Morgan County's composite score of 77.9 sits well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top half of U.S. counties. This 56% advantage over the national baseline reflects solid fundamentals in tax and cost metrics that resonate across the nation.
2 / 5
Ranked Above Tennessee Average
Morgan County ranks third among Tennessee's 95 counties with a score of 77.9, slightly outpacing the state average of 76.3. This positions it as one of Tennessee's more livable counties, though several peers offer comparable or stronger overall profiles.
3 / 5
Tax and Housing Affordability Shine
Morgan County excels with a tax score of 85.9 and cost score of 86.2, reflecting an effective tax rate of just 0.581% and median home values around $144,000. These low financial barriers make it attractive to cost-conscious families and retirees, though median household income of $57,408 remains moderate.
4 / 5
Income Growth Lags Behind Tax Benefits
With an income score of 20.9, Morgan County's median household income trails state and national peers significantly, suggesting limited economic opportunity relative to its low-cost advantages. Safety, health, school quality, and environmental data remain unavailable, leaving some livability dimensions unexplored.
5 / 5
Ideal for Budget-Conscious Retirees
Morgan County suits families and retirees seeking low taxes and affordable housing without high income expectations. It offers a stable, cost-effective base for those with fixed or modest incomes, though job seekers should research employment prospects before relocating.
Morgan County's composite score of 77.9 sits well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top half of U.S. counties. This 56% advantage over the national baseline reflects solid fundamentals in tax and cost metrics that resonate across the nation.
Ranked Above Tennessee Average
Morgan County ranks third among Tennessee's 95 counties with a score of 77.9, slightly outpacing the state average of 76.3. This positions it as one of Tennessee's more livable counties, though several peers offer comparable or stronger overall profiles.
Tax and Housing Affordability Shine
Morgan County excels with a tax score of 85.9 and cost score of 86.2, reflecting an effective tax rate of just 0.581% and median home values around $144,000. These low financial barriers make it attractive to cost-conscious families and retirees, though median household income of $57,408 remains moderate.
Income Growth Lags Behind Tax Benefits
With an income score of 20.9, Morgan County's median household income trails state and national peers significantly, suggesting limited economic opportunity relative to its low-cost advantages. Safety, health, school quality, and environmental data remain unavailable, leaving some livability dimensions unexplored.
Ideal for Budget-Conscious Retirees
Morgan County suits families and retirees seeking low taxes and affordable housing without high income expectations. It offers a stable, cost-effective base for those with fixed or modest incomes, though job seekers should research employment prospects before relocating.
Score breakdown
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🏛85.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Morgan County's effective tax rate of 0.581% is less than one-fourth the national median property tax burden, where homeowners pay an average of $2,690 annually on a $281,900 home. At this rate, Morgan County ranks in the lowest quartile nationally, making it significantly more affordable than most U.S. counties for property owners.
Above Tennessee average, but not the highest
Morgan County's 0.581% effective rate runs slightly above Tennessee's state average of 0.511%, placing it in the upper-middle tier among the state's 95 counties. The median property tax of $837 exceeds the state median of $1,016 by percentage, though the actual dollar amount reflects Morgan's lower home values.
Morgan stands out in the Cumberland Plateau
Among nearby counties, Morgan's 0.581% rate exceeds Overton County (0.394%) and Pickett County (0.374%), but trails Polk County (0.565%) and Putnam County (0.526%). This positions Morgan as a moderate-to-higher taxer in its immediate region, despite all these counties remaining well below the national average.
A $144,000 home costs $837 annually
The median Morgan County homeowner with a $144,000 home pays $837 in property tax per year—or just under $70 monthly. With a mortgage, that figure rises to $939 annually when accounting for county-collected escrow fees.
Appeal if you think you're overassessed
Many Tennessee homeowners discover their properties are assessed above fair market value and qualify for tax appeals. If your recent home sale or appraisal came in lower than your county assessment, you have grounds to request a reassessment and potentially reduce your annual bill.
At 15.5%, Morgan County's rent-to-income ratio sits well below the national benchmark and beats Tennessee's state average of 17.6%. Renters here spend roughly $742 monthly on housing—about $118 less than the state median—while earning a median household income of $57,408.
Among Tennessee's most affordable counties
Morgan County ranks in the upper tier for housing affordability across Tennessee, with a rent-to-income ratio that outperforms most peers. The county's combination of low rents and moderate incomes creates one of the state's friendlier rental markets for renters stretching tight budgets.
