CountyScore

Nash County

North Carolina · NC

#70 in North Carolina
65
County Score

County Report Card

About Nash County, North Carolina

Nash County Achieves Solid National Ranking

Nash County scores 72.3 on the composite index, 45% above the national median of 50.0. This respectable performance reflects balanced fundamentals across tax, cost, and income dimensions relative to U.S. norms.

Right at North Carolina's County Average

Nash scores 72.3, essentially matching North Carolina's average of 72.7, placing it squarely in the middle-to-upper tier of the state's 100 counties. The alignment reflects typical performance on cost and tax metrics.

Balanced Affordability and Tax Relief

Nash combines a tax score of 80.6 (effective rate 0.771%) and a cost score of 78.3, with median home values of $171,100 and monthly rent at $924. These factors provide reasonable affordability for middle-class households seeking financial stability.

Modest Income Growth and Incomplete Data

The income score of 23.0 corresponds to a median household income of $60,704, modest relative to higher-wage metro areas. Safety, health, school, risk, and water quality data remain unavailable, limiting comprehensive livability evaluation.

Balanced Living for Middle-Class Stability

Nash County suits middle-class families and workers prioritizing steady, predictable living costs and reasonable access to employment. The county's average-to-above-average composite score indicates genuine livability, though residents should research local opportunities and services independently.

Score breakdown

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

Tax80.6Cost78.3SafetyComing SoonHealth61SchoolsComing SoonIncome23Risk19.4WaterComing Soon
🏛80.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼23
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤61
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡19.4
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 Nash County with another county →

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Deep Dives

Nash County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Nash County

via TaxByCounty

Nash County's tax rate ranks above national norm

Nash County's effective tax rate of 0.771% exceeds the national median of 0.87%, placing it in the upper 40% of U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax of $1,320 remains well below the national median of $2,690, due to lower home values in the county.

Nash edges above North Carolina's state average

At 0.771%, Nash's effective rate surpasses North Carolina's 0.701% average, ranking it in the upper portion of the state's counties. The median tax of $1,320 is $113 below the state median, reflecting Nash's more modest home values.

Nash represents upper-tier eastern NC rates

Nash's 0.771% rate exceeds nearby Martin County's extraordinary 1.070% but trails most mountain counties significantly. Within eastern North Carolina, Nash represents a higher-tax locale compared to peers like Martin, though the relationship is complex.

On a Nash median home, your annual tax bill

A $171,100 home—Nash's median value—generates approximately $1,320 in annual property taxes. Homeowners with a mortgage face $1,489 when additional county fees are factored in.

Appeal your assessment and explore exemptions

Nash County homeowners, particularly those with modest incomes or qualifying exemptions, should request an assessment review from the county assessor. The appeal process is free and can unlock significant savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Nash County

via CostByCounty

Nash edges toward national affordability strain

Nash County's rent-to-income ratio of 18.3% approaches the national affordability strain threshold, with median households earning $60,704 and paying $924 monthly in rent. Housing costs claim a substantial share of paychecks, leaving less room for savings and other expenses.

Nash sits exactly at state affordability average

At 18.3%, Nash County's rent-to-income ratio nearly matches North Carolina's state average of 18.6%, positioning it as a middle-ground county statewide. Both rents ($924) and incomes ($60,704) run slightly above rural averages, reflecting Nash's role as a regional hub.

Nash rents exceed affordable mountain counties

Nash County's $924 monthly rent significantly exceeds mountain alternatives like McDowell ($741), Madison ($764), and Mitchell ($744), despite incomes that don't proportionally justify the difference. Renters in Nash face tighter affordability than these nearby rural peers.

Renters bear more burden than owners in Nash

Nash County renters earning $60,704 spend 18.3% of income on $924 monthly rent, while homeowners with a $171,100 median home pay roughly 17.5% for $884 monthly costs. The differential suggests that building equity through ownership provides more financial relief than renting in this county.

Nash: reasonable rents, but compare eastward carefully

At $924 monthly rent, Nash County runs nearly $200 above mountain counties while earning only $2,600 more annually—a math that favors relocating westward. If your income supports it, communities like McDowell or Mitchell offer better housing value with similar earning potential.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Nash County

via IncomeByCounty

Nash County slightly below national average

Nash County's median household income of $60,704 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by $14,051, a gap of 19%. The county's income level is typical of many mid-South rural and small industrial communities.

