CountyScore

Nobles County

Minnesota · MN

#55 in Minnesota
69.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Nobles County, Minnesota

Nobles County beats national norm

Nobles County scores 69.6, nearly 20 points above the national median of 50.0. This positions Nobles well within the upper portion of American counties for overall livability.

Just shy of Minnesota average

Nobles County's 69.6 score falls 1.3 points below the Minnesota state average of 70.9. The county remains competitive within Minnesota's above-average landscape, though in the lower half of this peer group.

Affordability and tax relief standout

Nobles delivers strong housing affordability with a cost score of 80.4 and median home value of just $179,200. The tax score of 76.0 and 0.934% effective rate make this a genuinely low-burden place to live.

Income and health warrant closer look

Income is the lowest in this group at 26.2, with median household income of just $65,509. Health score of 69.7 also lags peers, suggesting limited healthcare resources or outcomes compared to stronger counties.

Best for financially modest, resilient residents

Nobles County suits lower-income households and retirees on fixed budgets who can access health services elsewhere if needed. This is maximally affordable living with basic livability intact.

Score breakdown

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

Tax76Cost80.4SafetyComing SoonHealth69.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome26.2Risk49.9WaterComing Soon
🏛76
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼26.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤69.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡49.9
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 Nobles County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Alaska
69.6
Median income: $89,155
Lawrence County
Arkansas
69.6
Median income: $44,164
Logan County
Colorado
69.6
Median income: $55,074
Jasper County
Georgia
69.6
Median income: $59,574
Pickens County
Georgia
69.6
Median income: $75,293

Deep Dives

Nobles County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Nobles County

via TaxByCounty

Nobles County sits at national midpoint

Nobles County's effective tax rate of 0.934% hovers just below the national average, making it a moderate property tax burden compared to the rest of the country. The median tax bill of $1,674 is $1,016 below the national median, driven by homes valued below the national average.

Slightly below Minnesota's average rate

Nobles County's 0.934% effective rate edges below Minnesota's 0.968% statewide average, placing it in the moderate range for the state. The median tax of $1,674 falls well below the state median of $2,168, reflecting lower home values in the county.

Comparable to regional counterparts

Nobles County's 0.934% rate sits between Murray County's low of 0.765% and Mower County's high of 1.058%, making it a middle ground in southwest Minnesota. The county tracks closely with Norman County (0.988%), both offering reasonable tax exposure.

What Nobles homeowners actually pay

A median Nobles County home valued at $179,200 generates an annual tax bill of approximately $1,674. Homeowners with mortgages pay $1,855, while those owning outright pay $1,473—a $382 difference, the largest spread in this regional group.

Appeal your assessment if overvalued

Nobles County homeowners should check whether their properties are accurately assessed, as overvaluation is common statewide. Filing an appeal costs nothing and could save you money annually.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Nobles County

via CostByCounty

Nobles County's affordability pinch nationwide

At 15.8%, Nobles County's rent-to-income ratio ranks highest in this eight-county dataset and well above the national average, signaling housing stress for renters here. With a median household income of $65,509—the lowest in the group and below the national $74,755 median—residents face the sharpest squeeze between earnings and housing costs.

Minnesota's affordability challenge county

Nobles County's 15.8% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds Minnesota's 14.5% average, the worst performance among the eight profiled counties. At $863 monthly rent against the state average of $915, renters struggle less with absolute cost than with how much of their below-average paychecks it consumes.

Most stretched county in the region

Nobles County's 15.8% rent burden and $65,509 median income stand apart from neighbors like Murray County ($12.4% burden, $74,475 income) and Mower County ($14.2% burden, $71,495 income). This county faces real affordability pressure compared to its peers, despite moderate absolute rent costs.

Renters hit hardest by income-housing gap

Nobles County renters spend 15.8% of income on $863 monthly rent, the highest burden ratio in this dataset, while owners allocate roughly 15.0% to mortgages on homes worth $179,200. The data suggests homeownership offers slightly better proportional affordability, though both housing types strain budgets below state norms.

