CountyScore

Mitchell County

Texas · TX

#104 in Texas
63.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Mitchell County, Texas

Mitchell exceeds national baseline

Mitchell County scores 65.9 out of 100, meaningfully above the national median of 50.0. The county ranks in the top 67th percentile nationally, delivering above-average American livability.

Comparable to Texas average

Mitchell's score of 65.9 closely matches Texas's state average of 66.8, positioning it squarely in the middle of Texas county livability. The county holds competitive ground statewide.

Exceptional housing affordability

Mitchell excels with a Cost Score of 91.4, the second-highest in this county group, offering median rents of just $481 and median home values at $85,700. Housing costs represent exceptional value.

High taxes and low incomes

The Tax Score of 47.1 reflects an effective rate of 1.960%, the highest burden in this group. The Income Score of 20.0 and median household income of $56,033 signal limited earning potential.

For extreme budget minimizers

Mitchell appeals to retirees on fixed incomes and anyone seeking rock-bottom housing costs despite higher tax rates. The county trades tax efficiency for unmatched housing affordability and rural living.

Score breakdown

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

Tax47.1Cost91.4SafetyComing SoonHealth53SchoolsComing SoonIncome20Risk80.3WaterComing Soon
🏛47.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠91.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼20
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤53
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡80.3
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 Mitchell County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Mobile County
Alabama
63.8
Median income: $58,119
Tuolumne County
California
63.8
Median income: $72,259
Colquitt County
Georgia
63.8
Median income: $49,691
Ford County
Illinois
63.8
Median income: $60,782
Penobscot County
Maine
63.8
Median income: $63,248

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's rate among nation's highest

Mitchell County's effective tax rate of 1.960% substantially exceeds the national median of 1.048%, ranking it among the highest-taxed counties in the United States. Despite a median home value of just $85,700, the median property tax reaches $1,680—notably lower than the national median of $2,690 due to lower property values.

Texas's steepest tax burden

Mitchell County's 1.960% effective rate is the highest among these eight counties and well above the Texas state average of 1.276%. This aggressive rate means residents pay an outsized percentage of their property value annually, despite modest home prices.

Significant premium over all peers

Mitchell County's 1.960% rate dramatically exceeds every neighboring jurisdiction, including Menard County (1.659%), Medina County (1.310%), and Midland County (1.262%). The county stands alone in this region for its punitive effective tax rate.

Steep rate on small home values

On an $85,700 home in Mitchell County, annual property taxes total approximately $1,680—a substantial percentage burden despite modest property values. Homeowners with mortgages face an estimated $3,035 annual obligation, reflecting the county's aggressive rate structure.

Prioritize assessment appeals

Given Mitchell County's exceptionally high effective rate, homeowners should seriously pursue property tax appeals to challenge inflated assessments. Rural properties in high-rate counties are especially vulnerable to overvaluation, making formal challenges a fiscally prudent move.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Mitchell County

via CostByCounty

Mitchell's rock-bottom rents hide income crisis

Mitchell County's rent-to-income ratio of 10.3% appears exceptional, but it masks a troubling reality: median household income of just $56,033 is 25% below the national average. At $481 monthly rent, Mitchell offers the cheapest housing in this comparison, yet residents earn among the lowest incomes, creating genuine economic distress despite favorable affordability metrics.

Lowest income, lowest rent

Mitchell ranks among Texas's most economically distressed counties, with median income in the bottom quartile statewide. The $481 monthly rent reflects declining rural demand and depressed property values rather than prosperity—a cautionary tale of affordability without economic opportunity.

Affordability through economic hardship

Mitchell's superior rent-to-income ratio stems from collapsed incomes and rents, not balanced markets like Mills County. Compared to Menard ($48,191 income, $810 rent) and McMullen ($45,833 income), Mitchell sits at the economic margins, signaling limited job growth or outmigration.

The affordability paradox

Renters spend just 10.3% of their meager $56,033 income on $481 rent, while homeowners allocate 12% to $573 monthly costs. These favorable ratios reflect housing so cheap that even low incomes can bear the burden—a sign of economic distress, not prosperity.

Cheap living comes with cost

Mitchell's bargain rents suit only those with outside income sources—remote workers, retirees, or those with independent business. Without portable income, Mitchell's low rents offer little benefit in a county where local job opportunities remain severely limited.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Mitchell County

via IncomeByCounty

Mitchell Well Below National Median

Mitchell County's median household income of $56,033 is 25.1% below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it among lower-income regions nationally. The county's earnings reflect the economic constraints of a small West Texas community with limited industrial diversity.

