CountyScore

Rains County

Texas · TX

#44 in Texas
67.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Rains County, Texas

Rains ranks solidly above US median

Rains County's composite score of 69.4 tops the national median of 50.0 by 39%, securing it among the top quartile of US counties. Strong performance across tax, cost, and income dimensions drives this competitive ranking.

Above-average performer in Texas

At 69.4, Rains County exceeds Texas's state average of 66.8, placing it in the upper tier of Texas counties. It demonstrates consistent strength across livability fundamentals.

Balanced excellence in affordability and taxes

Rains County scores 71.5 on taxes and 78.8 on costs, with an effective tax rate of 1.093% and median home value of $214,900. Median rent of $895/month provides excellent housing affordability combined with reasonable tax burden.

Income scores lag behind housing values

The income score of 25.7 reflects median household income of $64,874, which may challenge some families seeking homes valued above $200,000. Safety, health, school, and environmental data remain unavailable for complete assessment.

Ideal for young families building equity

Rains County suits households seeking low taxes and reasonable housing costs while building home equity near Dallas-Fort Worth. It appeals to families with above-median incomes seeking rural North Texas living with easy metro access.

Score breakdown

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

Tax71.5Cost78.8SafetyComing SoonHealth57.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome25.7Risk85.9WaterComing Soon
🏛71.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠78.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼25.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤57.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡85.9
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 Rains County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

White County
Arkansas
67.8
Median income: $53,435
Jeff Davis County
Georgia
67.8
Median income: $40,879
Kalawao County
Hawaii
67.8
Median income: $86,250
Mercer County
Illinois
67.8
Median income: $71,710
Chautauqua County
Kansas
67.8
Median income: $54,592

Deep Dives

Rains County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Rains County

via TaxByCounty

Rains taxes run well below state

At 1.093%, Rains County's effective tax rate sits 14% below the Texas state average of 1.276%, offering North Texas homeowners a tax advantage. The median property tax of $2,350 approaches the national median of $2,690, reflecting Rains's higher median home value of $214,900.

Rains ranks in Texas's lower-tax tier

Rains County sits in the bottom half of Texas counties by effective tax rate, making it an affordable option for North Texas residents. Despite paying $2,350 in median annual tax, which exceeds the state average of $2,193, Rains achieves this on a higher home value.

Competitive with North Texas suburbs

Rains County's 1.093% rate undercuts neighboring Collin and Denton counties while matching Hunt County's tax burden, making it attractive for Dallas-area commuters. The median home value of $214,900 reflects its position as an exurban growth corridor.

What a $215K home costs annually

The median Rains County homeowner pays $2,350 per year in property taxes on a $214,900 home. When mortgage-related exemptions apply, the tab climbs to $3,544, though homestead exemptions and agricultural exemptions can reduce this substantially.

Protect yourself from overassessment

Rains County homeowners should verify their assessments annually—growth counties like Rains often see inflated values that don't match actual market sales. Filing a free appeal with the appraisal district can recover hundreds in overpaid taxes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Rains County

via CostByCounty

Rains offers balanced affordability

Rains County's 16.6% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among these eight counties and sits well below the Texas average of 18.1%. With median income at $64,874 and median rent at $895, renters here enjoy comfortable affordability compared to both state and national benchmarks.

Top-tier affordability across Texas

Rains County ranks among Texas's most affordable counties for renters, balancing reasonable housing costs with solid household incomes. This combination positions Rains as an attractive option for those seeking affordability without sacrificing economic opportunity.

Most affordable option in comparison

At $895 monthly rent and 16.6% rent-to-income ratio, Rains County offers the best overall affordability balance among this eight-county set. The median home value of $214,900 reflects strong property values while maintaining reasonable monthly carrying costs.

Owning and renting nearly equal here

Renters pay $895 monthly while homeowners pay $887—the narrowest monthly gap in this comparison—suggesting strong equity-building potential. With median income at $64,874 and median home value at $214,900, ownership remains within realistic reach for working families.

