CountyScore

Rhea County

Tennessee · TN

#47 in Tennessee
70.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Rhea County, Tennessee

Rhea County Beats National Standards

Rhea County's composite score of 78.3 exceeds the national median by 57%, positioning it among the nation's livable counties. Its performance blends strong tax advantages with competitive income levels relative to its peer rural counties.

Strong Ranking Among Tennessee Counties

Rhea County ranks fifth statewide with a score of 78.3, outpacing Tennessee's average of 76.3 by two points. It holds a strong competitive position among the state's counties seeking to attract cost-conscious residents.

Excellent Tax Rate and Solid Income Profile

Rhea County excels with a tax score of 89.3 (0.462% effective rate) and income score of 21.3 with median household income at $58,133, nearly $2,000 above the state group average. Its cost score of 84.2 with median rent at $796/month provides solid value for families.

Limited Data on Safety and Services

Critical dimensions including safety, health, school quality, environmental factors, and natural disaster risk remain unavailable, preventing a complete livability assessment. Median home values at $178,500 are moderate but higher than the least expensive peer counties.

Balanced Option for Middle-Class Families

Rhea County suits middle-class families seeking a balance of tax efficiency, affordable living, and reasonable income potential in a rural setting. Its stronger income profile relative to peers makes it appealing to working families less reliant on external income sources.

Score breakdown

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

Tax89.3Cost84.2SafetyComing SoonHealth56.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.3Risk50.8WaterComing Soon
🏛89.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.2
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
❤56.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡50.8
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 Rhea County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Franklin County
Alabama
70.5
Median income: $51,493
Lauderdale County
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70.5
Median income: $59,082
Holmes County
Florida
70.5
Median income: $48,236
Fayette County
Indiana
70.5
Median income: $56,659
Smith County
Kansas
70.5
Median income: $57,024

Deep Dives

Rhea County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Rhea County

via TaxByCounty

Rhea County offers strong tax advantages

Rhea County's effective tax rate of 0.462% is roughly one-sixth the national median property tax burden of $2,690, placing it well into the lowest quartile of U.S. counties. This makes Rhea significantly more tax-friendly than most American communities.

Below Tennessee average, moderately taxing

Rhea County's 0.462% effective rate runs below Tennessee's 0.511% state average, positioning it in the lower-middle tier among the state's 95 counties. The median property tax of $825 on a $178,500 home reflects both the favorable rate and the county's mid-range property values.

Rhea taxes lower than most surrounding counties

Rhea's 0.462% rate exceeds only Overton (0.394%) and Pickett (0.374%), falling significantly below Morgan (0.581%), Obion (0.568%), Polk (0.565%), and Perry (0.580%). This positions Rhea as a moderate-to-low taxer in its region.

A $178,500 home costs $825 annually

Rhea County's median homeowner with a $178,500 home pays $825 per year in property tax—approximately $69 per month. Including mortgage escrow, the annual tax reaches $882.

Appeals can recover thousands over time

Rhea County property owners who believe their assessments are too high can file appeals with minimal cost and no penalty for trying. Over a decade of homeownership, successfully reducing an overassessment by even $50 annually saves $500 or more.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Rhea County

via CostByCounty

Rhea County hovers near Tennessee's affordability baseline

Rhea County's 16.4% rent-to-income ratio sits below Tennessee's state average of 17.6%, indicating relatively favorable rental affordability despite a median household income of $58,133. At $796 monthly rent, Rhea renters dedicate a modest share of earnings to housing compared to state and national benchmarks.

Better-than-average affordability within Tennessee

Rhea County ranks in the upper tier of Tennessee counties for rental affordability, with a rent-to-income ratio meaningfully below the state average. The county's above-median household income combined with moderate rents creates accessible housing conditions for renters.

Mid-range rental costs with solid incomes

Rhea County's $796 median rent sits between Morgan County ($742) and Putnam County ($881), while its median household income of $58,133 ranks among the region's stronger earners. The county offers balanced affordability relative to surrounding East-Central Tennessee peers.

Rent takes 16.4% of median income

Rhea County renters spend $796 monthly—16.4% of their median household income of $58,133—positioning housing costs comfortably below state averages. Homeowners invest $652 monthly on ownership costs for homes valued at $178,500, reflecting a healthy balance between housing costs and income.

