CountyScore

Meigs County

Tennessee · TN

#3 in Tennessee
75.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Meigs County, Tennessee

Meigs County ranks well nationally

Meigs County's composite score of 79.2 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by nearly 30 points, placing it among the top-performing counties across the United States. This strong ranking reflects excellent tax and affordability conditions.

Exceeds Tennessee average

Meigs County's 79.2 score beats Tennessee's 76.3 state average by 2.9 points, ranking it among the state's better-performing counties. This position indicates above-average livability compared to most Tennessee communities.

Outstanding tax and cost efficiency

Meigs County excels with a tax score of 91.2, an effective tax rate of 0.392%, and strong affordability at 84.6 with median home values of $185,500 and rents of $845. This combination ensures residents maximize their financial resources.

Income levels remain modest

The county's income score of 21.5 reflects median household income of $58,395, limiting wealth accumulation potential compared to higher-earning regions. Safety, health, school, and water data remain unavailable, obscuring the complete livability picture.

Great for value-seeking families

Meigs County appeals to families and retirees seeking low taxes, affordable housing, and stable communities without requiring high incomes. The exceptional cost-to-tax ratio creates comfortable living standards on modest earnings, ideal for those prioritizing financial security over career earnings.

Score breakdown

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

Tax91.2Cost84.6SafetyComing SoonHealth62.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.5Risk87.3WaterComing Soon
🏛91.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼21.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤62.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡87.3
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 Meigs County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Calhoun County
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75.6
Median income: $63,654
Baca County
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75.6
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Conejos County
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75.6
Median income: $47,209
East Feliciana Parish
Louisiana
75.6
Median income: $72,899
Winn Parish
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75.6
Median income: $46,368

Deep Dives

Meigs County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Meigs County

via TaxByCounty

Meigs County taxes rank exceptionally low

Meigs County's 0.392% effective tax rate places it in the bottom 10% of U.S. counties, less than half the national median of 0.96%. The $727 median property tax is only 27% of the national median of $2,690.

Significantly below Tennessee average

Meigs County's 0.392% rate is 23% lower than Tennessee's 0.511% state average, ranking it among the lowest-taxed counties statewide. The $727 median tax is 28% below the state median of $1,016.

Competitive with lowest-tax peers

Meigs County's 0.392% rate is virtually identical to McNairy County (0.390%) and just above McMinn County (0.371%), placing it among the region's most tax-friendly counties. Its $727 median tax is comparable to the regional low-tax cohort.

Median home costs about $727 yearly

On a typical Meigs County home worth $185,500, you'll pay approximately $727 in annual property taxes. That's roughly $61 per month—a minimal burden compared to most American counties.

Check your assessment for accuracy

Property overassessment affects homeowners even in low-tax counties like Meigs, and filing an appeal is completely free. Verifying your home's assessed value could help you capture additional savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Meigs County

via CostByCounty

Meigs matches state averages, beats national norms

Meigs County renters spend 17.4% of their income on housing, slightly below Tennessee's state average of 17.6% and well below national norms. The median household income of $58,395 falls below national averages, yet housing costs remain proportionally affordable.

Meigs sits at the state's affordability waterline

With a 17.4% rent-to-income ratio, Meigs County ranks nearly at Tennessee's state average of 17.6%, placing it in the middle of the state's affordability spectrum. The median rent of $845 is competitive with neighboring counties and 2% below the state median.

Balanced position between cheaper and pricier peers

Meigs' $845 median rent sits between McMinn County's $792 and Monroe County's $699—wait, actually Monroe is cheaper—reflecting mixed housing markets in this region. Ownership costs of $564 are among the lowest regionally, making Meigs attractive for buyers despite modest rental appeal.

Ownership stands out as real value proposition

Renters pay $845 while owners pay just $564 monthly from a median household income of $58,395. This 33% gap between rental and ownership costs suggests strong homeownership value, with owner costs consuming only 12% of household income.

