CountyScore

Shannon County

Missouri · MO

#33 in Missouri
72.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Shannon County, Missouri

Shannon County ranks 62% above national median

Shannon County's composite score of 81.2 is the highest among these eight counties and substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0. This elite ranking reflects an exceptional combination of low taxes and affordable housing.

Missouri's top performer in this cohort

Shannon County scores 81.2, well above Missouri's state average of 74.8, placing it in the top tier of the state's 114 counties. Among these eight Missouri counties, Shannon ranks first on livability composites.

Lowest taxes and exceptional affordability

Shannon County boasts the lowest effective tax rate (0.432%, score: 90.1) and second-best housing affordability (score: 89.3) among these eight counties, with median rent at just $509/month and homes averaging $151,000. These dual strengths make it a top-tier value destination.

Limited income data and broader quality gaps

Shannon County's income score of 21.9 reflects a median household income of $59,000, solid but mid-range relative to opportunity-seeking families. Safety, schools, health, and water quality information remains unavailable, creating blind spots in the full livability picture.

Best overall value among these eight counties

Shannon County appeals to anyone prioritizing maximum savings on taxes and housing while maintaining reasonable income levels and rural living. The county delivers the strongest composite livability score for cost-conscious households unwilling to sacrifice all income potential.

Score breakdown

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

Tax90.1Cost89.3SafetyComing SoonHealth57.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome21.9Risk42.5WaterComing Soon
🏛90.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼21.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤57.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡42.5
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 Shannon County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Geneva County
Alabama
72.1
Median income: $50,951
Winston County
Alabama
72.1
Median income: $48,032
Stone County
Arkansas
72.1
Median income: $38,531
Montezuma County
Colorado
72.1
Median income: $63,005
Rio Grande County
Colorado
72.1
Median income: $62,166

Deep Dives

Shannon County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Shannon County

via TaxByCounty

Shannon County offers lowest regional taxes

Shannon County's effective tax rate of 0.432% ranks among the lowest in the nation, nearly 41% below Missouri's state average of 0.733%. The median property tax of $652 is less than one-quarter the national median of $2,690, placing Shannon in the bottom 5% nationally.

Shannon ranks as Missouri's second-lowest

Shannon County's effective rate of 0.432% is the second-lowest in this analysis (only Reynolds at 0.461% is lower), roughly 41% below Missouri's state average of 0.733%. The median tax bill of $652 is just over half the state median of $1,199, offering substantial relief to residents.

Shannon leads region in tax savings

Shannon County's 0.432% rate is the lowest in this eight-county comparison, beating Reynolds (0.461%) and Ripley (0.501%) and massively undercutting the higher-tax counties. This positions Shannon as the region's most tax-efficient jurisdiction.

Median annual bill: $652

On Shannon County's median home value of $151,000, homeowners pay roughly $652 annually in property taxes. Those with mortgages typically see $739 in escrow, while outright owners pay $595.

Verify accuracy despite low rates

Even in Missouri's most tax-efficient county, it's worth confirming your assessment is correct. A property assessment review ensures you're paying only what's owed.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Shannon County

via CostByCounty

Shannon County offers solid rental affordability

Shannon County's rent-to-income ratio of 10.3% sits well below national averages, with renters spending a modest share of their income on housing. At $509 monthly rent against a median household income of $59,000, this county provides meaningful affordability advantages.

Shannon County beats Missouri's state average

Shannon County's 10.3% rent-to-income ratio significantly underperforms Missouri's 15.6% state average, placing it among the state's more affordable counties. The combination of low rent and respectable income creates strong housing value.

Shannon County combines low rent and fair income

Shannon County's $509 rent ranks among the state's lowest at two-thirds the state median of $768, while its $59,000 median income competes respectably with neighboring counties. The 10.3% rent-to-income ratio reflects this favorable balance.

Housing takes 10.3% of household income

Shannon County renters allocate just 10.3% of their $59,000 income to rent—approximately $6,100 annually—preserving substantial funds for other necessities and savings. Home buyers encounter ownership costs of $676 monthly with median values near $151,000, also highly accessible.

