Refugio County

Texas · TX

#103 in Texas
63.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Refugio County, Texas

Refugio keeps pace nationally

Refugio County scores 67.9 on the CountyScore composite index, comfortably above the national median of 50.0. Its livability profile rests on strong housing affordability and moderate household incomes.

Slightly above Texas average

Refugio County's composite score of 67.9 edges past Texas's state average of 66.8, putting it in the middle-to-upper tier of Texas counties. Housing affordability and income levels give it a modest advantage.

Affordable housing and rising incomes

Refugio County scores 83.3 on cost and 21.3 on income, reflecting median rent of $842 monthly and median household income of $58,016. These figures show genuine affordability combined with above-county-average earning potential.

Taxes and other metrics need clarity

The tax score of 62.8 (1.404% effective rate) is among the county's lower marks, suggesting higher tax burden than peers. Safety, health, schools, environmental, and risk data remain unavailable.

For families seeking coastal Texas value

Refugio County appeals to families balancing affordability with moderate income stability in a small-county setting. The higher tax burden requires careful financial planning alongside verification of schools and healthcare quality.

Score breakdown

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

Tax62.8Cost83.3SafetyComing SoonHealth53.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.3Risk62.6WaterComing Soon
🏛62.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠83.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼21.3
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
53.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
62.6
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Refugio County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Refugio County

via TaxByCounty

Refugio taxes exceed national median slightly

Refugio County's effective tax rate of 1.404% sits above the national median of 1.276%, placing it among higher-taxed U.S. counties. The median property tax here is $1,325 annually—still less than half the national median of $2,690, thanks to a modest median home value of $94,400 compared to $281,900 nationwide.

Refugio ranks above average in Texas

At 1.404%, Refugio County's effective rate exceeds Texas's state average of 1.276%, placing it in the upper third of Texas counties. The county's $1,325 median tax mirrors the state median of $2,193, reflecting higher-than-average rates applied to lower-than-average home values.

Refugio has the region's highest tax rate

Refugio's 1.404% rate tops neighboring Reeves (1.181%), Runnels (1.464%), and Roberts (1.004%) counties, making it a regional tax outlier. This higher burden applies even to modestly valued homes, distinguishing Refugio from its surrounding peers.

Median home costs about $1,325 yearly

On the typical Refugio County home valued at $94,400, you'd pay roughly $1,325 in annual property taxes—or about $110 per month. With a mortgage, that figure may climb to $1,404 when lenders include taxes in escrow.

Appeal overvalued assessments to cut your bill

Refugio County homeowners should scrutinize their assessed values; many properties are overvalued relative to recent sales. Filing a tax appeal can reduce your appraisal and deliver meaningful annual savings, especially in a county where rates already run above state average.

Cost of Living in Refugio County

via CostByCounty

Refugio achieves rare balance

Refugio County's 17.4% rent-to-income ratio edges below Texas's 18.1% state average and sits well below the national norm, making it genuinely affordable. With a median household income of $58,016 and median rent of $842, Refugio offers one of the better housing-cost-to-income balances in rural Texas.

Refugio ranks among Texas's best

Refugio County places in the top tier of Texas counties for rental affordability, with a rent-to-income ratio that beats approximately 70% of all Texas counties. This coastal bend community punches above its weight in housing accessibility relative to local earning power.

Coastal calm vs. inland strain

Refugio's 17.4% rent burden is noticeably better than Red River (23.1%) and Reeves (21.1%) to the north, rivaling Roberts and Robertson counties near the state's best. The combination of modest rents ($842) and decent median income ($58,016) creates unusual affordability for a rural Texas county.

Refugio's favorable housing math

A Refugio household earning $58,016 annually pays $842 monthly in rent—about $10,104 per year—while homeowners average $651 in monthly ownership costs. Housing consumes roughly 17% of gross income, below state and national thresholds, leaving more breathing room for savings and other expenses.

Strong value for coastal proximity

Refugio offers rare affordability combined with Gulf Coast access and median home values of just $94,400, making it compelling for remote workers or retirees. Investigate local employment before moving—the county's small, rural character means jobs may be scarce in specialized fields.

Income & Jobs in Refugio County

via IncomeByCounty

Refugio County approaches national income levels

Refugio County's median household income of $58,016 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by about $16,700, representing one of the stronger rural economies in Texas. The per capita income of $26,972 indicates reasonably broad-based earning power across the county.

Lower-middle tier among Texas counties

Refugio County's $58,016 median income falls 10% below Texas's county average of $64,737 but ranks higher than most of its rural neighbors. The per capita income of $26,972 is 19% below the state mean, suggesting some income inequality.

Refugio leads smaller rural Texas counties

Refugio's $58,016 median outpaces Real, Red River, and Reeves counties, positioning it as a relative income leader in this rural cluster. Only Roberts, Robertson, and Rockwall counties earn notably more in this comparison set.

Lowest rent burden in this county group

Refugio County's rent-to-income ratio of just 17.4% is the most favorable in this comparison, leaving households ample budget room. The median home value of $94,400 is highly affordable, making both renting and buying financially accessible.

Strong foundation for wealth accumulation

With the region's best rent-to-income ratio at 17.4%, Refugio County households can redirect savings toward retirement accounts and investments. The affordable $94,400 median home price makes homeownership a realistic wealth-building tool for most families.

Health in Refugio County

via HealthByCounty

Refugio County near national health average

Refugio County residents live an average of 73.4 years, just 3.6 years below the U.S. average of 77.0 years. The 24.3% poor or fair health rate suggests moderate chronic disease burden.

Slightly below Texas state average

At 73.4 years, Refugio County's life expectancy is 0.9 years below Texas's state average of 74.3 years. Health outcomes place the county in the middle tier of Texas county rankings.

Sparse primary care availability

Refugio County has only 15 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—one of the lowest in the sample and well below regional adequacy standards. Mental health provider data is unavailable, indicating potential gaps in behavioral health services.

Below-average uninsured rate, access challenge remains

Refugio County's 18.5% uninsured rate is slightly better than the state average of 19.8%, but severe provider scarcity means coverage alone doesn't guarantee care access. Residents often travel long distances for basic healthcare.

Coverage is just the first step

Even well-insured Refugio County residents face geographic barriers to care. Enroll at Healthcare.gov and ask about telehealth options and rural health programs to bridge access gaps.

Disaster Risk in Refugio County

via RiskByCounty

Refugio County's risk stays below national norm

Refugio County scores 37.47 for composite disaster risk, maintaining a Very Low rating while sitting modestly below the national average. The county's coastal location creates distinct hazard patterns compared to inland areas.

Below-average risk for Texas profile

At 37.47, Refugio County runs below Texas's 49.00 state average despite its Gulf Coast exposure, reflecting a relatively smaller population footprint. This favorable score masks significant hurricane vulnerability concentrated in limited developed areas.

More hurricane-exposed than inland peers

Refugio County's hurricane risk of 87.36 dwarfs that of neighboring Goliad and San Patricio counties, positioning it as the region's most hurricane-vulnerable location. Inland counties like Live Oak face dramatically lower coastal storm exposure.

Hurricane risk dominates the coast here

Hurricane risk scores 87.36—the single highest hazard in Refugio County—reflecting direct Gulf exposure and a history of major storm impacts. Wildfire and flood risks at 56.68 and 42.60 respectively rank as secondary concerns.

Hurricane coverage is essential for residents

Refugio County coastal and near-coastal homeowners must carry dedicated hurricane/windstorm coverage, as standard homeowners policies exclude hurricane damage in coastal zones. Flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program is also critical for properties within storm surge zones.

ByCounty Network

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