CountyScore

Kinney County

Texas · TX

#24 in Texas
70
County Score

County Report Card

About Kinney County, Texas

Kinney Exceeds National Livability

Kinney County's composite score of 70.0 ranks above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 70th percentile nationally. The county demonstrates solid above-average livability compared to U.S. counties generally.

Ahead of Texas Average

Kinney's score of 70.0 surpasses Texas's state average of 66.8, ranking it in the upper half of Texas counties. The county performs better than most of its state counterparts.

Exceptional Affordability and Low Costs

Kinney's Cost Score of 86.3 reflects outstanding housing value, with a median home value of just $88,500 and rent at $771 monthly. The Tax Score of 62.7 and 1.406% effective rate support the county's overall affordability strength.

Limited Local Income Opportunities

Kinney's Income Score of 26.7 reveals challenges, with a median household income of $66,341 well below state averages. Health, safety, schools, risk, and water data remain unavailable for complete assessment.

Prime Destination for Affordable Living

Kinney suits retirees, remote workers, and those with outside income sources prioritizing rock-bottom housing costs. The county appeals to anyone seeking exceptional value and lower taxes over robust local employment markets.

Score breakdown

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

Tax62.7Cost86.3SafetyComing SoonHealth60.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome26.7Risk97.8WaterComing Soon
🏛62.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼26.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤60.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡97.8
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 Kinney County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

St. Clair County
Alabama
70
Median income: $78,993
Sumter County
Alabama
70
Median income: $37,981
Sitka City and Borough
Alaska
70
Median income: $101,207
Lee County
Arkansas
70
Median income: $36,860
Pike County
Georgia
70
Median income: $84,184

Deep Dives

Kinney County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Kinney County

via TaxByCounty

Kinney County taxes above U.S. median

Kinney's effective tax rate of 1.406% runs 53% higher than the national median of 0.92%, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. counties by tax burden. However, the median home value of $88,500—68% below the national median—keeps absolute tax bills modest.

Kinney exceeds Texas state average

At 1.406%, Kinney's rate surpasses the Texas state average of 1.276% by 10%, ranking it in the upper half statewide. About 30% of Texas counties tax property as aggressively as Kinney does.

Kinney taxes harder than most West Texas neighbors

Kinney's 1.406% rate beats Kerr (1.093%) and Kent (0.907%), matching Kimble's nearby 1.255% for the region's tougher tax climate. Only Kaufman (1.732%) and Kendall (1.202%) approach Kinney's burden among area counties.

Median Kinney homeowner pays $1,244

On a median home valued at $88,500, Kinney residents owe $1,244 in annual property taxes. With mortgage and bond obligations included, the total climbs to $2,097—slightly below the national median of $2,690.

Tax appeals cost nothing but save real money

In Kinney's smaller market, appraisal inaccuracies can linger unnoticed for years, inflating tax bills unnecessarily. A free assessment review or formal appeal could recover hundreds in cumulative savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Kinney County

via CostByCounty

Kinney delivers genuine affordability

Kinney County achieves a 13.9% rent-to-income ratio—among the lowest nationally—with $771 median rent against a $66,341 income. This combination marks Kinney as a genuinely affordable option even compared to lower-cost U.S. counties.

Texas's most affordable small counties

Kinney's 13.9% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Texas's best, well below the 18.1% state average. The county's $771 median rent runs 20% below the state median, delivering real savings for cost-conscious households.

Competitive with Kent and Kimble

Kinney's $771 rent and $545 owner costs compare closely to Kimble ($795/$705) and Kent ($856/$655), anchoring the region's affordable tier. All three counties offer working families genuine protection from housing-cost strain.

Under 18% of income to housing

Kinney households allocate roughly 18% of income to combined housing costs ($1,316 monthly against $5,529 monthly income). The low burden preserves resources for healthcare, education, and emergency savings—a critical advantage for lower-income families.

