CountyScore

Lafayette County

Arkansas · AR

#39 in Arkansas
70.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Lafayette County, Arkansas

Solidly above national livability median

Lafayette County scores 70.2, placing it 40 percentile points above the national median of 50.0 and outperforming roughly four of five U.S. counties. This strong showing indicates reliable livability across multiple measured factors.

Right at Arkansas's state average

Lafayette County scores 70.2, effectively matching Arkansas's state average of 70.3, placing it squarely in the state's middle tier. It represents a typical livability profile for Arkansas counties.

Excellent tax rates and housing costs

Lafayette County offers exceptional value with a tax score of 86.4 (effective rate: 0.566%) and a cost score of 88.1, featuring the lowest median home values at $74,600 across this group. Monthly rent of $711 makes it one of the most affordable counties in the region.

Very low incomes and resilience concerns

With an income score of just 7.7 and median household income of $37,237, Lafayette County has the lowest earning potential in this group. A risk score of 66.8 indicates significant vulnerability to economic downturns or natural disasters.

Extreme value for self-sufficient residents

Lafayette County is best suited for retirees with fixed income, remote workers, or those with independent income streams who prioritize ultra-low living costs. It requires residents to be financially resilient and adaptable to economic uncertainty.

Score breakdown

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

Tax86.4Cost88.1SafetyComing SoonHealth52.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome7.7Risk66.8WaterComing Soon
🏛86.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠88.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼7.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤52.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡66.8
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 Lafayette County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Quitman County
Georgia
70.2
Median income: $36,838
Mahaska County
Iowa
70.2
Median income: $69,019
Jessamine County
Kentucky
70.2
Median income: $74,886
Lawrence County
Kentucky
70.2
Median income: $45,584
Lewis County
Kentucky
70.2
Median income: $41,632

Deep Dives

Lafayette County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Lafayette County

via TaxByCounty

Lafayette's taxes rank among nation's lowest

Lafayette County's 0.566% effective property tax rate places it in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties, well below the national median of 0.72%. Residents enjoy some of the country's lowest property tax burdens.

Lafayette slightly above Arkansas average

At 0.566%, Lafayette's rate edges above Arkansas's state average of 0.532%, positioning it in the middle tier of the state's 75 counties. The difference is minimal, just 0.034 percentage points above the state norm.

Lafayette rate competitive across region

Lafayette's 0.566% matches Jackson and Johnson counties' rates while exceeding Lawrence's 0.488%, showing regional consistency. Across southwest Arkansas, property tax rates cluster narrowly between 0.49% and 0.63%.

Median home tax bill: $422 annually

With a median home value of $74,600, Lafayette homeowners pay $422 per year in property taxes, among the lowest statewide. Including mortgage adjustments, the annual cost rises to approximately $574.

Check your assessment and appeal if needed

Many Arkansas homeowners discover their properties are assessed above market value when they finally review their records. The county assessor's office will evaluate your challenge at no cost and can substantially reduce your tax bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Lafayette County

via CostByCounty

Lafayette faces steepest affordability crisis

Lafayette County's rent-to-income ratio of 22.9% ranks as the highest burden among these eight counties and well above national standards. With median income of just $37,237—only 50% of the national median—residents struggle most acutely with housing costs relative to earnings.

Arkansas's most stretched county

At 22.9%, Lafayette County's rent-to-income ratio dramatically exceeds Arkansas's 18.1% state average by 4.8 percentage points, representing the steepest burden in this analysis. Median income of $37,237 ranks among the lowest regionally, amplifying affordability challenges despite moderate rents of $711.

Low income drives affordability squeeze

Although Lafayette County's rent of $711 aligns with neighboring counties, its $37,237 median income is substantially lower than peers, pushing the affordability burden significantly higher. Home values of $74,600 offer the cheapest entry point for homebuyers, but can't offset income constraints for renters.

Housing overwhelms Lafayette budgets

Lafayette residents with $37,237 median income allocate 22.9% to rent ($711/month) and 16.2% to mortgage costs, consuming 39.1% of income for housing. This leaves minimal room for food, utilities, transportation, and any financial cushion.