Below Texas State Average

Mitchell's median household income of $56,033 trails Texas's state average of $64,737 by 13.5%, ranking it in the lower-income quartile statewide. Per capita income of $28,277 falls 14.8% below state average of $33,197, suggesting limited earning capacity across the population.

Lower Income Than Most Regional Peers

Mitchell's $56,033 income exceeds only McMullen County ($45,833) and Menard County ($48,191) among the peer group. The county faces economic headwinds similar to other rural West Texas communities, with limited job diversity and smaller employer base.

Housing Highly Affordable

Mitchell's rent-to-income ratio of 10.3% is the lowest in the entire peer group, indicating renters spend just over one-tenth of earnings on housing—exceptionally affordable. Median home values of $85,700 are the lowest regionally, making homeownership highly accessible for local households.

Maximize Advantages of Low Cost Living

While Mitchell's median household income of $56,033 is modest, the extremely low housing costs (10.3% rent ratio) and affordable home prices create unusual wealth-building opportunities. Residents should maximize this advantage by channeling housing savings into emergency funds, retirement accounts, and long-term investments.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Mitchell County

via HealthByCounty

Mitchell faces significant health headwinds

At 73.3 years, Mitchell County's life expectancy lags the U.S. average of 74.5 years, and the county's 26.9% poor/fair health rate far exceeds the national average of 18%. This combination signals a county facing serious chronic disease burden and health challenges that shorten lives. Mitchell residents experience substantially worse health outcomes than typical Americans, requiring urgent attention to health equity and access.

Lowest life expectancy in West Texas

Mitchell's 73.3-year life expectancy is well below Texas's 74.3-year average, making it a clear outlier statewide for premature mortality. The county's 26.9% poor/fair health rate ranks among the worst in the state, indicating high chronic disease prevalence. With a 16.7% uninsured rate—actually better than state average—coverage is not the primary problem; health disparities and access to quality care are.

Mitchell lags far behind regional peers

Mitchell's 73.3-year life expectancy trails all neighbors: Midland (75.5), Mills (75.4), McLennan (75.3), and Medina (76.7)—a striking gap of 2-3 years. The county's 26.9% poor/fair health rate is the worst in its peer group, suggesting systemic health challenges beyond insurance coverage. Despite a relatively low uninsured rate (16.7%), Mitchell residents face the bleakest health profile in the region, pointing to deeper social and economic factors.

Moderate care access masks outcomes crisis

Mitchell offers 55 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—a solid number on paper—yet the county's poor health outcomes suggest care quality or timeliness issues. Mental health provider data is unavailable, but the high rate of poor/fair health suggests behavioral health services may be inadequate. The disconnect between provider supply and health outcomes indicates Mitchell residents face barriers beyond simple access—poverty, education, and preventive care gaps likely play major roles.

Get covered and seek preventive care

Mitchell's 16.7% uninsured rate is competitive, yet health outcomes remain poor—if you're among the uninsured, coverage through healthcare.gov is step one. Once covered, prioritize preventive care: screenings, vaccinations, and chronic disease management can extend life and reduce the 26.9% poor/fair health rate dragging down the county. Your health plan is most valuable when used for prevention, not just emergencies.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Mitchell County

via RiskByCounty

Mitchell's risk well below national norms

Mitchell County's composite risk score of 19.75 falls solidly in the Very Low category, substantially below the national average of roughly 50. The county enjoys meaningful protection from most major natural disaster hazards.

Well below Texas's average exposure

At 19.75, Mitchell's score is less than 40 percent of Texas's state average of 49.00, placing it among the state's safer counties. The county's West Texas location and geography create favorable natural disaster conditions.

Safer than most, riskier than a few

Mitchell's score of 19.75 beats most peers but ranks higher than Menard County (3.05) and Mills County (5.60), though far below Midland (81.20). Its position reflects typical West Texas disaster vulnerability—relatively contained.

Wildfire is the primary local hazard

Wildfire risk of 83.97 is Mitchell's highest exposure, reflecting dry conditions and vegetation typical of West Texas. Tornado risk at 35.40 represents a secondary but manageable threat; all other hazards remain minimal.

Basic insurance with wildfire awareness

Standard homeowners policies suffice for Mitchell's overall low-risk profile, though emphasize wildfire prevention and property maintenance. Keep gutters cleared, trim tree branches away from structures, and maintain defensible space around your home.

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.