Simpson County's composite score of 72.1 ranks 22 points above the national median of 50.0, establishing it as a genuinely livable county by national standards. This strong showing is driven primarily by exceptional tax advantages and housing affordability.
2 / 5
Kentucky's Standout for Affordability
Simpson County barely trails Kentucky's state average of 75.0, placing it in the upper tier of the state's counties with a score of 72.1. It ranks among Kentucky's most livable communities, particularly for budget-conscious households.
3 / 5
Lowest Taxes and Highly Affordable Housing
Simpson County boasts the lowest effective tax rate among these counties at 0.637%, earning a tax score of 84.4—its strongest dimension. Home values average just $195,700 and rents run $1,011/month, creating genuinely affordable housing across both ownership and rental markets.
4 / 5
Income Growth Remains a Significant Gap
Simpson County's income score of 20.9 is the lowest among these eight counties, with median household income of $57,392 well below regional and national standards. Safety, health, school quality, and water data remain unavailable, limiting understanding of quality-of-life factors beyond affordability.
5 / 5
Perfect for Retirees and Value Seekers
Simpson County is ideal for retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers, and families prioritizing maximum housing affordability over earning potential. Its exceptional tax and housing economics create the most stretch-friendly budget in the region, though income opportunities are limited.
Simpson County's composite score of 72.1 ranks 22 points above the national median of 50.0, establishing it as a genuinely livable county by national standards. This strong showing is driven primarily by exceptional tax advantages and housing affordability.
Kentucky's Standout for Affordability
Simpson County barely trails Kentucky's state average of 75.0, placing it in the upper tier of the state's counties with a score of 72.1. It ranks among Kentucky's most livable communities, particularly for budget-conscious households.
Lowest Taxes and Highly Affordable Housing
Simpson County boasts the lowest effective tax rate among these counties at 0.637%, earning a tax score of 84.4—its strongest dimension. Home values average just $195,700 and rents run $1,011/month, creating genuinely affordable housing across both ownership and rental markets.
Income Growth Remains a Significant Gap
Simpson County's income score of 20.9 is the lowest among these eight counties, with median household income of $57,392 well below regional and national standards. Safety, health, school quality, and water data remain unavailable, limiting understanding of quality-of-life factors beyond affordability.
Perfect for Retirees and Value Seekers
Simpson County is ideal for retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers, and families prioritizing maximum housing affordability over earning potential. Its exceptional tax and housing economics create the most stretch-friendly budget in the region, though income opportunities are limited.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛84.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Simpson County's effective tax rate of 0.637% ranks among the nation's most affordable, sitting well below the national median of 0.876%. The median property tax of $1,246 is less than half the national median of $2,690, making Simpson a genuine tax haven for property owners. Simpson County offers substantially lower burden than typical American communities.
Well below Kentucky average
Simpson County's 0.637% rate and $1,246 median tax both underperform Kentucky's state average of 0.719% and $1,093 respectively. Simpson ranks among Kentucky's lowest-burden counties, attracting cost-conscious homebuyers seeking favorable property tax environments.
Simpson sets the low-tax standard
At 0.637%, Simpson County's rate beats every county in this regional group, including Todd County (0.553%) and Trigg County (0.555%) when median values are considered in context. Simpson offers the best combination of reasonable rates and property values in the area.
What Simpson County homeowners pay
Homeowners with Simpson County's median property value of $195,700 pay approximately $1,246 annually—the lowest among these eight counties. With a mortgage, the payment rises to $1,368; without one, it drops to $1,104.
Even low rates merit review
Simpson County's favorable rates shouldn't discourage assessment verification; overvaluation occurs even in low-tax regions. Homeowners should review their annual assessments and file appeals if property values diverge from market reality.
Simpson County renters face real affordability stress
Simpson County renters spend 21.1% of their $57,392 median household income on housing—nearly 4 percentage points above the national average and significantly higher than Kentucky's 17.0% state average. This level of rent burden puts Simpson among Kentucky's most strained rental markets.
Struggling on Kentucky's affordability scale
Simpson County's 21.1% rent-to-income ratio ranks it among the least affordable counties in Kentucky, well above the state average of 17.0%. The county's lower median household income of $57,392 amplifies the burden of relatively typical regional rents.
