Scott County's composite score of 78.4 ranks it among the top-performing U.S. counties, sitting 57 percent above the national median of 50.0. The county's exceptional affordability and low tax burden drive this national standing.
2 / 5
Scott County Tops State Average
Scott County scores 78.4, exceeding Tennessee's state average of 76.3 and ranking near the top among the state's 95 counties. The county stands out as one of Tennessee's strongest performers in overall livability.
3 / 5
Unmatched Housing Affordability Shines
Scott County boasts a cost score of 88.5—the highest in this group—with median rent of just $691/month and home values of $116,800, by far the most affordable options. Combined with a tax score of 87.4 and effective rate of 0.527%, the county offers exceptional financial accessibility.
4 / 5
Income Levels Require Careful Consideration
The county's income score of 11.3 reflects a median household income of $42,679—significantly lower than peers, suggesting limited earning opportunities. Data on safety, health, schools, and water quality remain unavailable, making it essential to verify these factors before relocating.
5 / 5
Haven for Budget-Conscious and Retirees
Scott County is ideal for retirees, remote workers, and those prioritizing ultra-low living costs over local employment opportunities. The exceptional housing affordability makes it attractive for families seeking maximum financial security despite lower local income potential.
Scott County's composite score of 78.4 ranks it among the top-performing U.S. counties, sitting 57 percent above the national median of 50.0. The county's exceptional affordability and low tax burden drive this national standing.
Scott County Tops State Average
Scott County scores 78.4, exceeding Tennessee's state average of 76.3 and ranking near the top among the state's 95 counties. The county stands out as one of Tennessee's strongest performers in overall livability.
Unmatched Housing Affordability Shines
Scott County boasts a cost score of 88.5—the highest in this group—with median rent of just $691/month and home values of $116,800, by far the most affordable options. Combined with a tax score of 87.4 and effective rate of 0.527%, the county offers exceptional financial accessibility.
Income Levels Require Careful Consideration
The county's income score of 11.3 reflects a median household income of $42,679—significantly lower than peers, suggesting limited earning opportunities. Data on safety, health, schools, and water quality remain unavailable, making it essential to verify these factors before relocating.
Haven for Budget-Conscious and Retirees
Scott County is ideal for retirees, remote workers, and those prioritizing ultra-low living costs over local employment opportunities. The exceptional housing affordability makes it attractive for families seeking maximum financial security despite lower local income potential.
Score breakdown
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🏛87.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Scott County's 0.527% effective rate produces the region's lowest median tax bill at just $616 annually on properties averaging $116,800. This makes Scott County a fraction of the $2,690 national median—among the most affordable in America.
Scott ranks slightly above Tennessee average
Scott's 0.527% effective rate is marginally higher than the state average of 0.511%, but the low median home value of $116,800 keeps tax bills minimal. At $616 annually, Scott's median property tax is 39% below the state median of $1,016.
Scott's taxes lowest in its corner of the state
Scott County's $616 median tax bill dramatically undercuts every neighboring county, despite a rate of 0.527% that's near average. The key difference is Scott's rural character: median homes worth just $116,800 versus Rutherford's $346,400.
What Scott County homeowners actually pay
With a median home value of $116,800 and a 0.527% effective rate, Scott homeowners pay roughly $616 annually in property tax. Mortgage taxes add $226, raising the total to $842—reflecting the lower initial assessment.
Scott homeowners should verify assessments too
Even in lower-tax Scott County, homeowners benefit from confirming their property assessment matches current market value. If your home's assessed value exceeds what similar homes sold for recently, filing an appeal can yield meaningful savings.
Scott County's 19.4% rent-to-income ratio exceeds national norms despite its bargain-basement rent of $691 monthly, revealing a fundamental challenge: the county's median household income of just $42,679 ranks far below the national average of $74,755. Lower rents can't offset significantly lower wages.
Scott ranks low on both income and affordability
Scott County's 19.4% rent-to-income ratio slightly exceeds Tennessee's 17.6% state average, and its median household income of $42,679 falls roughly $20,000 below the state's economic center. The county represents Tennessee's economic margin, where affordable housing meets limited earning potential.
Scott's cheapest housing reflects its challenges
Scott County's $691 rent is Tennessee's lowest among these eight counties, undercutting Roane County's $767 by $76 monthly, yet the county's median income of $42,679 trails all peers by thousands. Cheap housing masks deeper economic constraints limiting household purchasing power.
Low income makes even cheap rent a strain
Scott residents spend 19.4% of their $42,679 median income on rent despite the county's $691 monthly average, while ownership costs of $499 remain modest in dollar terms but substantial as a percentage of earnings. The $116,800 median home value offers accessibility, but limited income constrains household wealth accumulation.
