CountyScore

Lee County

Arkansas · AR

#41 in Arkansas
70
County Score

County Report Card

About Lee County, Arkansas

Solidly above the national middle

Lee County scores 70.0, placing it 40 percentile points above the national median of 50.0 and outperforming roughly four in five U.S. counties overall. This performance reflects reliable livability across measured dimensions.

Essentially at Arkansas's state average

Lee County scores 70.0, virtually matching Arkansas's state average of 70.3, placing it in the state's middle tier. It represents a typical Arkansas county experience in terms of livability.

Best housing affordability in the group

Lee County's cost score of 89.3 is the highest in this group, with median home values of just $77,900 and median rent of only $638 per month. A tax score of 87.5 (0.525% effective rate) completes an exceptionally affordable profile.

Very low incomes and health concerns

Lee County's income score of 7.5 and median household income of $36,860 are among the lowest in this group, limiting economic opportunities. A health score of 50.9 and risk score of 59.6 suggest residents face meaningful health and environmental challenges.

For extremely budget-conscious buyers

Lee County suits those with minimal income who need maximum affordability—pensioners, those on disability, or remote workers with outside income sources. The ultra-low housing costs offset lower incomes, but residents must be prepared for limited economic opportunities and health challenges.

Score breakdown

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

Tax87.5Cost89.3SafetyComing SoonHealth50.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome7.5Risk59.6WaterComing Soon
🏛87.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼7.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤50.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡59.6
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 Lee 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
Pike County
Georgia
70
Median income: $84,184
Nez Perce County
Idaho
70
Median income: $71,466

Deep Dives

Lee County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Lee County

via TaxByCounty

Lee County keeps property taxes low

Lee County's 0.525% effective property tax rate falls comfortably in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties, well below the national median of 0.72%. Property owners here benefit from significantly lower tax rates than the typical American household.

Lee slightly below state average

At 0.525%, Lee's rate sits just below Arkansas's state average of 0.532%, placing it squarely in the lower-middle tier of the state's 75 counties. Lee residents enjoy marginally favorable tax treatment compared to the broader state.

Lee's rate aligns with regional peers

Lee's 0.525% falls between Lawrence County's 0.488% and Lincoln County's 0.539%, reflecting consistent property tax patterns across eastern Arkansas. Regional rates vary by just 0.05 percentage points, indicating stable local tax policies.

Median home tax bill: $409 annually

With a median home value of $77,900, Lee County homeowners pay $409 per year in property taxes, below the state median. The mortgage-adjusted figure rises to approximately $449 annually.

Verify your assessment before next year

Property overassessments occur regularly in Arkansas, and homeowners can challenge them free of charge with their county assessor. Taking 30 minutes to review your assessment could mean hundreds of dollars in annual savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Lee County

via CostByCounty

Lee County's income pressure peaks here

Lee County's rent-to-income ratio of 20.8% ranks above national standards, representing one of the steepest burdens in this group despite modest rent of $638. Median household income of just $36,860—the lowest among these eight counties—creates acute affordability strain despite rental costs remaining among the region's cheapest.

Well above Arkansas affordability average

At 20.8%, Lee County's rent-to-income ratio substantially exceeds Arkansas's 18.1% state average, signaling heightened affordability pressure. The county's median income of $36,860 ranks as the lowest statewide in this analysis, driving affordability challenges despite sub-$640 median rent.

Cheapest rents, toughest income squeeze

Lee County's $638 median rent ranks among the region's lowest, but the county's $36,860 median income is lowest as well, creating a squeeze despite cheap housing. Home values of $77,900 offer the second-cheapest entry point for buyers, yet affordability remains constrained by income constraints.

Housing strains the tightest budgets

Lee residents with $36,860 median income dedicate 20.8% to rent ($638/month) and 16.6% to mortgage costs, consuming 37.4% toward housing. Combined with the lowest income base, households face the region's toughest squeeze on discretionary spending and emergency savings.

