CountyScore

Lenoir County

North Carolina · NC

#88 in North Carolina
63.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Lenoir County, North Carolina

Lenoir Substantially Outperforms National Median

Lenoir County's composite score of 71.8 beats the national median of 50.0 by 44%, demonstrating above-average livability fundamentals. This solid advantage places Lenoir ahead of most U.S. counties in measured livability factors.

Nearly Matches North Carolina State Average

Lenoir's 71.8 score sits just below the state average of 72.7, positioning it in the middle tier among North Carolina's 100 counties. The county represents mainstream livability for the state.

Exceptional Housing Affordability and Low Taxes

Lenoir's cost score of 82.3 offers strong value with median rent of $814/month and median home value of $111,400. The tax score of 77.4 reflects a 0.884% effective tax rate, delivering reasonable fiscal relief for residents.

Income Levels Among the Lowest in Dataset

Lenoir's income score of 12.6 corresponds to a median household income of $44,795—the lowest of these eight counties. Limited data on schools, safety, health, and environmental factors prevents comprehensive livability assessment beyond affordability.

Excellent for Low-Income and Retirees

Lenoir County suits retirees, fixed-income households, and working families where affordability is paramount. The county's combination of rock-bottom housing costs and steady tax rates stretches limited budgets further than most alternatives.

Score breakdown

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

Tax77.4Cost82.3SafetyComing SoonHealth57.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome12.6Risk15.4WaterComing Soon
🏛77.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼12.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤57.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡15.4
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 Lenoir County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Fayette County
Georgia
63.6
Median income: $108,986
Maui County
Hawaii
63.6
Median income: $95,076
Macoupin County
Illinois
63.6
Median income: $68,518
East Baton Rouge Parish
Louisiana
63.6
Median income: $63,075
Kent County
Michigan
63.6
Median income: $80,390

Deep Dives

Lenoir County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Lenoir County

via TaxByCounty

Lenoir County has the state's steepest taxes

Lenoir County's effective tax rate of 0.884% is the highest in North Carolina and significantly exceeds the national median. The median property tax is $985 annually, modest only because median home values are exceptionally low at $111,400—60% below the national average.

Lenoir leads the state in tax rates

At 0.884%, Lenoir County's effective rate stands 26% above the state average of 0.701%, making it unquestionably North Carolina's most heavily taxed county. The median annual tax of $985 falls below state median due to depressed property values rather than favorable rates.

Lenoir far exceeds neighboring tax burdens

Lenoir's 0.884% rate dramatically outpaces all regional neighbors, including Jones County (0.755%) and Jackson County (0.369%). On a rate basis, Lenoir residents bear the region's most substantial tax burden by a considerable margin.

Lenoir residents carry the heaviest burden

A median Lenoir County home valued at $111,400 carries an annual property tax of $985. With mortgage-related assessments, bills can exceed $1,179, representing the state's highest effective tax rate applied to already-modest property values.

Lenoir homeowners must challenge overassessment

Lenoir County residents should urgently review their property assessments given the county's extraordinarily high tax rate. Filing an appeal with the county assessor and providing market analysis could yield meaningful relief—essential action for households in the state's most heavily taxed county.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Lenoir County

via CostByCounty

Lenoir's affordability crisis far exceeds the nation

Lenoir County renters spend 21.8% of income on housing—substantially above the national median of 18.6%—creating a severe affordability crisis despite rents of just $814. With the state's lowest median household income at $44,795, residents here face the tightest housing squeeze across North Carolina.

Lenoir ranks as the state's least affordable county

Lenoir's 21.8% rent-to-income ratio dramatically exceeds the state average of 18.6%, making it North Carolina's most burdened county for renters. The combination of the lowest incomes statewide and above-average rents creates an affordability emergency here.

Lenoir struggles far more than surrounding counties

Lenoir's 21.8% rent-to-income ratio sharply exceeds nearby Jones County (15.6%), Jackson County (19.2%), and Macon County (17.8%), reflecting the county's income disadvantage. No nearby county faces comparable affordability pressure.

Low income pushes housing to crushing levels

Lenoir renters pay $814 monthly while homeowners pay $758, but the crisis emerges at the income level: with a median of just $44,795, these costs consume nearly 22% of household budgets. Even median home values of $111,400 feel unaffordable when local incomes lag so far behind regional norms.

