CountyScore

Kings County

New York · NY

#42 in New York
56.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Kings County, New York

Kings County above national livability median

Kings County's composite score of 56.1 exceeds the national median of 50.0, ranking in the 56th percentile nationally. The urban county performs competitively on livability measures.

At parity with New York average

Kings County's score of 56.1 slightly exceeds New York's state average of 54.7, making it a middle-range performer. The urban county holds its own within the state's diverse county portfolio.

Exceptional incomes and lowest taxes

Kings County leads this group with an income score of 34.7 reflecting a median household income of $78,548, and a tax score of 82.9 with an effective rate of 0.688%. These financial metrics are unmatched among the eight counties.

Housing affordability severely constrained

Kings County's cost score of 41.3 is far below all peers, with median monthly rent of $1,784 and median home value of $889,700. Housing remains inaccessible for average-income households in this urban market.

For affluent urban professionals only

Kings County suits high-income professionals and families willing to pay premium urban prices for city living and access. It requires substantial income to achieve livability comparable to lower-cost counties.

Score breakdown

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

Tax82.9Cost41.3SafetyComing SoonHealth77SchoolsComing SoonIncome34.7Risk0.7WaterComing Soon
🏛82.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠41.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼34.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤77
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡0.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Kings County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Gwinnett County
Georgia
56.7
Median income: $84,823
Rensselaer County
New York
56.7
Median income: $86,663
Champaign County
Illinois
56.8
Median income: $63,091
Wyandotte County
Kansas
56.8
Median income: $60,582
Douglas County
Nebraska
56.8
Median income: $79,081

Deep Dives

Kings County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Kings County

via TaxByCounty

Kings County's rate is exceptionally low

Kings County's effective tax rate of 0.688% ranks among the lowest in the entire nation, roughly one-third the U.S. median of 2.13%. However, this low rate masks substantial dollar amounts due to extraordinarily high home values.

New York's lowest effective rate

At 0.688%, Kings County has the lowest effective tax rate in New York, well below the state average of 2.046%. Yet Kings residents still pay more in absolute dollars due to homes valued at nearly $900,000 on average.

Rate advantage offset by home prices

Kings County's 0.688% rate is the lowest in the state and region; however, median home values of $889,700 are dramatically higher than Franklin County ($128,600) or Jefferson County ($181,000). The tax advantage is offset by the region's luxury real estate market.

Annual taxes average $6,120

Despite the lowest effective rate in New York, Kings County's median annual property tax is $6,120 due to sky-high home values. Homeowners pay between $5,952 and $6,393 annually, reflecting the county's ultra-premium real estate.

High-value properties deserve scrutiny

In Kings County's luxury market, assessment accuracy is critical—even small percentage errors translate to thousands in misdirected taxes. Request a detailed assessment review and consider professional appraisal if your property's valuation seems inflated.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Kings County

via CostByCounty

Kings County's affordability crisis

Kings County residents spend 27.3% of income on rent—the highest ratio in this survey and nearly double the national average. With median household income of $78,548 and median rent of $1,784 monthly, even above-average earners struggle with housing costs.

Extreme housing burden statewide

Kings County's 27.3% rent-to-income ratio far exceeds New York's 17.6% state average, positioning it as the state's most housing-stressed county in this survey. Median rent of $1,784 reflects the extreme costs of this densely urban market.

Uniquely expensive market

Kings County's $1,784 median rent dwarfs all upstate neighbors—more than double Jefferson County's $1,214. As Brooklyn, Kings represents a fundamentally different housing market than rural and small-city upstate alternatives.

Extraordinary housing burden

Kings County renters earning the median $78,548 annually pay $1,784 monthly for housing, consuming 27% of gross income. Homebuyers navigate median home values of $889,700 and monthly owner costs of $2,248—extraordinary figures that leave limited discretionary spending across income levels.

Reconsider Kings for affordability

If housing affordability influences your relocation decision, Kings County (Brooklyn) presents a fundamentally different challenge than upstate alternatives—with 27.3% of income going to rent versus 14-17% elsewhere in New York. Moving upstate to counties like Herkimer or Genesee could cut housing costs by 50% or more.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Kings County

via IncomeByCounty

Kings income tops national average

Kings County's median household income of $78,548 exceeds the national median of $74,755 by 5.1%, placing it among stronger-earning regions nationally. This $3,793 advantage reflects a dense, diverse urban economy with robust earning potential.

