CountyScore

Mitchell County

North Carolina · NC

#1 in North Carolina
75.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Mitchell County, North Carolina

Mitchell County Ranks Among America's Best Values

Mitchell County achieves a composite score of 78.8, the highest in this county group and 58% above the national median of 50.0. This exceptional standing reflects top-tier affordability paired with reasonable tax burdens and solid fundamentals.

North Carolina's Livability Leader

Mitchell ranks first among North Carolina's counties with a score of 78.8, exceeding the state average of 72.7 by over 6 points. The county demonstrates the strongest overall livability profile in the state based on measured dimensions.

Unbeatable Tax and Housing Affordability

Mitchell excels with a tax score of 88.2 (effective rate 0.502%) and cost score of 86.1, featuring median home values of $202,100 and monthly rent at $744. This combination ranks among North Carolina's most financially accessible communities.

Modest Income Levels Limit Wage Growth

The income score of 21.3 corresponds to a median household income of $58,089, which, while reasonable, trails higher-wage metro areas. Complete data on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality remains unavailable for a full livability picture.

The State's Best All-Around Value

Mitchell County stands out for anyone seeking maximum livability at minimum cost, especially retirees, remote workers, and families prioritizing financial security over urban amenities. The county's top composite score reflects genuine stability and affordability across the board.

Score breakdown

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

Tax88.2Cost86.1SafetyComing SoonHealth67.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.3Risk76.1WaterComing Soon
🏛88.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼21.3
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤67.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡76.1
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 Mitchell County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Edmonson County
Kentucky
75.8
Median income: $54,512
Menifee County
Kentucky
75.8
Median income: $44,672
Caldwell Parish
Louisiana
75.8
Median income: $44,957
Clearwater County
Minnesota
75.8
Median income: $64,934
Esmeralda County
Nevada
75.8

Deep Dives

Mitchell County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Mitchell County

via TaxByCounty

Mitchell County taxes are exceptionally low

Mitchell County's effective tax rate of 0.502% ranks in the lowest 25% of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $1,014 is less than 40% of the national median of $2,690.

Mitchell ranks among North Carolina's lowest

At 0.502%, Mitchell's effective rate trails the state average of 0.701% by a meaningful margin, placing it firmly in the most tax-friendly tier. Homeowners save $419 on median taxes compared to the state median of $1,433.

Western mountains share Mitchell's low rates

Mitchell's 0.502% rate clusters with McDowell County (0.517%) and Madison County (0.496%), creating a consistent low-tax zone in North Carolina's mountains. This region offers among the state's most affordable property tax environments.

On a Mitchell median home, your annual bill

A $202,100 home—Mitchell's median value—generates approximately $1,014 in annual property taxes. Adding mortgage-related fees raises the total to $1,142.

Low rates don't mean assessments are perfect

Even in low-tax counties, property assessments can contain errors or miss available exemptions that homeowners deserve. Mitchell County residents should request an assessment review from the county assessor at no cost.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Mitchell County

via CostByCounty

Mitchell offers relief from national housing strain

Mitchell County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.4% sits well below the national affordability strain point, with median households earning $58,089 and paying just $744 monthly in rent. Housing costs remain genuinely affordable relative to paychecks across the county.

Mitchell ranks among North Carolina's best values

At 15.4%, Mitchell County has one of North Carolina's lowest rent-to-income ratios, beating the state average of 18.6% while matching comparable mountain incomes. This combination of modest rents and decent earnings creates genuine housing affordability.

Mitchell fits perfectly in the affordable corridor

Mitchell's $744 rent and $58,089 income align closely with Madison ($764, $58,628) and McDowell ($741, $55,527), forming a stable affordable region in western North Carolina. All three counties cluster around $740 rents and sub-16% rent-to-income ratios.

Ownership looks especially smart in Mitchell

Mitchell County households earning $58,089 face only 15.4% rent burden—but ownership is even better at roughly 12.3% of income with homes valued at $202,100 and monthly costs at $595. The county offers a genuine pathway to equity-building for working families.

Mitchell: solid wages, modest housing costs

Mitchell County delivers balanced rural living with incomes of $58,089 and rents of just $744, making it ideal for remote workers or those seeking mountain communities. Your housing budget stretches further here than nearly everywhere else in the state except a handful of similarly rural counties.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Mitchell County

via IncomeByCounty

Mitchell earns below national average

Mitchell County's median household income of $58,089 lags the U.S. median of $74,755 by $16,666, placing it in the lower income category nationally. Like many rural mountain counties, Mitchell relies on limited economic sectors and faces structural income challenges.