Beats nearby counties on rent
Morgan County's $742 median rent undercuts nearby Rhea County ($796) and Putnam County ($881), while offering comparable affordability to neighboring Polk County. Renters here pay $118 less monthly than the state average, positioning the county as an attractive option in East-Central Tennessee's housing landscape.
Rents consume 15.5% of income
Morgan County renters dedicate 15.5% of their median household income ($57,408) to gross rent, while homeowners spend about $585 monthly on ownership costs on homes valued near $144,000. The county's affordability gap is modest: renters and owners both enjoy manageable housing burdens relative to Tennessee benchmarks.
Consider Morgan if affordability matters
Families relocating to Tennessee should weigh Morgan County's below-average rents and ownership costs against comparable neighboring counties. The county offers rural character with genuine housing savings—a rare combination in today's market.
Morgan County's median household income of $57,408 falls $17,347 short of the national median of $74,755. This 23% gap means typical households here earn roughly four-fifths what Americans earn on average nationwide.
Above Average for Tennessee Counties
Morgan County ranks above Tennessee's state average median household income of $58,994, placing it among the stronger performers statewide. The county's per capita income of $30,576 also edges close to the state average of $31,458.
Middle Income Among Peer Counties
Morgan County's $57,408 median income positions it in the middle of its rural Tennessee peers. Nearby Polk County ($60,227) and Rhea County ($58,133) earn slightly more, while Overton County ($46,159) and Pickett County ($44,591) fall considerably below.
Rent Affordable, but Housing Stretched
At 15.5%, Morgan County's rent-to-income ratio sits comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold, meaning renters spend a manageable share of earnings on housing. However, the median home value of $144,000 represents 2.5 years of gross household income—a significant financial commitment for wealth-building.
Build Savings with Stable Housing Costs
Morgan County households have breathing room in their budgets thanks to affordable rents and moderate home prices. With housing costs under control, now is the time to establish an emergency fund and explore retirement investments to close the income gap with wealthier counties.
At 71.9 years, Morgan County's life expectancy falls below the U.S. average of 76.1 years, a gap of more than four years that signals persistent health challenges. One in four residents (25.4%) report poor or fair health, compared to the national average of 17.9%, suggesting higher rates of chronic conditions and health burden in the community.
Slightly below Tennessee's health rank
Morgan County's life expectancy of 71.9 years sits just 0.5 years below Tennessee's state average of 72.4 years, placing it near the middle of the state's 95 counties. The county's uninsured rate of 12.5% exceeds the state average of 11.9%, meaning more residents lack insurance coverage.
Healthcare access lags nearby counties
With 19 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Morgan County has fewer doctors than neighboring Overton County (39 per 100K) and significantly fewer than Putnam County (67 per 100K). Mental health services are similarly limited at 19 providers per 100K, less than half the supply in nearby Obion County.
Limited providers, limited insurance options
Morgan County residents face a double challenge: 12.5% lack health insurance while those with coverage must travel to access care, as the county has only 19 primary care providers per 100,000 residents. This scarcity means longer wait times and harder access to preventive care, especially for low-income families.
Check your health insurance options today
If you're uninsured or underinsured, now is the time to explore coverage. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to learn about Medicaid expansion, marketplace plans, and community health center services available in Morgan County.
Morgan County's composite risk score of 19.05 places it well below the national average, meaning residents face significantly fewer natural disaster threats than most Americans. This very low rating reflects a relatively protected geography across multiple hazard types.
Among Tennessee's safest counties
Morgan County ranks among the lowest-risk counties in Tennessee, with a composite score of 19.05 compared to the state average of 52.45. This places the county in the bottom tier of disaster exposure across the state.
Safer than most surrounding counties
Morgan County's risk profile is notably lower than neighboring Obion County (81.30) and similar to Overton County (22.23). Adjacent Perry County presents slightly elevated risk at 33.40, making Morgan County one of the safest locations in the region.
Wildfire and earthquake are top concerns
Wildfire risk (63.55) and earthquake risk (58.30) are Morgan County's highest hazards, though both remain manageable compared to national averages. Tornado risk (39.28) represents a moderate but secondary concern for residents.
Ensure coverage for regional hazards
While Morgan County's overall risk is low, homeowners should maintain standard property insurance and consider supplemental wildfire or earthquake coverage given regional geology and forest proximity. Standard homeowners policies typically exclude both earthquake and wildfire damage, making separate policies wise investments.