Top-tier New York county performer

Kings County ranks 6th of 62 New York counties for median household income, exceeding the state average of $76,433 by $2,115. Per capita income of $46,057 towers above the state average of $41,133 by 12%, indicating strong earnings concentration.

Clear earnings leader in the group

Kings County's $78,548 median dramatically outearns all seven comparison counties, exceeding Greene ($74,011) by $4,537 and Jefferson ($64,978) by $13,570. As Brooklyn, it represents the state's most economically robust county by far.

Income barely covers housing costs

Despite highest incomes, Kings County faces a rent-to-income ratio of 27.3%—approaching the 30% affordability threshold—due to median home values of $889,700. Households earn more but face housing costs that consume a larger share of earnings than anywhere else in the eight-county group.

Navigate wealth amid high costs

Kings County residents earning above-average incomes should resist lifestyle inflation driven by high housing costs and instead prioritize tax-advantaged investments, diversified portfolios, and long-term wealth strategies. Working with financial advisors on real estate investment strategies can help capture property appreciation while freeing capital for broader investments.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Kings County

via HealthByCounty

Kings County leads the nation on life expectancy

At 80.1 years, Kings County's life expectancy is 1.9 years above the U.S. average of 78.2 years—the highest in this eight-county group and well above national norms. The county's 17.0% poor or fair health rate shows strong overall population health despite urban density.

New York's life expectancy champion

Kings County's 80.1-year life expectancy exceeds New York's 77.9-year state average by 2.2 years, placing it among the state's healthiest counties. This exceptional performance reflects Brooklyn's diverse resources and robust healthcare infrastructure.

Far outpaces regional peer group

Kings County's 80.1-year life expectancy exceeds every other county in this group by at least 1.7 years, with the next-highest being Hamilton County at 78.4 years. The county's 63 primary care providers and 313 mental health providers per 100K far exceed rural peers.

Dense urban provider network, elevated uninsured rate

Kings County's 6.5% uninsured rate is above the state average of 5.3%, though access to providers is exceptional—63 primary care and 313 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, by far the highest in this group. Urban density ensures proximity to care despite insurance gaps.

Navigate coverage options in Kings County

With New York's most robust provider network, Kings County residents who are uninsured should enroll immediately at nystateofhealth.ny.gov. Subsidies and Medicaid eligibility help make coverage affordable in this high-cost urban market.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Kings County

via RiskByCounty

Kings County faces extreme U.S. natural disaster risk

Kings County's composite risk score of 99.27 ranks among the nation's most hazardous communities, driven by near-maximum exposure across all five natural disaster categories. This Brooklyn-based urban county faces hurricane, flood, earthquake, and tornado risks that exceed virtually every American county.

New York's single highest-risk county

At 99.27, Kings County's risk score dramatically exceeds New York's 69.42 average—ranking as the state's most vulnerable community by a massive margin. The next-highest county scores roughly 40 points lower, highlighting Kings County's exceptional exposure.

Catastrophically higher risk than any peer

Kings County (99.27) bears no comparison to any neighboring county in New York's risk profile—it stands alone in extreme exposure. All other New York counties measured in this analysis score below 70, making Kings County an outlier facing hazards that dwarf those experienced by residents anywhere else in the state.

All five disaster types pose severe threats

Flood risk of 99.36 and hurricane risk of 97.41 dominate, reflecting Kings County's coastal position and sea-level vulnerability to Atlantic storms and rising waters. Tornado risk of 94.18 and earthquake risk of 98.63 rank only marginally lower, creating a multi-hazard environment where residents face concurrent threats year-round.

Comprehensive insurance is non-negotiable

Kings County residents must obtain flood insurance immediately—the 99.36 risk score makes this essential, not optional, for any property within city limits. Add earthquake coverage, verify wind/hurricane protection, and consider comprehensive umbrella liability insurance given the 99.27 composite score reflecting extreme, pervasive natural disaster 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.