CountyScore

Owsley County

Kentucky · KY

#22 in Kentucky
73.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Owsley County, Kentucky

Among America's Most Affordable

Owsley County scores 77.7, nearly 56% above the national median of 50.0, ranking it among the most livable smaller U.S. counties. Extraordinary housing affordability and low taxes create exceptional value for price-conscious residents.

Kentucky's Top Affordability Leader

At 77.7, Owsley County ranks well above the state average of 75.0, tied with Nicholas County as a livability leader. The score reflects some of the most affordable housing and lowest taxes in Kentucky.

Lowest Housing Costs in Region

Owsley County's cost score of 92.5 is the highest among all eight counties, with median home values of $79,900 and $551 monthly rents. The 0.703% effective tax rate produces an 82.5 tax score, ensuring minimal fiscal burden.

Severe Income Constraints

The income score of 3.7—by far the lowest in this group—reflects median household income of just $31,064, creating significant economic hardship for working families. Limited data on safety, health, and schools prevents full livability assessment.

Essential for Remote and Retired Workers

Owsley County suits retirees on fixed income, remote workers, and those with outside income who cannot rely on local employment. Exceptional housing affordability makes it viable only for residents not dependent on county-based wages.

Score breakdown

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

Tax82.5Cost92.5SafetyComing SoonHealth55.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome3.7Risk93.6WaterComing Soon
🏛82.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠92.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼3.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤55.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡93.6
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 Owsley County with another county →

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Swift County
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Median income: $62,601

Deep Dives

Owsley County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Owsley County

via TaxByCounty

Owsley's below-average national standing

Owsley County's effective tax rate of 0.703% falls below the national median of 0.88%, placing it in approximately the 30th percentile nationally. At $562 in median annual property taxes on a median home value of just $79,900, Owsley offers one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation.

Slightly below Kentucky average

Owsley County's 0.703% effective rate is marginally below Kentucky's state average of 0.719%, ranking it in the lower-middle tier statewide. The median property tax of $562 is $531 below the state median of $1,093.

Second-lowest taxes in the region

Owsley County's 0.703% rate is only exceeded by Nicholas (0.568%) among the eight profiled counties, placing it well ahead of Muhlenberg (0.694%), Ohio (0.613%), Owen (0.746%), Pendleton (0.775%), Nelson (0.795%), and Oldham (0.921%). This reflects Owsley's rural character and modest property values.

Owsley's minimal annual tax burden

A median-valued home of just $79,900 in Owsley County generates $562 in annual property taxes—among the lowest in the eight-county profile. With all assessments included, annual tax costs total approximately $824.

Review assessments even in rural counties

Even in lower-taxed rural counties like Owsley, homeowners should confirm their assessed values reflect current market conditions. Property tax appeals are available and can provide meaningful savings on already-modest annual bills.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Owsley County

via CostByCounty

Owsley Faces Acute Housing Affordability Crisis

Owsley County residents spend a staggering 21.3% of income on rent—the highest burden among these eight counties and well above Kentucky's 17.0% average. With median household income of only $31,064, the lowest in the group, renters here face genuine hardship as $551 monthly rent consumes disproportionate earnings.

Kentucky's Deepest Affordability Crisis

Owsley County represents Kentucky's most severe housing affordability challenge, combining the state's lowest incomes with one of its highest rent burdens. This county urgently needs intervention, as its 21.3% rent-to-income ratio far exceeds healthy levels and statewide averages.

Owsley's Poverty Stands Apart

Owsley's median income of $31,064 is nearly half Nicholas County's ($53,616) and far below even poorer neighbors; only this analysis identifies Owsley's distinct crisis. Though rent is cheap in absolute terms ($551), it consumes a larger percentage of income than in any surrounding county, signaling structural economic distress.

Housing Consumes a Dangerous Share

Owsley County residents earning $31,064 annually spend 21.3% on rent ($551) and 15.8% on mortgage costs ($409), leaving fewer dollars for food, healthcare, transportation, and childcare than any peer county. Over 37% of income goes to housing alone, forcing impossible choices on essential needs.