Slightly above North Carolina average

Nash County's $60,704 median household income sits just below North Carolina's state average of $61,072, ranking it slightly below the state median. Per capita income of $33,336 is close to state average, reflecting fairly typical individual earning levels.

Mid-range earner among profiled counties

Nash County's $60,704 income positions it above rural Appalachian counties like McDowell ($55,527) and Montgomery ($55,849), while trailing prosperous Piedmont regions like Mecklenburg ($83,765) and Moore County ($82,837). The county occupies the economic middle ground of the sample.

Housing costs moderate relative to income

Nash County's 18.3% rent-to-income ratio indicates good housing affordability, though slightly elevated compared to mountain counties. The median home value of $171,100 is moderate, making homeownership achievable for households earning the county median.

Build steady wealth through consistent investing

Nash County households earning $60,704 have solid income to support both housing and savings goals, particularly with modest rent-to-income ratios. Establishing automatic contributions to retirement plans and gradually building investment portfolios can create meaningful long-term wealth despite modest annual income.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Nash County

via HealthByCounty

Nash County's health falls short

At 73.5 years, Nash County's life expectancy is 1.0 year below the U.S. average of 74.5 years, indicating persistent health disadvantages. With 20.9% of residents in poor or fair health—exceeding the national 21% rate—the county struggles with chronic disease burden that shortens lives.

Below average across North Carolina

Nash County's 73.5-year life expectancy trails the North Carolina average of 74.4 years by 0.9 years, positioning it in the lower half of state rankings. The 20.9% poor/fair health rate reflects persistent economic and healthcare access challenges common to rural eastern North Carolina.

Middle performer in region

Nash County's 73.5-year life expectancy exceeds Martin County's 71.1 years but falls short of McDowell County's 74.3 years and Madison County's 74.7 years. With 50 primary care providers per 100K, Nash County offers better access than Martin County's 41 but less than Mitchell County's 47, creating uneven care distribution across the region.

Uninsured rate spikes access gaps

Nash County's 14.0% uninsured rate exceeds the state average of 12.5%, leaving 1 in 7 residents without coverage and unable to afford routine care. With 50 primary care providers and 155 mental health providers per 100K, provider availability is moderate, but uninsured patients often forgo preventive care, driving emergency room overuse.

Insurance closes the access gap

About 1 in 7 Nash County residents lack health insurance, forcing them to choose between medical debt and untreated illness. Visit healthcare.gov or call your county health department to enroll in Medicaid or a marketplace plan—coverage unlocks affordable access to the doctors and services that prevent health crises.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Nash County

via RiskByCounty

Nash County faces high disaster risk overall

Nash County scores 80.60 on the composite risk scale with a "Relatively Low" rating, about 21% above North Carolina's 66.72 state average and indicating elevated hazard exposure. The county shows exceptionally high scores for hurricanes (89.74), tornadoes (84.86), and floods (82.54), making it one of the state's more vulnerable regions.

Upper-tier risk among North Carolina counties

Nash County ranks in the upper tier of North Carolina's 100 counties by composite risk, with hurricane (89.74) and tornado (84.86) scores among the state's highest. The county's coastal plain location and proximity to Atlantic weather systems position it as one of the state's most hazard-exposed communities.

Comparable risk to Moore, higher than Montgomery

Nash County's 80.60 score closely parallels Moore County (75.64) and significantly exceeds Montgomery County (48.95), placing it firmly in the upper-risk category for the piedmont and eastern regions. The county's hurricane risk (89.74) is notably higher than Moore County's, reflecting its closer proximity to Atlantic tropical systems.

Hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods are critical threats

Hurricane risk (89.74) leads Nash County's hazard profile, driven by Atlantic exposure and the county's coastal plain terrain that funnels tropical system rainfall inland. Tornado risk (84.86) and flood risk (82.54) rank nearly as high, creating a triple threat of severe weather that makes Nash County among North Carolina's most disaster-prone communities.

Comprehensive insurance and evacuation planning essential

Nash County residents must secure flood insurance and comprehensive homeowners coverage with hurricane protections, as the county's extreme risk across multiple hazards makes these coverages mandatory for financial security. Develop a household evacuation plan, maintain a 30-day emergency kit, and review your insurance annually—this county's hazard profile demands active, informed preparation.

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.