Avoid Lenoir unless income is secure elsewhere

Lenoir's low housing costs mask a deeper affordability crisis: median incomes are too low to sustain comfortable living, even at cheap rents. Consider relocating here only if you bring remote work income or pension benefits—local job opportunities don't offer the wages needed to thrive.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Lenoir County

via IncomeByCounty

Lenoir County faces significant income gap

Lenoir County's median household income of $44,795 trails the national median of $74,755 by $29,960, placing it in the nation's bottom 15%. This 40% shortfall reflects severe economic challenges and limited local employment opportunities.

Among North Carolina's poorest counties

Lenoir County's $44,795 median income runs 27% below North Carolina's state average of $61,072, marking it as one of the state's most economically vulnerable counties. Per capita income of $28,409 trails the state average of $33,920 by 16%, indicating concentrated poverty.

Lenoir County's income crisis stands out

Lenoir County's $44,795 median income falls behind all nearby counties, with the largest gap to Johnston County ($79,838) exceeding $35,000. Even lower-tier neighbors like Jones County ($55,659) earn $10,800 more per household.

Housing costs strain already-tight budgets

Lenoir County's 21.8% rent-to-income ratio represents the state's highest, indicating serious housing affordability stress for renters and homebuyers alike. Median home values of $111,400 provide minimal equity-building potential, trapping residents in a cycle of limited wealth accumulation.

Lenoir County: financial resilience first

Lenoir County residents must prioritize emergency funds and debt elimination before pursuing investments, given severe income constraints. Local nonprofits, government programs, and matched savings accounts offer essential resources for building foundational financial security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Lenoir County

via HealthByCounty

County faces severe health crisis

Lenoir County residents have a life expectancy of just 70.9 years—nearly 3.7 years below the U.S. average of 74.6 years. A striking 23.3% report poor or fair health, one of the highest rates in the nation and evidence of deep-rooted public health failures.

Worst health outcomes in North Carolina

At 70.9 years, Lenoir County's life expectancy ranks among the lowest in North Carolina, trailing the state average of 74.4 years by 3.5 years. With nearly 1 in 4 residents reporting poor or fair health, the county faces a crisis comparable to some of the nation's most distressed regions.

Clear crisis compared to neighbors

Lenoir's 70.9-year life expectancy falls dramatically short of every neighboring county, including Lee (73.8) and Jones (72.4). At 23.3% poor/fair health, Lenoir faces health challenges more severe than any peer in the region.

Uninsured near state average; provider shortage

At 12.9% uninsured, Lenoir sits slightly above the state average, but provider access remains tight with just 57 primary care providers per 100,000. Mental health resources at 177 per 100,000 fall below regional medians, limiting treatment options for residents battling chronic conditions.

Emergency: get covered and get help

Lenoir County faces a public health emergency requiring immediate action on insurance and preventive care. Contact 2-1-1, visit Healthcare.gov, and seek out community health centers now—access to care can be life-changing in this county.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Lenoir County

via RiskByCounty

Lenoir County faces Relatively Moderate national risk

Lenoir County's composite score of 84.61 places it in the Relatively Moderate category, well above the national average and among the highest-risk counties examined. The score is driven by extreme hurricane and tornado exposure that dominate the county's natural hazard profile.

Lenoir ranks among North Carolina's riskiest counties

At 84.61, Lenoir County's composite score substantially exceeds the state average of 66.72, placing it in the upper tier of North Carolina's most hazard-prone counties. Only Johnston County (85.56) surpasses it in overall risk within this dataset.

Lenoir far exceeds the risk of neighboring Lee

Lenoir (84.61) carries dramatically higher risk than adjacent Lee County (67.49), driven by Lenoir's hurricane score of 94.91 and tornado score of 86.45. The 17-point gap makes Lenoir one of the region's most hazard-exposed areas.

Hurricanes and tornadoes threaten Lenoir residents

Hurricane risk stands at an extreme 94.91, while tornado risk reaches 86.45, creating dual wind-driven threats that dominate Lenoir's hazard landscape. Flood risk adds further vulnerability at 79.13, though wildfire remains relatively low at 33.68.

Comprehensive wind and flood insurance is essential

Lenoir residents must secure homeowners insurance that covers both hurricane wind damage and flood risk, with adequate limits to protect your property. Establish a family emergency plan before hurricane season, identify your safe room, and keep critical documents in a waterproof, portable container.

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.