Shannon County offers excellent value positioning

Shannon County combines the affordability advantages of rural Missouri with reasonable income levels: $509 rent, 10.3% rent-to-income ratio, and $59,000 median income create a favorable relocation option. Consider it if you value low housing costs without sacrificing as much earning potential as the state's cheapest counties demand.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Shannon County

via IncomeByCounty

Shannon County below national income average

Shannon County's median household income of $59,000 falls 21% short of the national median of $74,755, positioning it in the lower-middle tier nationally. This gap is typical for rural Ozark counties where tourism, forestry, and small-scale agriculture drive local economies.

Slightly below Missouri's state average

At $59,000, Shannon County ranks just at Missouri's $59,503 state average, placing it near the middle of the state's income distribution. However, per capita income of $25,451 trails Missouri's $31,011 average by 18%, suggesting income concentration among fewer households.

Shannon earns modestly among peers

Shannon County ($59,000) falls between Saline ($56,566) and Schuyler ($56,023) on the lower end, while trailing Ray ($72,152) and Scotland ($67,568) substantially. Its income level reflects a scenic rural county where tourism and outdoor recreation anchor the economy.

Housing remarkably affordable for the region

Shannon County features an excellent rent-to-income ratio of just 10.3%, meaning housing costs take minimal household share despite moderate incomes. Median home values of $151,000 paired with $59,000 income create favorable affordability conditions for both renters and homebuyers.

Low housing costs create savings opportunity

Shannon County residents benefit from exceptional housing affordability, freeing up household cash for savings, investments, and emergency funds. With modest incomes but very favorable housing-to-income ratios, residents should capitalize on this cost advantage by prioritizing retirement accounts and long-term wealth-building strategies.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Shannon County

via HealthByCounty

Shannon County faces life expectancy crisis

At 71.7 years, Shannon County residents live 7.1 years less than the U.S. average of 78.8 years—the second-lowest in this group. Nearly 1 in 4 residents (24.4%) report poor or fair health, among the highest rates nationally and signaling severe chronic disease prevalence.

Shannon ranks among Missouri's worst

Shannon County's 71.7-year life expectancy trails Missouri's 74.3-year state average by 2.6 years, placing it near the bottom of Missouri's 114 counties. The 12.6% uninsured rate matches the state average, but limited providers mean uninsured residents face severe access barriers.

Shannon faces steepest health challenge

Shannon County's 71.7-year life expectancy is the second-lowest among these eight counties, ranking only above Ripley County (68.4 years). The county's 14 primary care providers per 100K is among the lowest regionally, rivaling Ripley's healthcare desert conditions.

Severe provider shortage compounds crisis

Shannon County's 14 primary care providers per 100K is critically low, and its 14 mental health providers per 100K is the worst in this group. Combined with 24.4% reporting poor/fair health, Shannon County faces a perfect storm: limited healthcare capacity meeting desperate community health needs.

Shannon residents need immediate action

With severe provider shortages and high poor health rates, Shannon County residents must secure coverage and seek care proactively. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit healthcare.gov to find coverage, and ask your provider about telehealth options to overcome distance barriers.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Shannon County

via RiskByCounty

Shannon County faces significant seismic exposure

Shannon County's composite risk score of 57.54 exceeds the national average, driven by exceptional earthquake risk (76.62) that places it among the nation's most seismically vulnerable counties. The 'Relatively Low' rating reflects a more balanced hazard profile, but earthquake threat demands serious attention.

Above-average risk within Missouri

Shannon County's 57.54 composite score surpasses Missouri's 50.56 state average, placing it in the upper-middle tier of state disaster risk. Its earthquake exposure ranks among the highest in the state, reflecting its location in a seismically active region.

Part of active seismic corridor

Shannon County's 76.62 earthquake score sits between Reynolds County (72.55) and Ripley County (87.91) in the regional seismic hierarchy. The three counties form a notably earthquake-prone corridor within the Ozark region of southeastern Missouri.

Earthquakes dominate, wildfire secondary

Earthquakes (76.62) represent Shannon County's dominant natural hazard threat, while wildfire risk (60.81) ranks surprisingly high as a secondary concern. Tornado (44.69), flood (45.96), and hurricane (30.00) risks all rank substantially below earthquake exposure.

Earthquake insurance plus wildfire defense

Shannon County homeowners must obtain standalone earthquake insurance immediately, as standard policies exclude seismic damage entirely. Additionally, clearing dead vegetation and maintaining defensible space around structures protects against wildfire, addressing the county's second-highest natural hazard threat.

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.