Scott suits those prioritizing lowest dollar costs
Scott County's appeal lies in absolute affordability—rent under $700 and homes near $117,000—making it attractive for retirees on fixed incomes or remote workers whose earnings don't depend on local opportunity. If your income flows from outside the county, Scott's low costs stretch your budget further than anywhere else in this region.
Scott County's median household income of $42,679 ranks among the nation's lowest, trailing the national median of $74,755 by $32,076—a 43% shortfall. This represents one of the steepest income challenges in the country.
Scott ranks lowest in Tennessee
Scott County's median household income of $42,679 places it at the bottom of Tennessee's 95 counties, 27.6% below the state average of $58,994. The county faces systemic economic challenges rooted in limited job diversity and educational attainment.
Scott trails all profiled counties
Scott's $42,679 income is the lowest among these eight counties, nearly $20,000 below Sequatchie County ($52,260) and $39,909 below Rutherford County ($82,588). The gap reflects Scott's reliance on limited agricultural and light industrial employment.
Housing costs consume critical income
Scott's rent-to-income ratio of 19.4% reflects a precarious housing situation: the median home value of $116,800 still consumes nearly one-fifth of a $42,679 annual income. Many households operate with minimal financial cushion for emergencies or savings.
Start small, prioritize financial stability
Scott County households should prioritize building emergency savings—ideally three months of expenses—before investing in wealth-building vehicles. Explore low-cost community development financial institutions, employer retirement plans with matching, and free financial counseling resources to build wealth progressively.
Scott County's 71.4-year life expectancy falls below the U.S. average of 71.4 years, placing the county in the bottom tier for health outcomes. Nearly 1 in 4 residents (24.9%) report poor or fair health—among the worst rates in the nation and well above the U.S. baseline. These metrics signal acute health challenges requiring immediate intervention.
Scott ranks worst among Tennessee peers
Scott County's 71.4-year life expectancy sits 1 full year below Tennessee's 72.4-year state average, making it the lowest among the eight profiled counties. At 13.4% uninsured—significantly above Tennessee's 11.9% average—Scott residents face compounded coverage gaps that block preventive care access. These dual challenges position Scott as among Tennessee's most vulnerable counties.
Scott faces steepest regional health barriers
Scott's 71.4-year life expectancy trails every neighboring county—Roane (72.6), Robertson (72.7), and Sequatchie (75.2)—by half a year to nearly four years. With only 23 primary care providers per 100,000 residents (the lowest regionally), Scott families travel farthest for basic care. The combination of provider shortage and high uninsured rate (13.4%) creates a health crisis in slow motion.
Provider desert blocks daily care access
Scott County's 23 primary care providers per 100,000 residents represent a critical shortage—less than half Rutherford's rate—forcing residents to travel far for routine checkups and prescription management. With 13.4% uninsured, over 1 in 7 Scott residents skip preventive visits entirely, delaying diagnosis of treatable conditions until emergencies arise. This access gap directly contributes to the county's grim life expectancy and high poor/fair health rates.
Coverage is your first health action
Scott County residents without insurance face the steepest barrier to health improvement—start enrollment at Healthcare.gov or contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance to explore Medicaid and subsidized marketplace plans. Once covered, seek out available primary care providers and commit to preventive visits, screenings, and chronic disease management. Getting covered today is the single most impactful step toward reversing Scott's health crisis.
Scott County scores just 26.11 on composite risk—a Very Low rating and roughly 48% below the national average. This places Scott in the safest 10% of American counties for natural disaster exposure. While no location is risk-free, Scott residents benefit from one of the nation's most favorable geographic positions.
One of Tennessee's lowest-risk counties
At 26.11, Scott ranks among the bottom 5% of Tennessee's 95 counties for composite risk, scoring just 50% of the state average (52.45). This exceptional safety reflects Scott's Appalachian terrain and distance from major flood corridors and tornado alleys. Only a handful of Tennessee counties score lower.
Safest county in its region
Scott (26.11) significantly outperforms neighboring counties and rivals Smith County (18.77) for the state's lowest composite risk. Its wildfire risk (68.83) stands elevated relative to neighbors, but other hazards remain well-controlled. Scott residents enjoy an uncommonly safe position in East Tennessee's natural hazard landscape.
Wildfire is the primary concern
Scott's wildfire risk of 68.83 is the highest of its five tracked hazards, reflecting dense forest coverage and Appalachian terrain susceptible to fire spread. Tornado risk (46.79) remains below state average, while flood (29.17), earthquake (57.32), and hurricane (43.85) risks are all modest. Wildfire prevention and property defensibility should drive Scott's preparedness focus.
Keep wildfire risk in focus
Verify your homeowners policy covers wildfire damage and maintain at least 30 feet of defensible space around structures, clearing dead vegetation and overhanging branches. Standard coverage typically includes wildfire, but review your policy's specific limits and exclusions. While Scott's overall risk remains low, wildfire preparation protects your biggest vulnerability.