Rents don't match the wages here
Simpson County's $1,011 median rent is high relative to its peers—only $170 less than Scott County despite a $26,000 gap in household incomes. Compared to Taylor County's $691 rent and Todd County's $841, Simpson's rental market feels out of sync with local earning power.
Renters and homeowners both strain
Renters dedicate 21.1% of income to housing, while homeowners spend 19.7% on monthly costs of $943—making Simpson one of the few counties where renters face more burden than homeowners. At $57,392 median household income, even modest housing costs consume a significant share of household budgets.
Simpson requires careful financial planning
Simpson County is better suited for remote workers or those relocating with substantially higher incomes than the local median—standard rentals will consume over one-fifth of household earnings. If you're considering Simpson, compare rents to neighboring Taylor or Todd counties, where the same housing costs represent a smaller share of income.
Simpson County's median household income of $57,392 runs 23.3% below the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting economic challenges shared by many rural Kentucky communities. The gap highlights the need for local economic development.
Below-average earners in Kentucky
Simpson County's median income of $57,392 ranks near the bottom in Kentucky, just 2.6% above the state average of $55,909. The county faces income pressures common across rural Appalachian regions.
Simpson trails similar-sized counties
Simpson County's $57,392 household income lags behind Todd County ($57,759) and significantly trails Trimble County ($67,813) and Taylor County ($61,871). Its per capita income of $28,786 ranks near the state average, indicating economic strain across households.
Housing costs squeeze household budgets
At 21.1%, Simpson County's rent-to-income ratio exceeds the 20% affordability comfort zone, straining household budgets relative to median income. The median home value of $195,700 requires significant financial commitment for most residents.
Start small, build consistent wealth habits
Simpson County residents can build financial security through affordable tools like automatic savings plans, employer retirement benefits, and low-cost index funds. Even modest, consistent contributions to savings and investments compound over time into meaningful wealth.
Simpson County's 73.0-year life expectancy lags the U.S. average of 74.4 years by 1.4 years, signaling health challenges across the county. With 21.0% reporting poor or fair health—matching the national average—Simpson residents face significant wellness hurdles.
Below-Average Life Expectancy
At 73.0 years, Simpson County's life expectancy falls 0.8 years below Kentucky's 72.2-year average, putting it in the lower tier of state health rankings. This modest shortfall reflects broader health disparities in the region.
Struggling Compared to Peers
Simpson County's 73.0-year life expectancy lags Scott (75.7 years) and Shelby (76.2 years) by 2-3 years. Its 21.0% poor/fair health rate is worse than Spencer (20.2%) but better than Todd (27.2%).
Limited Providers, Modest Insurance Gap
Simpson County has just 25 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 99 mental health providers per 100,000—both below peer counties. With 5.9% uninsured, below the state average of 7.0%, insurance coverage is stronger than primary care access.
Strengthen Your Health Safety Net
Nearly 6% of Simpson County residents lack insurance. Visit healthcare.gov to explore Medicaid eligibility or marketplace plans—securing coverage is the first step toward better health outcomes and regular primary care.
Simpson County scores 27.00 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and falling well below Kentucky's state average of 44.21. This places Simpson among the safer counties nationwide for natural disaster exposure.
Where Simpson ranks among Kentucky counties
Simpson County's composite risk score of 27.00 ranks it as one of Kentucky's safest counties, with below-average exposure to most major hazards. This low-risk profile reflects Simpson's relative protection from the state's most severe natural disasters.
How Simpson compares to nearby counties
Simpson's 27.00 score places it firmly in the low-risk category, similar to Todd County (28.56) but substantially safer than Scott County (56.08) and Shelby County (61.86). Simpson residents enjoy notably lower disaster risk than most surrounding counties.
Simpson's main natural disaster concern
Earthquakes present Simpson's highest hazard risk at 76.56, though tornado exposure at 55.41 also warrants attention. Both hazards exceed typical safe thresholds, making them Simpson's primary natural disaster concerns despite the county's overall low composite risk.
Basic coverage protects Simpson County homes
Simpson's low overall risk profile means standard homeowners insurance provides solid foundation protection. However, consider adding earthquake coverage given Simpson's relatively high seismic vulnerability score of 76.56.