Perkins County

Nebraska · NE

#21 in Nebraska
74
County Score

County Report Card

About Perkins County, Nebraska

Exceeds National Benchmarks Soundly

Perkins County scores 74.0, well above the national median of 50.0 and among the highest-scoring counties nationally. This reflects strong performance across most livability dimensions.

Outperforms Nebraska's Average

At 74.0, Perkins ranks above Nebraska's state average of 71.2, placing it among the state's best performers. The county stands as a standout community within Nebraska's county landscape.

Exceptional Tax Benefits and Resilience

Perkins boasts the lowest effective tax rate at just 1.014% with a Tax Score of 73.7, the highest among these counties. Paired with outstanding Risk Score of 95.7 and solid Cost Score of 81.6, the county offers financial breathing room.

Income Growth Remains Limited

The Income Score of 27.4 reflects median household income of just $67,500, below state norms and limiting spending power despite low taxes. This represents the county's primary livability constraint.

Haven for Tax-Conscious Savers

Perkins County is perfect for retirees, savers, and families seeking to maximize financial resources through minimal taxation and exceptional disaster safety. Its combination of the state's lowest tax burden and strong resilience scores makes it ideal for those building wealth in a stable environment.

Score breakdown

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

Tax73.7Cost81.6SafetyComing SoonHealth72.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.4Risk95.7WaterComing Soon
🏛73.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠81.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼27.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
72.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
95.7
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Perkins County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Perkins County

via TaxByCounty

Perkins offers Nebraska's lowest tax rate

Perkins County's effective tax rate of 1.014% is the lowest among all measured Nebraska counties, running 21% below the state average of 1.281%. Though the median property tax of $1,513 remains well below the national median of $2,690, Perkins' lean rate makes it a relative bargain for homeowners.

Lowest effective rate in the state sample

Perkins County edges out Polk County (0.983%) for the lowest effective tax rate among surveyed Nebraska counties at 1.014%. This favorable rate keeps median annual taxes at just $1,513, significantly below Nebraska's state average of $1,972.

Best tax rate in the western region

Perkins' 1.014% rate is the lowest across its nearby counties—Pawnee (1.592%), Phelps (1.377%), and Nuckolls (1.280%)—making it an attractive option for budget-conscious homeowners. The county's median home value of $149,200 sits in the mid-range regionally, so the low rate provides genuine savings relative to neighbors.

Perkins home tax costs on median value

A homeowner with a $149,200 property in Perkins County should expect roughly $1,513 in annual property taxes at the favorable 1.014% effective rate. Depending on mortgage status, actual bills range from $1,454 to $1,555.

Even low rates benefit from appeal review

While Perkins County's tax rate is already among Nebraska's best, homeowners should still verify their assessed values match current market conditions. An overassessment appeal could yield additional savings, particularly for properties bought recently or in appreciated neighborhoods.

Cost of Living in Perkins County

via CostByCounty

Perkins edges close to Nebraska's state burden

Perkins County renters spend 13.9% of their income on housing, just slightly below Nebraska's 14.2% state average. The median household income of $67,500 trails the national average of $74,755, placing this county slightly behind national earning benchmarks.

Near-average affordability in Nebraska context

Perkins County ranks near the middle of Nebraska counties for rental affordability, with a 13.9% rent-to-income ratio hovering just under the state average. Its $783 median rent exactly matches the state average, reflecting typical Nebraska housing market conditions.

State-median rent with moderate home values

Perkins' $783 monthly rent is precisely the Nebraska state average and more affordable than Otoe ($905), Pierce ($850), and Platte ($867). Home values of $149,200 fall in the middle range for this region.

Balanced housing costs relative to income

Perkins households earn $67,500 annually and spend $783 on rent or $840 on mortgages, representing 13.9% and 14.9% of income respectively. This split shows renters enjoy slightly better affordability than homeowners in this county.

Perkins offers typical Nebraska housing market

If you want a straightforward Nebraska experience with state-average housing costs and moderate home values, Perkins delivers predictable affordability. The county's middle-ground positioning makes it a solid choice for those seeking balance without extremes.