Kinney: affordability meets border culture

Kinney County delivers authentic affordability for remote workers, small-business owners, or retirees seeking border-region character. Verify employment opportunities and community services align with your needs before relocating to this sparsely populated area.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Kinney County

via IncomeByCounty

Kinney's income runs below national median

Kinney County's median household income of $66,341 falls 11% short of the U.S. median of $74,755, positioning it below the national standard. This reflects the county's rural character, small population, and limited economic diversification along the Texas-Mexico border.

Slightly above Texas state baseline

Kinney County's median household income of $66,341 edges past the Texas state average of $64,737 by 2.5%, offering minimal cushion above the statewide baseline. Per capita income of $34,491 surpasses the state average of $33,197, showing modest local earning power.

Among lower-income Hill Country counties

Kinney's $66,341 median income ranks above only Kimble ($65,703) among the counties analyzed, underscoring economic challenges in this border region. It trails wealthier neighbors Kerr, Kendall, Kaufman, and Kent significantly.

Best affordability ratio in analysis

Kinney residents spend just 13.9% of household income on rent—the lowest ratio in this entire survey, well below the 30% affordability threshold. With a median home value of just $88,500, homeownership is highly attainable for local incomes.

Leverage exceptional housing affordability

Despite earning below national average, Kinney households enjoy the region's best housing affordability, with costs consuming under 14% of income. Redirect housing savings into emergency funds, retirement accounts, and microenterprises to build sustainable wealth in this affordable border county.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Kinney County

via HealthByCounty

Kinney balances longevity with need

Kinney County residents live to 76.7 years, more than two years longer than the U.S. average of 74.5 years. However, 25.4% report poor or fair health—above the national average of 17.8%—indicating extended lifespans don't guarantee good health quality.

Above Texas in longevity, coverage

Kinney's 76.7-year life expectancy exceeds Texas's 74.3-year average by more than two years, ranking it firmly in the state's upper tier. Its 12.9% uninsured rate significantly beats the state average of 19.8%, showing strong community coverage.

Coverage standout, modest outcomes

Kinney's 12.9% uninsured rate ranks among the region's lowest, competing with Kent County (11.3%) and far outpacing Kenedy (37.7%). However, its 76.7-year life expectancy trails Kendall (79.8) and Kimble (78.6), suggesting coverage alone doesn't guarantee longevity.

Strong coverage, provider data sparse

Kinney County achieves an impressive 12.9% uninsured rate, well below state and national averages, ensuring most residents can access care. However, provider data isn't available, and 25.4% reporting poor/fair health suggests access or capacity constraints despite good coverage.

Keep your coverage strong

Kinney County leads in insurance coverage at just 12.9% uninsured—keep that momentum by maintaining your plan if you have one. If you're among the uninsured, visit healthcare.gov to secure coverage and sustain the county's health advantage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Kinney County

via RiskByCounty

Kinney ranks among America's lowest-risk counties

Kinney County's composite score of 2.19 places it among the nation's safest areas, earning a "Very Low" rating. Except for modest hurricane exposure, residents face minimal natural disaster threats.

Kinney sits far below Texas risk averages

At 2.19 versus the Texas state average of 49.00, Kinney ranks as one of the state's safest counties. Its remote Southwest Texas location creates exceptional insulation from most hazards.

Kinney is safer than most regional counties

Kinney's score of 2.19 is dramatically lower than Kerr County (77.16), Kendall County (65.49), and Kaufman County (76.18). Only Kent County (1.08) and King County (0.32) approach Kinney's exceptional safety profile.

Hurricane and wildfire are minor concerns

Hurricane risk of 40.76 is Kinney's highest score, while wildfire risk of 15.24 remains modest. All other hazards fall below 12, making the county exceptionally safe.

Basic coverage is typically sufficient

Standard homeowner's insurance provides adequate protection for Kinney County's minimal natural disaster exposure. Routine home maintenance and standard fire prevention practices are your best investments.

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.