CountyScore

Perry County

Ohio · OH

#11 in Ohio
71.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Perry County, Ohio

Perry exceeds national livability median

Perry County's composite score of 72.8 tops the national median of 50.0 by 46%, landing it in the 73rd percentile nationally. The county demonstrates strong livability comparable to many of America's better-performing areas.

Strong performer in Ohio's rankings

Perry's 72.8 score surpasses Ohio's state average of 68.8 by 4 points, placing it in the state's upper tier of counties. The county ranks among Ohio's more livable places overall.

Tax efficiency and housing value align

Perry's Tax Score of 76.1 reflects a low effective rate of 0.929%, paired with a Cost Score of 82.2 supporting median home values of $178,300 and rents at just $727/month. The county delivers strong economic fundamentals across both measures.

Modest income growth in the cohort

The Income Score of 25.6 and median household income of $64,737 represent Perry's relative weakness compared to higher-earning counties. Safety, health, school, and environmental dimensions remain unmeasured.

Ideal for those valuing tax efficiency

Perry County appeals to tax-conscious residents and families seeking low effective tax rates combined with affordable housing in a rural setting. The county's strong tax position makes it attractive to those optimizing their financial profiles.

Score breakdown

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

Tax76.1Cost82.2SafetyComing SoonHealth66.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome25.6Risk74WaterComing Soon
🏛76.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼25.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡74
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 Perry County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Tallapoosa County
Alabama
71.4
Median income: $57,185
Van Buren County
Arkansas
71.4
Median income: $47,266
Audubon County
Iowa
71.4
Median income: $54,152
Butler County
Iowa
71.4
Median income: $69,651
Jones County
Iowa
71.4
Median income: $73,071

Deep Dives

Perry County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Perry County

via TaxByCounty

Perry taxes run below U.S. median

Perry County's effective tax rate of 0.929% sits below the national median of 1.08%, placing it in the bottom 40% of U.S. counties. Homeowners pay a median of $1,656 annually—38% less than the national median of $2,690.

Well below Ohio's average

Perry County's rate of 0.929% runs below Ohio's state average of 1.148%, ranking it among the lower-tax counties statewide. Its median tax of $1,656 is 23% cheaper than Ohio's median of $2,145, providing solid savings for property owners.

Among the region's cheapest

Perry County's 0.929% rate falls between Morgan County's 0.906% and Muskingum County's 0.946%, making it one of the region's lowest-tax areas. Compared to Montgomery County's 1.777% outlier rate, Perry homeowners save roughly $1,300 annually.

Perry's annual tax reality

On a median home valued at $178,300, Perry County residents pay $1,656 annually—roughly $138 per month. Those with mortgages see escrow of $1,851, while cash buyers typically remit $1,429 to the county.

Low taxes deserve careful assessment review

Perry County's competitive rates are attractive, but some homeowners still face overvalued assessments or unclaimed tax exemptions. A free appeal to the county auditor is worth filing if your home's recent market value has dropped or the assessment seems outdated.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Perry County

via CostByCounty

Perry: Affordable Rents on Moderate Income

Perry County renters spend just 13.5% of their income on rent, below the national 15% affordability threshold, while earning $64,737 annually—about 13% below the national average of $74,755. This solid performance reflects Perry's rural economy where affordable housing combines with reasonable local wages.

Perry Beats Ohio's Affordability Average

At 13.5%, Perry's rent-to-income ratio substantially undercuts Ohio's 15.6% average, ranking it among the state's most affordable counties for renters. The median rent of $727 runs $146 below the state average, and Perry's decent median income of $64,737 amplifies the affordability advantage.

Second-Most Affordable Among Rural Peers

Perry's 13.5% rent-to-income ratio trails only Paulding (13.2%) in this group, while its $727 median rent runs higher than Paulding ($750) but lower than most urban-adjacent counties. Home values at $178,300 fall between the deep-rural tier and Morrow/Ottawa, making Perry attractive for buyers seeking balance.

Efficient Income Allocation to Housing

The $727 monthly rent represents just 13.5% of Perry's $64,737 median income, while homeowners allocate 16.2% to their $873 monthly cost—both comfortably below strain thresholds. Perry households retain strong discretionary income capacity, supporting both quality-of-life spending and financial resilience.