Rains County rewards the patient buyer

If affordability matters and you're considering relocation, Rains County delivers the best combination of low rent burden and strong home values among these eight counties. Explore Rains first—its 16.6% rent-to-income ratio leaves more room in your budget than nearly all alternatives listed here.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Rains County

via IncomeByCounty

Rains County Near National Average

Rains County's median household income of $64,874 falls just $9,881 short of the U.S. median of $74,755, a modest gap. The county performs competitively on a national percentile basis, especially for a rural Texas region.

Rains Matches Texas State Average

At $64,874, Rains County's median household income virtually matches the Texas state average of $64,737, putting it squarely in the middle tier statewide. The county reflects typical Texas earnings patterns across its broader peer group.

Rains Mid-Range Among Peers

Rains County's $64,874 trails Randall County's $80,905 but outpaces Potter County ($50,448) and Polk County ($59,066). Its position reflects solid small-town employment in retail, services, and commuting to Dallas-area jobs.

Strong Per Capita Income Advantage

Rains County's per capita income of $38,483 significantly exceeds the state average of $33,197, suggesting higher earning potential across multiple household members. With a rent-to-income ratio of 16.6%, housing costs remain very affordable relative to the county's strong income base.

Maximize Multi-Income Households

Rains County's strong per capita income suggests working-age populations contribute meaningfully to household earnings, creating investment capacity. Households should maximize tax-advantaged 401(k) matching, open IRAs, and consider diversifying income through side skills or passive opportunities.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Rains County

via HealthByCounty

Rains exceeds national health benchmarks

At 75.3 years, Rains County life expectancy meets the U.S. average of 76.4 years, placing the county solidly in the national mainstream. With only 18.7% reporting poor or fair health—the lowest rate in this survey—Rains residents report exceptional wellness relative to national norms.

Among Texas's healthiest counties

Rains County's 75.3-year life expectancy runs 1.0 year above Texas's 74.3-year average, and its 18.7% poor/fair health rate is the best in this data set. The county's 21.7% uninsured rate sits just above Texas's 19.8% average, a manageable gap.

Healthiest peers in every metric

Rains County outperforms nearly all neighbors on life expectancy and poor/fair health rates: only Randall (76.3 years) edges Rains on longevity. With the lowest poor/fair health rate (18.7%) and reasonable uninsured rates, Rains stands among Texas's strongest rural health profiles.

Health without abundant providers

Rains County achieves its strong health outcomes with only 8 primary care providers per 100K—the lowest in this survey—though 54 mental health providers per 100K support behavioral health. The county's 21.7% uninsured rate suggests that fewer residents need safety-net care, possibly due to employment-based insurance.

Rains: sustain your health advantage

Rains County's residents enjoy better health than most—keep that momentum by ensuring coverage is continuous. If you're among the uninsured, visit healthcare.gov to lock in coverage and maintain preventive care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Rains County

via RiskByCounty

Rains County ranks very low nationally

Rains County's composite risk score of 14.09 places it well below the national average, marking it as a very low-risk area for natural disasters. The North Central Texas county benefits from lower exposure to catastrophic hazards.

Among Texas's safest counties statewide

With a composite score of 14.09, Rains County ranks well below Texas's state average of 49.00, positioning it among the state's lower-risk counties. This makes it one of Texas's safer places to live from a natural disaster perspective.

Safe haven in North Central Texas

Rains County (14.09) enjoys significantly lower risk than Polk County (75.57) to the southeast, though it shares moderate tornado (62.12) and hurricane (41.97) risks with neighboring counties. Its location away from coastal and panhandle extremes provides protection.

Tornado and hurricane present moderate concerns

Rains County's tornado risk (62.12) and hurricane risk (41.97) represent its primary hazards, while flood (12.50), wildfire (42.49), and earthquake (22.65) risks remain low. Severe weather preparedness is the key priority for residents.

Standard coverage provides good protection

Rains County residents should ensure homeowners policies include wind and hail coverage for tornado protection and review flood coverage for areas near streams. Most residents will find standard homeowners insurance adequate given the county's low overall risk profile.

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.