Phillips County scores 66.2, exceeding the national median of 50.0 by 32 percentage points. While not among the top performers nationally, the county demonstrates respectable livability relative to typical U.S. communities.
2 / 5
Below Arkansas average
At 66.2, Phillips County falls below the Arkansas state average of 70.3, ranking it in the lower tier of state counties. It trails most peers in this cohort across multiple dimensions.
3 / 5
Exceptional affordability
Phillips County excels in cost accessibility, with the lowest median home value ($76,200) and a cost score of 86.5. Renters and first-time buyers will find some of the region's most affordable options here.
4 / 5
Income, health, and risk all struggle
Phillips County faces multiple headwinds: the lowest income score (8.8) reflecting $38,874 median household income, a weak health score (50.0), and the second-lowest risk score (38.3) indicating environmental or hazard vulnerability. These cumulative challenges make financial resilience difficult.
5 / 5
Only for determined affordability seekers
Phillips County suits only those who can secure stable outside income and are willing to tolerate limited local earning prospects, health challenges, and environmental risks. For most families, the combination of low income and low safety makes other Arkansas counties more viable.
Phillips County scores 66.2, exceeding the national median of 50.0 by 32 percentage points. While not among the top performers nationally, the county demonstrates respectable livability relative to typical U.S. communities.
Below Arkansas average
At 66.2, Phillips County falls below the Arkansas state average of 70.3, ranking it in the lower tier of state counties. It trails most peers in this cohort across multiple dimensions.
Exceptional affordability
Phillips County excels in cost accessibility, with the lowest median home value ($76,200) and a cost score of 86.5. Renters and first-time buyers will find some of the region's most affordable options here.
Income, health, and risk all struggle
Phillips County faces multiple headwinds: the lowest income score (8.8) reflecting $38,874 median household income, a weak health score (50.0), and the second-lowest risk score (38.3) indicating environmental or hazard vulnerability. These cumulative challenges make financial resilience difficult.
Only for determined affordability seekers
Phillips County suits only those who can secure stable outside income and are willing to tolerate limited local earning prospects, health challenges, and environmental risks. For most families, the combination of low income and low safety makes other Arkansas counties more viable.
Score breakdown
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🏛83.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Phillips County's effective tax rate of 0.656% is the highest among the eight counties studied and still remains well below the national median property tax burden. With a median home value of $76,200, residents pay $500 in median annual property tax—about one-fifth the national median of $2,690.
Above-average rate for Arkansas
Phillips County's 0.656% effective rate is 0.124 percentage points above Arkansas's 0.532% state average—the steepest in this eight-county sample. Despite the higher rate, the median property tax of $500 remains $205 below the state median of $705 due to lower home values.
Highest tax rate in the eight-county group
Phillips County's 0.656% rate exceeds all seven comparison counties, including Pike County (0.559%), Nevada County (0.539%), and Perry County (0.520%). This higher burden reflects Phillips County's distinct assessment practices compared to the Ouachita Mountain and southwestern Arkansas peers.
Median homeowner pays $500 yearly
Phillips County's median home valued at $76,200 combined with the 0.656% rate produces a median property tax of $500 annually. With a mortgage, residents pay roughly $970; without, about $375—reflecting the county's historically affordable but fully valued real estate.
Strong case for assessment review
Given Phillips County's higher-than-average effective rate, homeowners should carefully review their assessments against recent arm's-length sales. An appeal could generate meaningful savings, especially if your property was assessed before recent market downturns.
Phillips County residents spend 23.3% of their income on rent—significantly above both the national average and Arkansas's 18.1% state average. On a median household income of just $38,874 (48% below the U.S. average), Phillips faces acute affordability pressure.
Phillips among Arkansas's least affordable
Phillips ranks among the state's least affordable counties, with a 23.3% rent-to-income ratio exceeding the Arkansas average by 5 percentage points. The county's $756 monthly rent consumes a quarter of household income, creating genuine hardship for many residents.
Phillips rents high for the region
Phillips's $756 rent trails only Nevada ($841) regionally, yet ranks second-lowest in median income at $38,874. This combination—high rents paired with the region's lowest incomes except Nevada—creates Phillips's affordability challenge.