Weigh job prospects carefully here

Nobles County's $65,509 median income and 15.8% rent burden signal economic headwinds; relocating here requires confident job prospects or supplemental income. Compare with higher-earning neighbors like Nicollet ($80,362 income) or more balanced options like Murray County ($74,475 income, 12.4% burden) to ensure your salary aligns with local housing costs.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Nobles County

via IncomeByCounty

Nobles County lags national median

Nobles County's median household income of $65,509 falls 12.4% below the national median of $74,755, marking it as one of Minnesota's lower-income rural counties. The gap reflects limited high-wage employment and a declining population base.

Lowest income in comparison group

At $65,509, Nobles County ranks among the lowest in Minnesota, trailing the state average of $75,757 by more than $10,000. The per capita income of $30,310 also significantly underperforms the state average of $39,335.

Struggling against regional peers

Nobles County's income of $65,509 substantially trails neighboring Murray County ($74,475) and other regional competitors, suggesting fewer well-paying local employers. The low per capita income indicates limited individual wage growth opportunities.

Housing costs strain budgets

Nobles County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.8% is the highest in this county group, indicating housing costs consume a notably larger share of household income. While the median home value of $179,200 is affordable in absolute terms, it represents significant financial burden relative to local earnings.

Intentional saving strategies matter most

In Nobles County, deliberate financial planning is essential to building wealth against tighter income margins. Households should prioritize emergency funds, investigate first-time homebuyer programs, and explore employer retirement matches to offset the challenge of lower local wages.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Nobles County

via HealthByCounty

Nobles County faces significant health challenges

At 79.8 years, Nobles County residents live about half a year less than the U.S. average of 80.2 years, and 20.1% report poor or fair health—well above the national average of roughly 13%. These metrics signal urgent need for targeted health interventions.

Nobles struggles with coverage and health outcomes

Nobles County's life expectancy of 79.8 years falls below Minnesota's 78.7-year average, and its 11.0% uninsured rate nearly doubles the state average of 6.0%. These linked challenges—poor coverage combined with worse health—suggest systemic barriers to care.

Lowest coverage, highest uninsured rate regionally

Nobles County's 11.0% uninsured rate far exceeds neighboring Mower County (7.2%) and Murray County (7.0%), the highest in its region. The county's 79.8-year life expectancy also lags behind most peers, suggesting coverage gaps directly impact health outcomes.

Moderate provider access masks coverage gaps

Despite 64 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 143 mental health providers per 100K—roughly equivalent to neighboring counties—Nobles residents struggle with actual healthcare access. The 11.0% uninsured rate suggests many lack the means to pay for care, even when providers are available.

Nobles County: close the insurance gap now

One in nine Nobles County residents is uninsured, the highest rate among Minnesota counties examined here, creating barriers to treatment and prevention. Visit MNsure.org today to find affordable coverage options and connect with local healthcare providers.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Nobles County

via RiskByCounty

Nobles County above national average risk

With a composite risk score of 50.16, Nobles County earns a "Relatively Low" rating but still exceeds the national average. Tornado risk at 73.51 is the primary driver, positioning the county in the elevated hazard exposure category.

Mid-range risk for Minnesota

Nobles County's score of 50.16 exceeds Minnesota's statewide average of 42.38, placing it in the higher-risk half statewide. Tornado exposure is the distinguishing factor elevating its ranking among the state's 87 counties.

Higher tornado risk than western neighbors

Nobles County faces notably elevated tornado risk (73.51) compared to nearby Murray and Lyon counties to the west. Its flood risk of 48.51 also exceeds regional averages, though wildfire remains minimal.

Tornadoes dominate, flooding secondary

Tornado risk is substantial in Nobles County at 73.51, significantly above state average and representing the primary natural hazard threat. Flooding at 48.51 presents secondary risk, while earthquake at 20.36 remains moderate.

Storm prep and flood coverage essential

Nobles County residents should establish a storm shelter plan and maintain comprehensive homeowners insurance with flood coverage. Stay informed about severe weather warnings during spring and summer, and review evacuation routes from flood-prone areas near waterways.

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.