Owsley: Not Recommended Without Support

Relocating to Owsley County makes sense only with substantial savings, outside income, or local family support—the county's wages and affordability crisis make independent living extraordinarily difficult. If considering relocation here, ensure you have financial cushion; rents may be low, but incomes offer little comfort.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Owsley County

via IncomeByCounty

Owsley County faces severe income challenge

Owsley County's median household income of $31,064 is less than half the national median of $74,755, representing a devastating 58% shortfall. This income gap is among the worst in America, reflecting deep structural economic challenges and limited employment opportunities. Owsley ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for household earnings.

Kentucky's poorest county by income

At $31,064, Owsley County's median household income falls $24,845 below Kentucky's state average of $55,909, representing a 44% gap. The per capita income of $21,285 severely underperforms the state average of $29,616 by 28%, indicating widespread economic distress. Owsley ranks last or near-last among Kentucky's 120 counties.

Outlier in lowest income tier

Owsley ($31,064) earns $21,610 less than the next-lowest county in this group, Nicholas ($53,616)—a staggering 41% gap. Even Nicholas County, among the lower earners, substantially outpaces Owsley. This dramatic disparity underscores Owsley's acute economic isolation within the region.

Housing cost strain is severe

Owsley County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.3% is the highest by far in this eight-county comparison, meaning over one-fifth of household income goes to rent. The median home value of $79,900 is lowest in the region, yet still consumes nearly one-quarter of annual earnings. Housing insecurity represents a genuine crisis for many Owsley households.

Seek urgent financial stability support

Owsley County residents face immediate financial survival challenges that precede traditional wealth-building strategies. Accessing emergency assistance programs, food security resources, and housing support through nonprofits and government agencies is critical. Long-term solutions require regional economic development, job training, and access to higher-wage employment pathways.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Owsley County

via HealthByCounty

Critical health crisis in Owsley County

Owsley County residents live to just 64.5 years, nearly 7 years below the U.S. average of 71.4 years, making it the lowest life expectancy in this eight-county comparison. With 27.2% reporting poor or fair health—the highest rate by far—this county faces a severe public health emergency.

Severe health disadvantage versus state average

Owsley County's 64.5-year life expectancy falls 7.7 years below Kentucky's 72.2-year average, an alarming gap that signals concentrated health crises. The uninsured rate of 6.4% is actually slightly better than Kentucky's 7.0%, so coverage alone does not explain this disparity.

Extreme outlier in regional health crisis

Owsley County's 64.5-year life expectancy is 8.2–15.2 years lower than any other county in this comparison, representing a health catastrophe. Primary care provider data is unavailable, but the 175 mental health providers per 100K is the highest in the set, suggesting acute behavioral and substance-use challenges.

Provider shortage and health crisis converge

Owsley County lacks primary care provider data, indicating potential severe workforce shortages that compound the county's health emergency. The elevated mental health provider rate suggests significant population need for behavioral health and addiction services.

Urgent: Get covered and seek help

Owsley County residents need immediate action: the 6.4% uninsured should enroll at healthcare.gov without delay, and all residents should connect with available mental health and substance-use services through local health departments. Given the county's critical health status, every tool—coverage, preventive care, and behavioral health support—is essential.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Owsley County

via RiskByCounty

Owsley County is extraordinarily safe

With a composite risk score of just 6.39, Owsley County ranks among the absolute safest counties in the United States, with minimal exposure to nearly all major hazards and an extremely low score relative to Kentucky's state average of 44.21. This remarkable safety profile reflects the county's geographic isolation and low population density.

Kentucky's safest county overall

Owsley County's 6.39 composite score is the lowest among Kentucky's 120 counties profiled in this analysis, placing it in an elite tier of disaster safety. The county ranks approximately 37 points below the state average, with virtually no meaningful exposure to major hazards.

Dramatically safer than all peers

Owsley County's 6.39 score dwarfs all neighboring counties profiled here, including the next-safest Owen County (15.20) and Pendleton County (29.90). The county's extreme safety stands in sharp contrast to distant higher-risk neighbors like Nelson (55.18) and Oldham (55.98).

Wildfire is sole notable exposure

Owsley County's only significant hazard exposure is wildfire risk (64.57), which remains the county's standout concern despite the overall very-low composite score. All other risks—tornado (15.81), flood (21.25), earthquake (25.41)—are minimal, making wildfire prevention the primary disaster focus.

Minimal insurance needs apply

Owsley County residents benefit from exceptionally low disaster risk and require only basic homeowners insurance coverage, with wildfire awareness as the sole elevated concern. The county's safety profile means households can allocate disaster preparedness resources toward other community needs.

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.