Scott County's composite score of 65.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 66th percentile of U.S. counties. This central Mississippi county qualifies as a reasonably livable American community.
2 / 5
Middle-of-the-pack within Mississippi
Scott's 65.6 score sits about 2 points below Mississippi's state average of 67.5, placing it in the state's middle tier. It represents a moderate livability profile for Mississippi counties.
3 / 5
Balanced affordability and reasonable taxes
Scott offers solid tax efficiency (79.8) with a 0.799% effective rate and good housing affordability (84.0), featuring median rent of $888 and median home values of $89,900. This combination delivers middle-class value.
4 / 5
Low income and moderate health concerns
Scott's income score of 15.0 and median household income of $48,492 fall below both state and national standards. A health score of 51.0 and risk score of 44.1 suggest room for improvement in wellness and economic stability.
5 / 5
Practical choice for budget-minded families
Scott County works well for families and individuals seeking affordable housing and low taxes in a stable, middle-of-the-road community. It's less dramatic than peers—neither an outlier on affordability nor a wealth center—but offers solid, unexciting livability.
Scott County's composite score of 65.6 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 66th percentile of U.S. counties. This central Mississippi county qualifies as a reasonably livable American community.
Middle-of-the-pack within Mississippi
Scott's 65.6 score sits about 2 points below Mississippi's state average of 67.5, placing it in the state's middle tier. It represents a moderate livability profile for Mississippi counties.
Balanced affordability and reasonable taxes
Scott offers solid tax efficiency (79.8) with a 0.799% effective rate and good housing affordability (84.0), featuring median rent of $888 and median home values of $89,900. This combination delivers middle-class value.
Low income and moderate health concerns
Scott's income score of 15.0 and median household income of $48,492 fall below both state and national standards. A health score of 51.0 and risk score of 44.1 suggest room for improvement in wellness and economic stability.
Practical choice for budget-minded families
Scott County works well for families and individuals seeking affordable housing and low taxes in a stable, middle-of-the-road community. It's less dramatic than peers—neither an outlier on affordability nor a wealth center—but offers solid, unexciting livability.
Score breakdown
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🏛79.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Scott County's 0.799% effective tax rate sits below the national median of 2.69%, ranking in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $718 on a median home value of $89,900 is less than 27% of the national median property tax of $2,690.
Slightly above Mississippi average
At 0.799%, Scott County exceeds the state average of 0.743% by about 7%, placing it in the middle range of Mississippi counties. Homeowners pay roughly $140 more annually than the state median tax of $931.
Mid-range rates in central Mississippi
Scott County's 0.799% rate sits between lower-tax Rankin (0.620%) and higher-tax Pike (0.929%) counties. It represents a moderate tax burden for central Mississippi homeowners.
Median annual tax: $718
On Scott County's median home value of $89,900, property owners pay approximately $718 per year, or roughly $59.83 monthly. Those with mortgages average $886 annually.
Review your assessment for accuracy
Scott County residents should verify that their assessed values reflect current market conditions and comparable sales. If your property appears overvalued, contact the assessor's office about filing a formal reassessment appeal.
Scott County residents spend 22% of income on rent, above Mississippi's 19.6% average though well within national standards. With a median household income of $48,492—significantly below the national average of $74,755—Scott's housing costs feel more burdensome than the state norm despite modest absolute prices.
Below-average affordability for Mississippi
Scott County's 22% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Mississippi's 19.6% state average, though its $888 median rent falls above the statewide median of $782. This combination places Scott among Mississippi's moderately challenged housing markets.
Higher rent, lower income than peers
Scott's $888 monthly rent exceeds Simpson County ($819), Pontotoc County ($848), and Prentiss County ($620), yet Scott's $48,492 median income falls below Pontotoc and Simpson. This gap—higher costs with lower earnings—makes Scott less affordable than its immediate neighbors.
Rental premium strains household budgets
Scott renters pay $888 monthly while homeowners spend $554, meaning renters pay 60% more despite having similar home access. Housing costs consume 22% of the $48,492 median income—noticeably higher than the state average—squeezing household budgets for other necessities.
Simpson or Pontotoc offer better value
Scott County residents considering moves can improve affordability by relocating to Simpson County (18.2% rent ratio, similar income) or Pontotoc County (19.3% ratio, higher income). These neighboring counties offer comparable or better earning potential with substantially lower housing cost burdens.