Phillips's housing burden by income
Renters spend $756 monthly while homeowners pay $550, with both groups dedicating roughly 23% of their $38,874 income to housing. This burden leaves limited resources for healthcare, food, transportation, and unexpected expenses—a sustainability concern.
Phillips: only for flexible-income relocators
Phillips offers below-average home values ($76,200) and moderate rents, but the county's lowest median income makes housing costs proportionally painful. Consider Phillips only if you have remote work income or above-county-average earnings.
Phillips County's median household income of $38,874 falls $35,881 short of the national median of $74,755—a 48% gap representing one of the largest disparities in the nation. This reflects deeply rooted economic challenges in this historically agricultural region.
Lowest income in sample
Phillips ranks among Arkansas's lowest-income counties at $38,874, approximately $12,282 below the state median of $51,156. Per capita income of $22,360 is notably below the state average of $28,096, indicating limited earning opportunities.
Region's most economically challenged
Phillips's $38,874 is the lowest in the region, followed only by Nevada County ($41,761), and substantially trails all other peers. The county faces the steepest economic headwinds of any area analyzed.
Housing costs create strain
Phillips's 23.3% rent-to-income ratio approaches the affordability ceiling, with renters spending nearly a quarter of earnings on housing alone. The median home value of $76,200 is the region's lowest, but remains burdensome for households earning below $39,000 annually.
Focus on economic opportunity
Phillips residents must prioritize career advancement and skills training to increase earnings and break free from limited income cycles. Building even modest emergency savings—starting with $25-50 monthly—creates essential financial resilience.
At 67.4 years, Phillips County has the lowest life expectancy in this sample—nearly 9 years below the U.S. average of 76.1 years. One in three residents (33.3%) report poor or fair health, the highest rate among these counties and far exceeding the national average of 18%.
Arkansas's most challenged county here
Phillips County's 67.4-year life expectancy is the lowest in Arkansas among these counties and trails the state average of 72.3 years by nearly 5 years. With 33.3% of residents in poor or fair health—the highest in this group—Phillips County represents a public health emergency requiring urgent intervention.
Stark health disparities vs region
Phillips County's life expectancy (67.4 years) lags every regional peer by at least 4 years, with Perry County residents living 6.7 years longer. Despite 63 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—more than most peers—Phillips County's health crisis persists, suggesting provider supply alone cannot address the county's severe underlying challenges.
Provider access inadequate for crisis
Phillips County has 63 primary care providers and 74 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, yet remains the region's health crisis epicenter. With 8.7% uninsured, most residents can theoretically access care, but persistent poor health indicates barriers to effective treatment—potentially including poverty, food insecurity, or limited mental health support for severe conditions.
Urgent: secure your health coverage
Phillips County residents face extraordinary health challenges; coverage is the first step toward care access and better outcomes. Visit healthcare.gov immediately to enroll in available plans, explore Arkansas Medicaid, and connect with community health centers that offer sliding-scale care and wraparound social services.
Phillips County scores 61.67, placing it in the Relatively Low category but above the national average for composite risk. This elevation reflects significant exposure to tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricane impacts.
Higher-risk county in Arkansas
At 61.67, Phillips County ranks above Arkansas's average of 55.51, positioning it among the state's higher-risk counties. The county's profile is driven primarily by extreme earthquake risk and notably elevated tornado exposure.
Riskier than surrounding counties
Phillips County's 61.67 score exceeds nearby Poinsett County (72.52) only slightly, and both stand well above neighboring Ouachita County (51.21). Phillips represents a notable risk concentration in the eastern part of the state.
Earthquake and tornado threats are extreme
Phillips County faces extreme earthquake risk at 92.65 and severe tornado risk at 78.18, making these the county's dominant natural hazard concerns. Hurricane risk at 58.11 and flood risk at 46.15 also exceed state averages, though earthquakes and tornadoes pose the greatest threats.
Earthquake and tornado insurance critical
Phillips County residents must prioritize earthquake insurance given the county's extreme 92.65 risk score, and tornado coverage is equally essential at 78.18. Flood and hurricane insurance should also be maintained to address the county's comprehensive hazard exposure.