9% of Jones residents lack insurance—below the state average—the county's critical provider shortage (10 primary care providers per 100K) means appointments are scarce even for insured patients. Many residents travel to Abilene or Lubbock for routine care, and mental health services (25 per 100K) are nearly unavailable locally. Rural clinics struggle to attract and retain physicians in a declining population.

Enroll in coverage and use telemedicine

Jones County residents can explore Marketplace and Medicaid plans at healthcare.gov; those over 65 should review Medicare options including rural hospital benefits. Telehealth platforms like Teladoc and Doctor on Demand can bridge the specialist gap for mental health, chronic disease management, and urgent care. Abilene-based West Texas Rural Health Network offers mobile clinics and care coordination to Jones County residents.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Jones County

via RiskByCounty

Jones ranks among safer Texas areas

Jones County's composite risk score of 37.95 places it in the very low category, sitting comfortably below Texas's state average of 49.00. This West Texas county enjoys substantially lower disaster exposure than most American communities.

Safer than most Texas counties

Jones County's 37.95 score places it in the safer half of Texas's 254 counties, with particularly low flood (39.69), earthquake (20.17), and hurricane (32.12) risks. The county's inland, sparsely-settled character provides natural protection.

Safest in rural West Texas region

Jones County's risk profile stands well below most neighboring West Texas counties, offering markedly lower tornado (54.36) and wildfire (85.40) exposure than many peers. Its elevation and landscape provide stability unavailable in more hazardous areas.

Wildfire is primary hazard

Wildfire represents Jones County's only significantly elevated risk at 85.40, reflecting the county's grassland environment. Tornado risk (54.36) and flood risk (39.69) remain manageable compared to statewide averages.

Basic coverage with wildfire prep

Jones County residents can rely on standard homeowners insurance without special flood or hurricane riders in most cases. However, wildfire-resistant landscaping and property maintenance are worthwhile investments given local fire exposure.

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.