CountyScore

Perry County

Tennessee · TN

#26 in Tennessee
72.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Perry County, Tennessee

Perry County Outpaces National Norm

Perry County's composite score of 78.0 stands 56% above the national median of 50.0, placing it firmly in the nation's livable upper half. This solid performance stems from exceptional affordability and tax efficiency across the board.

Strong Showing Among Tennessee Counties

Perry County ranks fourth statewide with a score of 78.0, exceeding Tennessee's average of 76.3 by nearly two points. It competes favorably with other rural counties seeking to attract cost-conscious relocators.

Best-in-Class Housing Affordability and Taxes

Perry County delivers a cost score of 87.4 (highest in this group) with median rent at just $747/month and homes at $113,800, plus a tax score of 86.0 and 0.580% effective rate. These figures represent exceptional value for families prioritizing housing costs.

Income Opportunity Lags Peer Counties

Perry County's income score of 16.4 and median household income of $50,489 signal limited local wage growth and job diversity. Safety, health, educational, and environmental data remain unavailable, obscuring other important livability dimensions.

Ideal Base for Low-Income Families

Perry County best serves families with modest or fixed incomes who can secure employment elsewhere or rely on remote work. Its exceptional housing affordability makes it one of the region's most accessible counties for economically stretched households.

Score breakdown

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

Tax86Cost87.4SafetyComing SoonHealth58.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome16.4Risk66.6WaterComing Soon
🏛86
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠87.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼16.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡66.6
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 Perry County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Geneva County
Alabama
72.1
Median income: $50,951
Winston County
Alabama
72.1
Median income: $48,032
Stone County
Arkansas
72.1
Median income: $38,531
Montezuma County
Colorado
72.1
Median income: $63,005
Rio Grande County
Colorado
72.1
Median income: $62,166

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 County taxes far below national norms

Perry County's effective tax rate of 0.580% is just one-fifth the national median property tax burden of $2,690, placing it in the lowest quartile of U.S. counties. This exceptional affordability makes Perry one of the nation's most tax-friendly places to own property.

Slightly above state average, moderately taxing

Perry County's 0.580% effective rate runs above Tennessee's 0.511% state average, positioning it in the upper-middle tier among the state's 95 counties. The median tax of $660 on a $113,800 home reflects the county's lower property values despite its slightly elevated tax rate.

Perry taxes among the highest in its region

Perry's 0.580% rate is surpassed only by Morgan County (0.581%) and exceeds Overton (0.394%), Pickett (0.374%), and Rhea (0.462%) significantly. This makes Perry one of the more heavily taxed counties in the surrounding area, though still far below national averages.

A $113,800 home costs $660 annually

Perry County's median homeowner pays $660 per year on a home valued at $113,800—roughly $55 per month. With mortgage escrow, the annual tax grows to $673.

Review your assessment if you've had improvements

Perry County homeowners who've made significant renovations or improvements may see inflated assessments that don't match market value. Request a reassessment if your most recent appraisal shows your home is worth less than the county claims.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Perry County

via CostByCounty

Perry County sits near Tennessee's affordability average

Perry County's 17.8% rent-to-income ratio sits just above Tennessee's state average of 17.6%, reflecting moderate housing affordability challenges relative to national norms. With median household income at $50,489 and median rent at $747 monthly, Perry County renters experience affordability stress comparable to the state baseline.

Mid-range affordability within the state

Perry County ranks in Tennessee's middle tier for housing affordability, with a rent-to-income ratio marginally above the state average. The county's lower-than-state median income places additional pressure on household budgets despite modestly priced rentals.

Among region's more affordable rental options

Perry County's $747 median rent is competitive with Morgan County ($742) and undercuts Overton County ($833) and Putnam County ($881) in the surrounding region. The county offers mid-range affordability for renters prioritizing housing cost control.

Rent claims 17.8% of median income

Perry County renters spend $747 monthly—17.8% of the median household income of $50,489—positioning housing costs near state averages. Homeowners enjoy reasonable costs at $505 monthly on the state's lowest median home values at $113,800, creating accessible homeownership pathways.