Rhea County balances value and community

Families considering relocation should evaluate Rhea County as a solid middle-ground option, offering above-average local incomes and below-average rent burdens compared to Tennessee peers. The county delivers genuine affordability advantages without sacrificing the housing quality found in pricier markets.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Rhea County

via IncomeByCounty

Rhea County Trails National Income Standard

Rhea County's median household income of $58,133 falls $16,622 short of the national median of $74,755, a 22% gap. Typical households earn roughly three-quarters of what average American households make.

Nearly Matches Tennessee's State Average

Rhea County's $58,133 median income nearly aligns with Tennessee's state average of $58,994, placing it at the statewide baseline. The per capita income of $28,160 falls below the state average of $31,458, suggesting some income concentration.

Third-Strongest Income in Peer Group

Rhea County's $58,133 median income ranks third among its rural peers, behind only Polk County ($60,227) and Putnam County ($56,537). The county substantially outpaces lower-income neighbors like Overton ($46,159) and Pickett ($44,591).

Moderate Rent, High Home Values

Rhea County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.4% remains comfortably affordable for renters. However, the median home value of $178,500 represents 3.1 years of gross household income—higher than several peers—creating a wealth-building challenge for aspiring homeowners.

Balanced Approach to Home and Savings

Rhea County households should weigh homeownership timing carefully given elevated home prices relative to income. Prioritize building robust savings and exploring first-time homebuyer programs before committing to purchase; simultaneously, invest in retirement accounts to build wealth beyond real estate.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Rhea County

via HealthByCounty

Rhea County's health trails national benchmarks

At 71.4 years, Rhea County's life expectancy falls 4.7 years short of the U.S. average of 76.1 years, reflecting significant health challenges. One in four residents (24.8%) report poor or fair health, well above the national average of 17.9%.

Rhea County underperforms Tennessee's average

Rhea County's life expectancy of 71.4 years is 1.0 year below Tennessee's average of 72.4 years, placing it below the state median. Its uninsured rate of 13.2% exceeds the state average of 11.9%, meaning more residents face coverage gaps.

Moderate providers, balanced access profile

Rhea County offers 36 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—more than Morgan County (19 per 100K) but less than Overton County (39 per 100K). Mental health services at 35 providers per 100K are solid and substantially better than Overton County's critically low rate.

Adequate providers challenged by uninsured rate

Rhea County has reasonable provider access with 36 primary care and 35 mental health providers per 100,000 residents, yet 13.2% of residents lack health insurance. This coverage gap likely limits utilization of available care and contributes to the county's below-average life expectancy.

Connect with Rhea County's healthcare resources

Getting covered is the key to accessing Rhea County's available providers and improving health outcomes. Call 1-800-318-2596 or visit healthcare.gov to explore Medicaid, marketplace plans, and community health services.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Rhea County

via RiskByCounty

Rhea County faces relatively low risk

Rhea County's composite risk score of 49.17 sits just below the national average, placing it in the relatively low risk category. The county experiences moderate but manageable natural disaster exposure compared to most U.S. communities.

Slightly below Tennessee average

Rhea County scores 49.17 versus Tennessee's state average of 52.45, ranking it near the statewide median for disaster risk. The county represents a typical risk profile within Tennessee's broader landscape.

Moderate risk compared to region

Rhea County (49.17) presents higher risk than Perry County (33.40) and Polk County (31.17), but lower than Putnam County (65.84) and substantially lower than Obion County (81.30). The county occupies the middle-ground of regional disaster exposure.

Flood and earthquake threats significant

Flood risk (62.72) and earthquake risk (75.86) represent Rhea County's primary hazards, with wildfire risk (48.28) and tornado risk (56.46) adding secondary concerns. Together, these four hazards create a diverse natural disaster profile.

Secure flood and earthquake coverage

Rhea County homeowners should maintain comprehensive homeowners insurance and strongly consider both federal flood insurance and separate earthquake coverage given the county's 62.72 flood risk and 75.86 seismic risk. Residents in flood-prone valleys should prioritize FEMA flood insurance enrollment.

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.