Lafayette demands careful financial planning

Relocating to Lafayette County requires incoming income well above the county median to avoid severe housing burden; the area suits those with secure, above-average earnings. First-time homebuyers find value in sub-$75K home prices, but renters face the region's toughest affordability squeeze.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lafayette County

via IncomeByCounty

Lafayette faces steepest income gap

Lafayette County's median household income of $37,237 is the lowest among these eight counties and trails the US median of $74,755 by 50%. This profound gap reflects Lafayette's economic fragility and limited wage-earning opportunities.

Arkansas's income basement

Lafayette ranks among Arkansas's lowest-income counties, earning $13,919 less than the state average of $51,156. With a per capita income of just $22,393—the lowest in this group—Lafayette struggles with limited employment and wage diversity.

Lowest earner in its peer group

Lafayette's $37,237 median income significantly underperforms all neighbors: Lee County ($36,860) ties it at the bottom, while Jackson ($41,215), Lawrence ($44,164), and Johnson ($44,808) all earn substantially more. This consistent underperformance signals structural economic disadvantage in the county.

Housing costs consume tight budgets

At 22.9%, Lafayette's rent-to-income ratio is the highest among peer counties, meaning households spend nearly a quarter of earnings on housing. With a median home value of just $74,600, even ownership becomes challenging for many families given the low income base.

Lafayette: building wealth from scratch

With limited discretionary income, Lafayette residents should focus first on debt reduction and emergency savings, even $25–50 monthly. Community credit unions, free financial counseling, and employer benefits (if available) provide low-barrier paths to financial stability; compound growth happens slowly but steadily with consistency.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Lafayette County

via HealthByCounty

Lafayette faces significant health gaps

At 71.7 years, Lafayette County lags the U.S. average of 76.4 years by nearly 5 years, placing residents among the nation's lower life expectancy groups. With 31.3% reporting poor or fair health—the highest rate among the eight counties examined—Lafayette shows severe chronic disease burden.

Arkansas's worst county on this measure

Lafayette County's 31.3% poor/fair health rate is the highest in the state comparison group and its 71.7-year life expectancy sits below the state average of 72.3 years. These metrics signal that Lafayette residents face concentrated health challenges requiring urgent system-level interventions.

Poorest health outcomes in region

Lafayette County's 31.3% poor/fair health rate and 11.8% uninsured rate exceed all neighboring counties, making it the region's health outlier. With only 33 primary care and 66 mental health providers per 100K, Lafayette also has the region's weakest healthcare infrastructure, compounding existing disadvantages.

Crisis-level uninsured and provider shortage

At 11.8% uninsured, Lafayette County exceeds the state average of 9.9% by the widest margin among the eight counties, leaving nearly 1 in 8 residents without coverage. The county's 33 primary care and 66 mental health providers per 100K represent the thinnest healthcare network examined, forcing residents to travel for basic and specialized care.

Get covered—your health depends on it

With nearly 1 in 8 Lafayette residents uninsured and the county's sparse provider network already stretched, coverage becomes your lifeline to care. Apply immediately for Medicaid or marketplace insurance to protect yourself and your family from catastrophic health and financial risks.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Lafayette County

via RiskByCounty

Arkansas's safest county overall

Lafayette County's composite risk score of 33.24 rates as Very Low—the lowest in Arkansas and substantially below the state average of 55.51. Residents enjoy the state's lowest exposure to floods, wildfires, and tornadoes combined.

Top-ranked for safety statewide

Lafayette County ranks as Arkansas's safest county for natural disasters, with favorable scores across most hazard categories. Only earthquake and hurricane risks reach moderate levels.

Dramatically safer than surrounding areas

Lafayette's 33.24 score sits far below Lincoln County's 29.77 (second-safest in the state), and vastly lower than Jackson County's 67.84 and Jefferson County's 85.18. The county benefits from geography that shields it from most major hazards.

Hurricane exposure drives risk profile

Lafayette's hurricane risk score of 63.08 stands as its highest hazard exposure, likely reflecting rare but potential tropical storm impacts. Earthquake risk at 53.82 ranks second, though still below state average.

Basic coverage meets county needs

Lafayette homeowners can rely more heavily on standard homeowners policies than residents elsewhere in Arkansas. Consider adding windstorm coverage for hurricane preparedness, but earthquake insurance is less critical here than in eastern counties.

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.