Perry County appeals to budget-conscious homebuyers

Relocating families should note Perry County's low median home values ($113,800) paired with manageable ownership costs, making the county attractive for first-time buyers. Renters should compare this county's rental costs against nearby alternatives before committing to the move.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Perry County

via IncomeByCounty

Perry County Well Below National Income Level

Perry County's median household income of $50,489 falls $24,266 short of the national median of $74,755, a 32% gap. Typical households here earn roughly two-thirds of what average American households bring in.

Below Tennessee's Statewide Income Average

Perry County trails Tennessee's median household income of $58,994 by $8,505, placing it among the lower-income counties statewide. The per capita income of $25,563 is notably the lowest among the peer group, suggesting significant income inequality within the county.

Lower Income Than Most Peer Counties

Perry County's $50,489 median income ranks below most neighboring counties, exceeding only Pickett ($44,591) and Overton ($46,159). Polk County ($60,227) and Rhea County ($58,133) both earn substantially more per household.

Moderate Rent Burden With Affordable Homes

Perry County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.8% remains manageable, though higher pressure than wealthier counties. The median home value of $113,800 is the lowest among peers, representing 2.3 years of gross household income—relatively favorable for first-time homebuyers.

Leverage Affordable Housing to Build Equity

Perry County's low home prices offer an opportunity for wealth-building through homeownership that may be out of reach elsewhere. Even with lower household incomes, purchasing a modest home here could provide equity growth; simultaneously, explore income diversification through side work or household members entering the workforce.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Perry County

via HealthByCounty

Perry County slightly outpaces national average

At 73.2 years, Perry County's life expectancy exceeds the U.S. average of 76.1 years by 3.1 years—a notable positive indicator for the region. Still, 23.5% of residents report poor or fair health, significantly above the national average of 17.9%.

Perry County leads Tennessee's health rankings

Perry County's life expectancy of 73.2 years tops Tennessee's average of 72.4 years by 0.8 years, making it one of the state's healthier counties. However, its uninsured rate of 14.4% is the highest among peer counties and well above Tennessee's average of 11.9%.

Good primary care, exceptional mental health services

Perry County offers 24 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and leads the region with 56 mental health providers per 100K—nearly triple the national average and far ahead of neighboring Overton County (4 per 100K). This behavioral health strength is a rare asset in rural Tennessee.

Strong mental health access masked by uninsured crisis

Perry County's 56 mental health providers per 100K represent exceptional access, yet 14.4% of residents lack any health insurance—the highest uninsured rate in this peer group. This paradox means many residents cannot afford to use even abundant mental health services.

Unlock Perry County's excellent mental health resources

With outstanding mental health providers on standby, making sure you're covered is essential. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore Medicaid, marketplace coverage, or sliding-scale options so you can access the care available in Perry County.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Perry County

via RiskByCounty

Perry County has very low disaster risk

Perry County's composite risk score of 33.40 sits meaningfully below the national average, placing it in the very low risk category. The county's geographic position provides substantial protection against most major natural disasters.

Safe compared to Tennessee average

Perry County's score of 33.40 is substantially lower than Tennessee's state average of 52.45, positioning the county among safer communities statewide. The county ranks well below the state median for disaster exposure.

Safer than Putnam and Rhea counties

Perry County (33.40) presents lower risk than nearby Putnam County (65.84) and Rhea County (49.17), though it faces slightly higher exposure than Pickett County (4.61). The county occupies a relatively safe position in the region's risk hierarchy.

Tornado and earthquake merit attention

Tornado risk (60.15) and earthquake risk (72.49) are Perry County's primary hazards, with flood risk (47.14) presenting a secondary concern. Together, these three hazards account for most of the county's disaster exposure.

Consider earthquake and flood coverage

Perry County homeowners should maintain robust homeowners insurance with wind and tornado protections, plus consider supplemental earthquake coverage given the county's 72.49 seismic risk. Residents in flood-prone areas should verify federal flood insurance eligibility through FEMA.

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.