Lee County requires strategic planning

Relocating to Lee County demands incoming income substantially above the county median, as the combination of low area wages and housing burden leaves minimal room for adjustment. The county suits only those with secure, above-average earnings seeking the region's lowest home and rental prices.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lee County

via IncomeByCounty

Lee faces steepest national gap

Lee County's median household income of $36,860 ranks among the lowest in this cohort and trails the US median of $74,755 by 51%. This profound shortfall reflects Lee's position as one of Arkansas's most economically challenged counties.

Bottom tier in Arkansas earnings

Lee ranks among Arkansas's lowest-income counties, earning $14,296 less than the state average of $51,156. With a per capita income of just $21,687—the lowest among these eight counties—Lee faces severe economic constraints.

Tied for lowest with Lafayette

Lee's $36,860 income matches Lafayette County ($37,237) at the bottom of this group, trailing Jackson ($41,215) and all others significantly. This shared low-income status suggests both counties face similar structural economic challenges—limited employment, lower wages, and reduced economic opportunity.

Housing costs dominate Lee budgets

At 20.8%, Lee's rent-to-income ratio sits above the 20% caution threshold, straining household budgets significantly. With a median home value of just $77,900, homeownership may seem affordable, but the low income base makes even this modest price difficult for many residents.

Lee: micro-steps toward financial stability

In Lee County, wealth-building means starting with the smallest possible steps: automatic transfers of $10–20 monthly, exploring free financial coaching through nonprofits, or seeking employer matches. Consistency matters more than amount; decades of modest, regular savings compound into meaningful security despite current income challenges.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Lee County

via HealthByCounty

Lee County faces acute health crisis

At 68.9 years, Lee County has the lowest life expectancy among the eight counties examined and falls nearly 7.5 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years. With 32.1% reporting poor or fair health—the second-highest rate in the group—Lee shows severe chronic disease and health system strain.

Arkansas's lowest life expectancy

Lee County's 68.9-year life expectancy ranks among the state's worst, trailing the Arkansas average of 72.3 years by over 3 years. The 32.1% poor/fair health rate signals that Lee residents face compounded health disadvantages requiring urgent intervention and resource allocation.

Regional health catastrophe

Lee County's 68.9-year life expectancy is the lowest in the entire region by nearly 4 years, and its 32.1% poor/fair health rate exceeds all neighbors. With only 12 primary care and 37 mental health providers per 100K—by far the sparsest network examined—Lee County residents face critical access barriers alongside existing health challenges.

Severe provider shortage meets high need

Lee County's 10.2% uninsured rate slightly exceeds the state average of 9.9%, yet the real crisis is the county's catastrophic provider shortage: just 12 primary care and 37 mental health providers per 100K. This means residents must travel significant distances for routine care while facing the region's highest disease burden, creating a perfect storm of need and unavailable services.

Health coverage is your first step

Lee County's provider shortage means every resident must be insured and connected to whatever care exists—insurance is non-negotiable. If you're among the 10.2% uninsured, enroll immediately in Medicaid or marketplace plans to access the limited but critical services available in your county.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Lee County

via RiskByCounty

Lee ranks among Arkansas's safest

Lee County's composite risk score of 40.43 rates as Very Low and sits well below the state average of 55.51. The county benefits from exceptionally low flood risk (21.18) and wildfire risk (7.32)—among the state's lowest.

Third-safest county in Arkansas

Lee County ranks among the state's three safest counties for natural disasters, with particularly strong protection from floods and wildfires. Only earthquake and tornado risks reach moderate levels, while most other hazards remain minimal.

Much safer than Jackson, near Lafayette

Lee's 40.43 score sits between Lafayette County's very low 33.24 and the state average, far below Jackson County's dangerous 67.84. The county's wildfire risk of 7.32 is the state's lowest, offering distinct geographic protection.

Earthquake the primary concern

Lee County's earthquake risk of 90.46 stands as its only acute hazard—surprising given the county's otherwise exceptional safety record. Tornado risk at 63.65 ranks as a distant second concern.

Earthquake insurance your main priority

Lee County homeowners should prioritize earthquake insurance given the 90.46 risk score, though the county's low flood and wildfire risks mean less urgency for those coverages. Standard homeowners policies provide adequate protection for most other hazards here.

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.