King County

Texas · TX

#10 in Texas
72.4
County Score

County Report Card

About King County, Texas

King Ranks Among National Leaders

King County's composite score of 81.5 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 81st percentile nationally. This represents one of the highest livability scores among American counties.

Tops Texas State Average

King's score of 81.5 significantly surpasses Texas's state average of 66.8, ranking it among the best in the state. The county stands among Texas's most livable communities measured to date.

Unmatched Housing Affordability

King County's Cost Score of 94.6—the highest among all eight counties—reflects extraordinary housing value and affordability. This exceptional score drives King's competitive edge in the overall livability ranking.

Income and Tax Data Incomplete

King's income profile remains unmeasured, with a median household income of $70,192 and no tax rate data available for comparison. Critical gaps persist across safety, health, schools, risk, and water dimensions.

Best in Class for Affordability Seekers

King suits anyone prioritizing maximum housing affordability and minimal living costs above all other factors. The county excels for those with stable outside income or retirement resources seeking rural-area value.

Score breakdown

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

TaxComing SoonCost94.6SafetyComing SoonHealth48.2SchoolsComing SoonIncome29.2Risk99.7WaterComing Soon
🏛
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠94.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼29.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
48.2
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
99.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

King County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in King County

via TaxByCounty

King County's tax rate data remains limited

While King County's median property tax of just $541 suggests an extremely low tax environment, complete assessment data is unavailable due to the county's small, rural population. This figure alone runs 80% below the national median property tax of $2,690, hinting at exceptional affordability.

King County ranks among Texas's cheapest

A $541 median tax bill places King County far below the Texas state average of $2,193, suggesting rates well below the statewide average of 1.276%. King remains one of the most affordable corners of the state for property owners.

King County undercuts all regional peers

King's $541 median tax is roughly half that of Kinney County ($1,244) and a fraction of Kendall ($5,890) or Kaufman ($5,036). In West Texas, King offers exceptional tax relief.

King County residents pay under $600

The median property tax bill in King County stands at just $541 annually, making it one of the nation's most affordable taxing jurisdictions. Without mortgage debt, residents pay $533, underscoring the county's extremely low effective rate.

Even low assessments warrant review

Rural properties sometimes hide assessment errors that work in the county's favor—but mistakes can cut both ways. File an appeal if you suspect your assessment is incorrect, ensuring your records remain accurate.

Cost of Living in King County

via CostByCounty

King offers mysterious, minimal costs

King County's extremely low median owner cost of $466/month suggests exceptional affordability, though limited rental market data prevents full comparison to national standards. The county's $70,192 median income supports housing costs that rank among Texas's lowest.

Data gaps hide King's true picture

King County lacks sufficient rental data to calculate a rent-to-income ratio, limiting state-level comparison. However, the $466 monthly owner cost (nearly half the state median) indicates King ranks among Texas's most affordable counties for homeowners.

Owner costs rival any Texas county

King's $466 monthly owner cost substantially undercuts comparable counties—Kent ($655), Kimble ($705), and Kinney ($545)—though limited data prevents rental comparison. The figure suggests King's housing stock is either extremely modest or features unusually low-value properties.

Owner costs consume just 8% of income

King County homeowners dedicate only about 8% of the $70,192 median income to monthly owner costs ($466). This exceptionally low burden suggests either very affordable real estate or a county with limited economic diversity.

King: research before you relocate

King County's extremely low housing costs demand investigation—understand whether affordability reflects modest inventory, limited services, or genuine value. Contact local government and employers to assess job opportunities before committing to this remote West Texas location.

Income & Jobs in King County

via IncomeByCounty

King's income moderately below national average

King County's median household income of $70,192 runs 6% below the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting its small rural economy in West Texas. The county's isolation and limited employment base constrain overall earning potential.

Exceeds Texas state average modestly

King County's median household income of $70,192 tops the Texas state average of $64,737 by 8%, a solid performance for a county with fewer than 300 residents. Per capita income of $30,890 trails the state average of $33,197, revealing income concentration among fewer households.

Comparable to sparse rural West Texas peers

King's $70,192 median income ranks just below Kent County ($71,420) and above Kinney ($66,341). Among the region's smallest and most isolated counties, King's earnings are typical of rural West Texas.

Housing affordability data unavailable

Complete rent-to-income and median home value data for King County is not available, limiting full affordability assessment. Residents should consult local sources for current housing cost information in this sparsely populated county.

Maximize savings in King County

With income modestly below the national median, King County households should prioritize maximizing employer retirement benefits and building emergency savings. Explore remote work opportunities to supplement local income, and work with a local financial advisor to develop a sustainable wealth-building strategy.

Health in King County

via HealthByCounty

King County health data limited

King County reports a 28.6% poor or fair health rate—significantly above the U.S. average of 17.8%—indicating a struggling population. Life expectancy data is unavailable, but this health burden suggests King residents face serious wellness challenges.

Well above state health concerns

King's 28.6% poor/fair health rate far exceeds typical Texas patterns, and its 20.3% uninsured rate edges above the state average of 19.8%. The absence of life expectancy data limits full assessment, but available indicators suggest King faces above-average health stress.

Health distress among peers

King's 28.6% poor/fair health rate exceeds most nearby counties; only Kenedy's 46.5% surpasses it in distress. Provider data gaps and above-average uninsured rates suggest King residents struggle with access challenges similar to other rural West Texas counties.

Limited data, clear distress

More than one-quarter of King County residents (28.6%) report poor or fair health, and 20.3% lack health insurance. Provider data isn't available, but the combination of uninsured residents and high health burden suggests critical access gaps.

Coverage is your first step

If you're uninsured in King County, health coverage isn't a luxury—it's a necessity given the high health burden in your community. Call 211 Texas or visit healthcare.gov to find Medicaid, marketplace plans, or community health center options immediately.

Disaster Risk in King County

via RiskByCounty

King is among America's safest counties

King County's composite score of 0.32 ranks it among the nation's lowest-risk areas, with a "Very Low" rating across virtually all hazard categories. Residents face minimal natural disaster exposure.

King ranks as one of Texas's safest

Scoring 0.32 against the Texas state average of 49.00, King ranks among the very safest counties in the state. Its remote West Texas location and sparse development shield it from significant natural hazards.

King is the safest county in its region

King's score of 0.32 is dramatically lower than Kaufman (76.18), Kendall (65.49), and Kerr (77.16), making it an exceptional outlier. Its isolated West Texas plains setting provides unmatched protection.

No single hazard emerges as a threat

All hazard categories score below 12 for King County, with wildfire risk of 55.95 being the highest but still well below statewide averages. The county experiences minimal natural disaster risk in any form.

Standard insurance suffices here

Basic homeowner's insurance provides ample coverage for King County's minimal hazard exposure. Focus on routine maintenance and standard fire prevention rather than specialized disaster mitigation.

ByCounty Network

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