Meigs appeals most to aspiring homeowners

If you're ready to buy, Meigs County's low monthly ownership costs ($564) and median home values ($185,500) offer exceptional value for budget-conscious relocaters. Renters may find more competitive rates in neighboring Monroe or McMinn counties.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Meigs County

via IncomeByCounty

Meigs County trails the national income median

Meigs County's median household income of $58,395 falls $16,360 short of the national median of $74,755, placing it in the lower-middle income category. Per capita income of $30,197 also lags the state average of $31,458 by 4%, indicating limited earning power across the county.

Below state average in household earnings

Meigs County earns $599 less than the Tennessee state average of $58,994, placing it just barely below the state norm. While close to state averages, the county still signals economic challenges requiring workforce development and employment diversification.

Middling income among region's counties

Meigs County's $58,395 income positions it near the regional midpoint—above McNairy County ($50,714) and Monroe County ($56,648) but well below Marshall County ($70,829). The county faces moderate income pressure compared to wealthier neighbors like Maury and Montgomery counties.

Housing costs require careful budgeting

Meigs County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.4% puts housing costs above typical comfort levels, signaling budget strain for median-income households. A median home value of $185,500 remains relatively accessible, though down payments and monthly obligations require disciplined financial planning.

Build wealth through deliberate planning

With incomes below both state and national averages, Meigs County residents should prioritize budgeting and savings discipline. Consider first-time homebuyer programs to leverage affordable property values, explore employer retirement matching, and seek higher-wage employment paths to accelerate wealth accumulation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Meigs County

via HealthByCounty

Meigs County Life Expectancy in Crisis

Meigs County residents live to just 69.1 years, 3.7 years shorter than the U.S. average of 72.8 years, placing it among America's unhealthiest counties. However, 18.8% reporting poor or fair health ranks below the national 21% average, suggesting concentrated health crises among specific populations.

Lowest Life Expectancy in Tennessee

Meigs County's 69.1-year life expectancy ranks as the lowest in Tennessee, trailing the state average by 3.3 years and marking an urgent public health crisis. The 10.8% uninsured rate falls just below Tennessee's 11.9% state average, providing modest advantage on coverage.

Severe Health Crisis Relative to Neighbors

Meigs County's 69.1 years is dramatically lower than all neighbors: Marshall (73.6), McMinn (71.3), Monroe (70.8), and McNairy (70.3) all exceed Meigs, some by over 4 years. With limited provider density—38 primary care and just 7 mental health providers per 100K—the county faces a dual crisis of poor health and minimal care infrastructure.

Severe Mental Health Provider Shortage

Meigs County's 7 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—by far the lowest in the region—creates a psychiatric care desert that compounds physical health crises. The 38 primary care providers per 100K and 10.8% uninsured rate indicate structural gaps that leave residents with few places to turn for help.

Mental Health & Insurance: Critical Resources

Meigs County's extreme shortage of mental health support makes health insurance enrollment even more critical—coverage can expand telehealth access to distant providers. Visit healthcare.gov or your county health department to enroll in coverage and explore mental health services beyond your county.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Meigs County

via RiskByCounty

Meigs County among Tennessee's safest

Meigs County's composite risk score of 12.72 ranks it among the very safest counties in Tennessee, far below the state average of 52.45. This exceptionally low profile reflects minimal overlap of natural disaster hazards relative to national norms.

One of Tennessee's lowest-risk counties

Meigs County ranks near the bottom of Tennessee's disaster risk spectrum, competing with Moore County as the state's safest communities. Its risk score of 12.72 places it in the "very low" category with minimal hazard exposure statewide.

By far the safest in its region

Meigs County (12.72) stands dramatically safer than neighboring McMinn County (60.24) and Monroe County (60.91), representing a rare pocket of low-risk real estate. This exceptional safety profile distinguishes it sharply from surrounding counties.

Earthquake is the only moderate concern

Meigs County's earthquake risk at 65.62 is its highest exposure, though still moderate by state standards; all other hazards score well below state averages. Tornado risk (35.56), flood risk (21.28), and wildfire risk (32.25) remain manageable.

Focus earthquake coverage; standard policies suffice

Meigs County residents can likely rely on standard homeowners insurance for most hazards, but should add earthquake coverage given the moderate seismic exposure. The county's overall low-risk status means fewer specialized policies are needed compared to higher-hazard areas.

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.