CountyScore

Lamb County

Texas · TX

#152 in Texas
61.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Lamb County, Texas

Lamb scores solidly above median

Lamb County's composite score of 70.6 ranks in the top 26% of U.S. counties, 41% above the national median of 50.0. This strong performance confirms genuine livability advantages over most American communities.

Above Texas average

At 70.6, Lamb surpasses Texas's state average of 66.8, placing it in the upper third of Texas counties. The county delivers above-average livability within a state known for competitive overall rankings.

Affordability and moderate taxes

Lamb County excels with a Cost Score of 84.5 (median home value $76,600) and a Tax Score of 68.7 (effective rate 1.192%). These strengths create a financially accessible county where housing and tax burdens remain manageable.

Income growth opportunities limited

The Income Score of 20.6 reflects median household earnings of $56,997, below state and national averages, suggesting limited local wage growth. Safety, health, schools, and environmental risk data are not yet available.

Ideal for affordability-seeking workers

Lamb County suits families and individuals prioritizing low housing costs and manageable taxes over maximizing local income potential. It works best for those with stable income from outside the county or who are willing to accept modest wage opportunities.

Score breakdown

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

Tax68.7Cost84.5SafetyComing SoonHealth44.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome20.6Risk38.8WaterComing Soon
🏛68.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼20.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤44.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡38.8
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 Lamb County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Douglas County
Colorado
61.5
Median income: $145,737
Forsyth County
Georgia
61.5
Median income: $138,000
Williamson County
Illinois
61.5
Median income: $65,521
Dimmit County
Texas
61.5
Median income: $33,409
Palo Pinto County
Texas
61.5
Median income: $64,972

Deep Dives

Lamb County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Lamb County

via TaxByCounty

Lamb County offers modest national tax rates

Lamb County's effective tax rate of 1.192% sits slightly above the national median of 0.84%, placing it in the moderate range nationally. The median annual tax of $913 remains among the lowest in the country, reflecting Lamb County's modest median home value of $76,600—well below the national average of $281,900.

Close to Texas's state average

Lamb County's 1.192% effective rate nearly matches the Texas state average of 1.276%, making it representative of typical tax burden across the state. Its median annual tax of $913 is substantially lower than the state median of $2,193, primarily due to lower property valuations.

Middle ground in regional tax rates

Lamb County's 1.192% rate places it squarely between Lamar County's low 0.951% and the higher rates of Knox County (1.862%) and La Salle County (1.561%). It represents a moderate regional choice for tax burden.

What Lamb County taxes cost annually

On Lamb County's median home value of $76,600, expect annual property taxes of approximately $913. With mortgage escrow included, the total annual cost rises to about $2,234.

Challenge your assessment if it seems high

Even with Lamb County's lower overall tax rates, individual overassessments are possible—especially in rural areas where comparable sales data is sparse. Filing an appraisal protest costs nothing and can recover hundreds in annual tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Lamb County

via CostByCounty

Lamb County just above national norm

Lamb County's rent-to-income ratio of 18.9% exceeds the 30% affordability threshold's margin but remains just above the national average. Renters here spend roughly 19 cents of every dollar on housing—a tight but manageable affordability picture.

Slightly tighter than Texas average

Lamb County's 18.9% rent-to-income ratio edges above Texas's state average of 18.1%, making it a middle-of-the-pack choice for renters statewide. At $900 monthly, median rent runs just 6% above the state average of $963, reflecting regional cost pressures in the Texas Panhandle.

Modest rents in the Panhandle

Lamb County's $900 rent sits between Knox County's ultra-affordable $661 and the higher costs found in central Texas counties. However, its homeownership costs are remarkably low—just $506 monthly with a median home value of $76,600—making it a buyer's haven despite rental affordability challenges.

Ownership significantly cheaper here

Lamb County residents earning $56,997 median income face $900 monthly rent (18.9% of income) but can own a home for just $506 monthly (8.9% of income). This dramatic gap makes homeownership in Lamb County exceptionally affordable despite rental market pressures.