Middle-income county for North Carolina

Mitchell County's $58,089 median household income trails the North Carolina state average of $61,072 by about $3,000, ranking it near the median of the state's 100 counties. Per capita income of $32,713 is slightly below state average, indicating moderate individual earning power.

Slightly above other Appalachian peers

Mitchell County earns $58,089, modestly outpacing McDowell County ($55,527) and Montgomery County ($55,849) while closely matching Madison County ($58,628). The county's position reflects a band of similarly-challenged rural mountain communities across the region.

Housing remains very affordable

Mitchell County's 15.4% rent-to-income ratio is among the most favorable of all profiled counties, well below the 30% affordability threshold. The median home value of $202,100 is modest relative to the county median income, creating strong housing security for homeowners.

Maximize savings through low housing costs

Mitchell County residents benefit from below-average housing expenses, freeing up income for savings and investments compared to residents of expensive urban markets. Taking advantage of employer retirement plans and building a dedicated investment strategy can compound wealth significantly over a career.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Mitchell County

via HealthByCounty

Mitchell County near national average

Mitchell County's 74.1-year life expectancy sits just 0.4 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years, keeping the county competitive nationally. At 16.7% poor/fair health, it ranks below the national average of 21%, suggesting residents manage chronic conditions relatively well despite rural constraints.

Middle-of-the-road health outcomes

Mitchell County's 74.1-year life expectancy trails North Carolina's 74.4-year state average by just 0.3 years, placing it near the statewide median. The 16.7% poor/fair health rate is below the state trend, indicating Mitchell County residents maintain better-than-average health status for a rural Appalachian county.

Competitive with mountain peers

Mitchell County's 74.1-year life expectancy nearly matches Madison County's 74.7 years and McDowell County's 74.3 years, though it trails Mecklenburg County's 78.8 years by far. The county's 47 primary care providers per 100K exceeds McDowell's 34 but lags Moore County's 111, revealing uneven healthcare distribution across mountain regions.

Affordable coverage, limited doctors

Mitchell County's 11.3% uninsured rate is below the state average, meaning most residents have some insurance pathway. However, with only 47 primary care providers per 100K and 127 mental health providers per 100K, residents often travel substantial distances for specialist care and behavioral health services.

Secure your health safety net

About 1 in 9 Mitchell County residents lack health insurance, risking debt from unexpected illness. Visit healthcare.gov or your county health department to enroll in coverage—having insurance means you can see a doctor before an ailment becomes an emergency.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Mitchell County

via RiskByCounty

Mitchell County ranks among North Carolina's safest

Mitchell County scores 23.95 on the composite risk scale, earning a "Very Low" rating—one of the lowest scores in North Carolina and significantly below the state average of 66.72. This exceptional safety profile makes the county one of the nation's most secure areas across natural disaster hazards.

Lowest-risk county in North Carolina

Mitchell County holds the lowest composite risk score statewide at 23.95, with minimal exposure across floods (39.79), tornadoes (26.62), and wildfires (33.40). This extraordinary safety record reflects the county's high elevation, rural character, and favorable geographic position relative to major weather systems and seismic zones.

Safest among western mountain counties

Mitchell County's 23.95 score is nearly identical to neighboring Madison County (27.35), and both significantly outperform McDowell County (59.22) to the south. The county's position at the highest elevations of the Appalachian Mountains provides natural protection from hurricanes and tornado systems that affect lower elevations.

Hurricane and earthquake pose modest threats

Mitchell County's highest risk scores—hurricane (52.57) and earthquake (42.21)—remain well below statewide averages, reflecting the county's mountain protection from Atlantic storms. All other hazard categories score below 40, making the county remarkably balanced and low-risk across the full spectrum of natural disasters.

Standard homeowners coverage should suffice

Mitchell County residents can feel confident that standard homeowners and auto insurance policies provide adequate protection for the county's minimal natural disaster risk. Annual insurance reviews and basic home maintenance remain prudent practices, but the county's low-risk profile means fewer specialized coverages are necessary compared to most North Carolina communities.

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.