Scott County's median household income of $48,492 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by 35%, a gap of $26,263 per household annually. This income deficit is typical for rural Mississippi counties lacking major metropolitan employment centers.
Near Mississippi's state median income
Scott County earns essentially at Mississippi's state median of $48,514, just $22 below the statewide average. This alignment positions Scott County as representative of the typical Mississippi county in terms of household earnings.
Middle performer among surrounding counties
Scott County's $48,492 income sits between Sharkey County ($35,741) and Simpson County ($54,111), establishing it as a moderate earner in central Mississippi. Its per-capita income of $23,915 trails Simpson's $29,599, suggesting less evenly distributed economic resources.
Housing costs manageable but require attention
Scott County's rent-to-income ratio of 22.0% stays within reasonable bounds, though it consumes nearly a quarter of household earnings. A median home value of $89,900 remains accessible, enabling homeownership without straining household budgets.
Build incremental savings and investment habits
Scott County households earning $48,492 should establish automatic savings of 10–15% directed to emergency reserves and retirement accounts. Even modest monthly investments in low-cost index funds can generate meaningful wealth over 20–30 years, creating financial security.
Scott County residents live to 70.7 years on average, 3.8 years below the U.S. average of 74.5 years. With 28.2% of adults in poor or fair health—well above the national rate of 18%—Scott County confronts substantial health burdens that cut lives short and degrade quality of life.
Scott lags behind Mississippi averages
At 70.7 years, Scott County's life expectancy slightly exceeds Mississippi's state average of 70.9 years but remains among the state's lower performers. The 28.2% poor/fair health rate ranks among the worst in Mississippi, placing Scott in the crisis tier alongside Pike and Quitman counties.
Among the region's unhealthiest counties
Scott's 70.7-year life expectancy trails healthier peers like Prentiss (72.0) and Pontotoc (72.7) and barely exceeds Pike (69.7). The 28.2% poor health rate rivals Pike's 28.7% and approaches Quitman's 31.9%, marking Scott as a region facing coordinated health challenges.
Thin provider network threatens access
Scott County's 15.3% uninsured rate is the highest among all surveyed counties, leaving 1 in 6.5 residents without coverage. With only 18 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest outside Pontotoc—many residents face long waits and travel distances for basic medical care.
Finding coverage is essential now
Scott County's 15.3% uninsured rate is a critical health risk—the highest in the region and well above state averages. Visit healthcare.gov or your local health department to explore Medicaid, tax credits, and marketplace plans that can provide immediate financial and health protection.
Scott County moderately exceeds national risk baseline
Scott County scores 55.88 on the composite risk scale, modestly above the national average and placing it in the relatively low risk category overall. However, this score masks significant variation—hurricane risk reaches 81.56 and tornado risk stands at 78.37, substantially above typical U.S. levels. Scott residents should prioritize preparedness for wind-related hazards while managing broader natural disaster exposure.
Scott County ranks above Mississippi's state average
Scott County's 55.88 composite score exceeds Mississippi's state average of 50.94, placing it among the state's moderate-risk counties. The county's 81.56 hurricane risk is notably high compared to the state average, while tornado risk of 78.37 also exceeds typical Mississippi levels. This profile indicates Scott residents face above-average exposure to major wind-driven storms.
Scott County moderately outranks surrounding counties
Scott County's 55.88 composite score exceeds nearby Simpson County (50.95) but falls well below the higher-risk profile of Rankin County to the south (84.99). Scott's hurricane risk of 81.56 closely mirrors Simpson's 80.60, suggesting both counties share similar tropical storm vulnerability. However, Scott's tornado risk of 78.37 positions it slightly above Simpson's 76.72, indicating marginally greater wind exposure.
Hurricanes and tornadoes drive Scott County's risk
Scott County residents face hurricane risk of 81.56 and tornado risk of 78.37—two major wind-driven hazards that substantially exceed national averages. Flood risk of 42.02 provides a secondary concern, particularly during tropical systems and spring thunderstorms. These hazards should anchor emergency planning and home protection strategies.
Wind-resistant improvements protect Scott County homes
Homeowners should prioritize wind-resistant features including reinforced roof attachments, impact-resistant windows, and a designated safe room built to withstand tornado and hurricane forces. Flood insurance is advisable given Scott's 42.02 flood risk and the frequency of tropical systems affecting central Mississippi. Regular home inspections before each storm season identify vulnerabilities and upgrade opportunities.