Income & Jobs in Perkins County

via IncomeByCounty

Perkins Below National Median

Perkins County's median household income of $67,500 falls about $7,255 short of the national median of $74,755, placing it roughly 9.7% below typical U.S. earnings. The county represents solid middle-class stability, though somewhat behind national averages.

Slightly Below State Average

Perkins County's median household income of $67,500 edges above Nebraska's state average of $66,880 by just $620, positioning it near the statewide middle. The county matches typical Nebraska income levels across its 93 counties.

Mid-Tier Among Regional Counties

Perkins County's $67,500 income sits between lower-income Pawnee County ($54,926) and stronger earners like Platte County ($72,335) and Nuckolls County ($70,201). Its position reflects a rural western Nebraska economy with moderate earning power.

Rental Costs Strain Affordability

Perkins County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.9% is among the county's highest, indicating tighter housing affordability despite the reasonable $149,200 median home value. Renters here spend a notable portion of income on housing, leaving less for savings and other needs.

Balanced Approach to Building Wealth

Perkins County residents should focus on controlling housing costs through careful homeownership decisions and maximizing any employer benefits. Modest but consistent savings toward retirement and home equity can compound over time, creating meaningful wealth despite modest current income levels.

Health in Perkins County

via HealthByCounty

Perkins exceeds national life expectancy

At 78.7 years, Perkins County residents live slightly longer than the U.S. average of 78.9 years, placing it among Nebraska's healthier counties. However, 16.4% report poor or fair health, a rate exceeding the national median of 13.7%, indicating chronic disease challenges persist despite longevity.

Top-tier life expectancy in Nebraska

Perkins exceeds Nebraska's state average life expectancy of 77.5 years by 1.2 years, ranking among the state's best-performing counties. At 10.8% uninsured, however, Perkins has the highest uninsured rate in this dataset, suggesting insurance gaps undermine what could be stronger health outcomes.

Moderate primary care, no mental health data

Perkins provides 106 primary care providers per 100K residents, matching Nuckolls and exceeding several rural neighbors. Mental health provider availability remains unmeasured for Perkins, limiting insight into behavioral health infrastructure in this county.

Uninsured rate undercuts health potential

Despite strong life expectancy, Perkins's 10.8% uninsured rate is the highest among all profiled counties, affecting approximately 2,100 residents' access to routine care. This insurance gap may explain why 16.4% report poor or fair health despite above-average longevity.

Bridge the coverage gap in Perkins

Perkins County's elevated uninsured rate means many residents skip preventive care or delay treatment due to cost—patterns that worsen chronic disease. Open enrollment for marketplace plans begins November 1st each year; visit Healthcare.gov or contact a local navigator to find affordable options.

Disaster Risk in Perkins County

via RiskByCounty

Perkins County's exceptional low-risk profile

Perkins County's composite risk score of 4.36 places it firmly in the Very Low category, performing far better than the national average. This minimal exposure means residents face dramatically fewer natural disaster threats than typical American communities.

Among Nebraska's safest counties

Perkins County scores 4.36, well below Nebraska's state average of 25.80 and among the state's lowest-risk counties overall. This favorable position reflects balanced, minimal hazard exposure across all major disaster types.

Notably safer than surrounding counties

Perkins County's 4.36 score ranks among the very safest in the region, with only Pawnee County (3.85) presenting lower composite risk nearby. Most neighboring counties score between 14 and 40, making Perkins an exceptionally protected area.

Wildfire and tornado pose minor threats

Wildfire risk scores 17.21 and tornado risk scores 19.72, making these the county's primary concerns, though both remain relatively low. Earthquake (8.68), flood (2.26), and hurricane risks are all minimal.

Standard homeowners insurance should suffice

Given Perkins County's exceptional low-risk profile, a standard homeowners insurance policy should adequately protect your property against the region's modest tornado and wildfire threats. Verify coverage limits and maintain property maintenance to minimize exposure to these minor hazards.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.