Perry Offers Excellent Affordability Value

Perry County delivers compelling affordability: 13.5% rent-to-income ratio, $727 median rent, and solid $64,737 median income make it an underrated Ohio option. If you're choosing between Perry and Paulding, both offer exceptional housing value—Perry's slightly higher rent-to-income ratio is offset by comparable quality of life and similar opportunity constraints.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Perry County

via IncomeByCounty

Perry County income approaches national levels

Perry County's median household income of $64,737 sits $10,018 below the U.S. median of $74,755, placing it in the moderate range nationally. However, the county's per capita income of $30,185 falls below Ohio's average of $35,642, suggesting reliance on multiple earners per household.

Slightly below Ohio's average standing

At $64,737, Perry County's median household income falls slightly below the Ohio state average of $68,101, placing it in the lower-middle tier of state counties. The county reflects rural economic patterns with modest but stable employment.

Comparable to Montgomery, above rural peers

Perry County's $64,737 median income closely matches Montgomery County ($64,403) and outpaces Muskingum County ($59,203), Morgan County ($55,971), and Noble County ($55,360), but trails Morrow County ($71,047), Paulding County ($68,167), and Ottawa County ($75,728). The county reflects mid-range regional economics.

Housing easily affordable for residents

Perry County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.5% is among the region's best, and median home values of $178,300 remain accessible on current incomes. The combination of stable earnings and moderate housing costs provides solid financial footing.

Build wealth through consistent investing

With a median household income of $64,737 and a favorable rent-to-income ratio of 13.5%, Perry County households can allocate meaningful savings toward investments. Consider automating monthly contributions to index funds, starting a small business, or exploring education opportunities to boost long-term earnings.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Perry County

via HealthByCounty

Perry Falls Below National Life Expectancy

Perry County's 73.3-year life expectancy trails the U.S. average of 76.4 years by three years, placing residents among America's shorter-lived populations. At 21.0%, its poor/fair health rate reflects significant chronic disease and health challenges.

Below State Average in Longevity and Coverage

Perry's 73.3-year life expectancy falls below Ohio's state average of 74.8 years, and its 7.7% uninsured rate slightly exceeds the state average of 7.5%. The combination suggests both health challenges and healthcare access barriers.

Among the Lowest Health Performers in Region

Perry's 73.3-year life expectancy matches Montgomery and Morgan counties but trails Muskingum (74.4 years), Paulding (76.9 years), and Ottawa (76.6 years) by significant margins. Its 28 primary care providers per 100,000 residents exceed Morgan's 7 but fall far short of Montgomery's 95.

Modest Provider Network Serves Large Needs

Perry's 28 primary care and 186 mental health providers per 100,000 residents offer limited capacity relative to the population's health needs and chronic disease burden. The 7.7% uninsured rate, combined with sparse primary care access, likely contributes to delayed diagnosis and care.

Health Insurance Is Your Protection

With 7.7% of Perry residents uninsured and moderate healthcare access challenges, securing coverage is essential for managing health and protecting against catastrophic costs. Call 1-800-318-2596 or visit healthcare.gov to find coverage options that work for your family.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Perry County

via RiskByCounty

Perry County enjoys excellent low-risk status

Perry County's composite risk score of 25.99 earns a "Very Low" rating and falls well below the U.S. average, placing it among safer American counties. Residents benefit from substantially lower natural disaster exposure compared to most U.S. communities.

Among Ohio's safest counties

Perry County's 25.99 score significantly undercuts Ohio's 55.03 state average, ranking it among the state's most secure areas. The county's balanced, low profile across all hazard types reinforces this safety advantage.

Safest in its peer group

Perry County (25.99) is one of the safest counties in its region, comparable to Morgan County (18.23) and Morrow County (24.40), and substantially safer than Muskingum County (70.93). This makes it a genuinely low-risk location within southeastern Ohio.

Flood risk tops a well-balanced profile

Perry County's flood risk of 47.04 is its highest hazard score, reflecting the county's small waterways and hilly terrain, though it remains below state average. All other hazards—tornado, earthquake, wildfire, and hurricane—score below 37, creating an exceptionally manageable disaster risk picture.

Basic homeowners coverage sufficient

Perry County residents can confidently rely on standard homeowners insurance without specialized add-ons given the county's very low overall risk profile. Annual policy reviews to confirm coverage limits remain good practice, but the county's low flood and tornado scores mean specialized riders are typically unnecessary.

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.