Lamb County: buy, don't rent

If you're considering Lamb County, the data strongly favors homeownership—monthly costs are roughly half what renters pay. Compare its $76,600 median home value and $506 ownership costs against neighboring counties to see why buying here makes financial sense.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lamb County

via IncomeByCounty

Lamb County lags far behind national median

Lamb County's median household income of $56,997 is 24% below the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting the economic constraints of rural Northwest Texas. This gap highlights limited wage opportunities compared to the broader American economy.

Lower-income tier within Texas

Lamb County earns 12% less than the Texas state median of $64,737, placing it in the lower third statewide. The county's economy depends heavily on agriculture and cattle ranching, which limits wage growth and employment diversity.

Mid-range income in South Texas cohort

Lamb County's $56,997 sits between La Salle ($55,469) and Kleberg ($57,612), showing similar economic pressures across the region. However, it trails Lamar County ($61,122) significantly, indicating variable economic conditions within Texas's rural areas.

Very affordable housing strengthens financial position

Lamb County's 18.9% rent-to-income ratio is manageable, though slightly elevated above the 15% benchmark. The median home value of just $76,600 makes homeownership highly accessible, giving residents a major advantage in wealth-building compared to national averages.

Convert housing savings into long-term wealth

Lamb County's exceptional home affordability—with median values under $77,000—frees up cash flow for aggressive saving and investing. Households here can build substantial retirement accounts and investment portfolios by prioritizing these goals early, leveraging the region's cost-of-living advantage.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Lamb County

via HealthByCounty

Lamb lags significantly on national measures

Lamb County's life expectancy of 72.2 years falls 6.7 years short of the U.S. average of 78.9 years. With 28.3% of residents reporting poor or fair health and 23% uninsured, Lamb faces compounding health access barriers.

Lamb among Texas's worst health rankings

At 72.2 years, Lamb's life expectancy is 2.1 years below Texas's state average of 74.3 years. The county's 23.0% uninsured rate ranks among the state's highest, leaving nearly 1 in 4 residents without coverage.

Lamb has highest uninsured rate in region

Lamb's 23.0% uninsured rate is the worst among all regional peers—exceeding Knox (20.9%), Kleberg (19.1%), Lamar (18.2%), and Lampasas (17.5%). With only 23 primary care providers per 100,000, provider scarcity compounds access challenges.

Scarce providers, highest uninsured rate

Lamb provides just 23 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and only 39 mental health providers—among the lowest in the region. At 23% uninsured, residents already facing provider shortages also lack insurance to cover available care.

Lamb uninsured rate demands urgent action

With 23% of Lamb County uninsured—the highest in its region—residents face severe barriers to healthcare access. Visit healthcare.gov immediately to explore coverage options, or contact your local health department for assistance navigating insurance enrollment.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Lamb County

via RiskByCounty

Lamb County faces above-average risk

Lamb County's composite risk score of 61.23 exceeds the national average, though its "Relatively Low" rating suggests manageable exposure. The score reflects concentrated vulnerability to specific hazards in the Texas Panhandle region.

Above average for Texas counties

Lamb County scores 61.23 against Texas's state average of 49.00, placing it in the elevated-risk category statewide. The 25% increase over the state baseline reflects the county's exposure to Panhandle-specific hazards.

Riskier than surrounding Panhandle counties

Lamb County's 61.23 score exceeds nearby Lampasas County (29.93) and sits well below Lamar County (79.55). Within its regional context, Lamb represents a moderate-risk outlier.

Wildfire and tornado threats lead

Wildfire risk of 85.85 and tornado risk of 58.72 represent Lamb County's primary hazards, typical of High Plains geography. Flood risk remains low at 18.61, though hurricane exposure reaches 43.68 despite the county's inland location.

Wildfire insurance and storm prep essential

Lamb County residents should ensure homeowners policies explicitly cover wildfire damage and maintain defensible space around properties. Storm shelters and comprehensive wind coverage also warrant priority given the 58.72 tornado risk score.

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.