CountyScore

Starr County

Texas · TX

#196 in Texas
58.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Starr County, Texas

Above the median despite income challenges

Starr County scores 72.2, matching the national median of 50.0 by a wide margin and ranking among the nation's more livable counties. This achievement is remarkable given the county's significantly below-average income levels.

Outperforms Texas despite economic constraints

Starr's 72.2 score exceeds the Texas state average of 66.8, indicating it's a stronger-than-typical county in Texas livability rankings. This edge comes almost entirely from exceptional housing affordability rather than wage growth.

Extraordinary housing affordability is the draw

Starr's cost score of 89.2 is the highest among all eight counties, with a median home value of just $93,300 and rent at $715 monthly. The tax score of 70.7 (1.122% effective rate) adds further financial advantage.

Income inequality is pronounced

The income score of 8.3—the lowest in this entire group—reflects a median household income of $38,182, less than half the national median. Safety, health, school, and water data gaps prevent assessment of services and conditions.

Best for those with minimal financial needs

Starr County suits retirees living on Social Security or fixed pensions, remote workers with outside income, and families with substantial savings. It's exceptionally affordable but economically challenged, making it less suitable for those seeking wage-earning opportunities.

Score breakdown

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

Tax70.7Cost89.2SafetyComing SoonHealth36.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome8.3Risk15.2WaterComing Soon
🏛70.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼8.3
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤36.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡15.2
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 Starr County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Fulton County
Georgia
58.4
Median income: $91,490
Montgomery County
Maryland
58.4
Median income: $128,733
Ingham County
Michigan
58.4
Median income: $64,354
Shelby County
Tennessee
58.4
Median income: $62,337
Gregg County
Texas
58.4
Median income: $64,809

Deep Dives

Starr County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Starr County

via TaxByCounty

Starr County homes taxed very lightly

Starr County's 1.122% effective tax rate sits comfortably below the U.S. median of 1.276%, making it a relatively low-tax county nationally. Homeowners pay just $1,047 annually on a median home valued at $93,300—the lowest tax bill among the counties surveyed.

Starr ranks below Texas average

Starr County's 1.122% effective rate is 12% lower than the Texas state average of 1.276%, placing it comfortably below state median. The median tax of $1,047 falls well short of the state median of $2,193, reflecting Starr's lower property values.

Starr taxes lowest among nearby counties

Starr County's 1.122% rate is lower than Sterling County (1.072% is actually lower; correction: Sterling is 1.072%, making Starr higher) and sits beneath most regional peers. Among the surveyed rural counties, Starr maintains one of the lightest tax burdens.

Median Starr home costs $1,047 yearly

A homeowner with a median-valued property of $93,300 in Starr County pays just $1,047 in annual property taxes—by far the lowest among counties surveyed. Without a mortgage, costs drop further to $860.

Starr owners can still appeal assessments

Even in low-income rural counties like Starr, assessment errors occur and properties are sometimes overvalued relative to true market conditions. Filing an appeal with the Starr County appraisal district is free and could protect your property from inflated valuations.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Starr County

via CostByCounty

Starr faces severe affordability pressure

Starr County's rent-to-income ratio of 22.5% is the highest in this group and well above national norms, with renters spending more than one-fifth of their $38,182 income on housing. The county's median household income is 49% below the national median of $74,755.

Least affordable county profiled

Starr's 22.5% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds Texas's 18.1% state average, making it the least affordable in this analysis. Despite lower rents of $715 monthly, the county's severely depressed incomes create acute housing pressure.

Lowest incomes, highest burden

Starr renters earn just $38,182—about half of Somervell County's $83,382—while carrying the region's second-highest rent burden at 22.5%. The $715 monthly rent is cheap, but represents an outsized share of scarce household income.

Housing squeezes limited income

Starr renters spend 22.5% of their median income on housing, leaving limited resources for food, healthcare, and education. Homeowners fare better, investing $425 monthly in ownership—13.3% of income—with median home values of just $93,300.

Cheap housing, severe income limits

Starr County offers the region's lowest rents and home values, but economic opportunity remains scarce. Relocators should prioritize this area only if secure, well-paying employment is already arranged.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Starr County

via IncomeByCounty

Median Income Significantly Below National

Starr County's median household income of $38,182 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by $36,573, or nearly 49%. This substantial gap ranks Starr among the lowest-income counties nationally and signals acute economic challenges for residents.

Texas's Lower-Income Counties

At $38,182, Starr ranks far below the Texas county average of $64,737—among the bottom 10% statewide. The per capita income of $18,063 is less than 55% of the state average of $33,197, indicating severe individual earning constraints.

Most Economically Challenged in Region

Starr's $38,182 income is the lowest among all peer counties examined, falling dramatically short of Shelby ($50,436) and Stephens ($54,695). This economic isolation reflects limited job diversity and opportunity compared to neighboring areas.

Housing Costs Consume Critical Resources

Starr's rent-to-income ratio of 22.5% is among the highest observed, claiming nearly a quarter of already-limited median household income. Even at a median home value of $93,300, housing remains financially stressful for many households with limited discretionary income remaining.

Access Support and Build Incrementally

Starr residents should prioritize accessing local workforce development programs, employer benefits, and community financial assistance resources. Even modest saving—through matched savings programs or employer retirement plans—creates foundational financial security for future generations.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Starr County

via HealthByCounty

Most serious health crisis in dataset

Starr County's life expectancy of 73.9 years falls 2.5 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years, reflecting substantial population health challenges. Alarming: 37.8% report poor or fair health—the highest rate across all counties analyzed—indicating widespread chronic disease burden.

Significant struggle vs. Texas average

Starr County's 73.9-year life expectancy lags Texas's 74.3-year average, while its 37.8% poor/fair health rate far exceeds state typical experience. This combination places it among Texas's most challenged counties for population health.

Worst health outcomes regionally

Starr County faces the region's steepest health burdens, with the lowest life expectancy and highest poor/fair health rate among all nearby counties. Its 37.8% poor/fair rate dwarfs neighboring Shelby County (26.4%), underscoring urgent local health needs.

Limited providers, high uninsured rate

Starr County has only 26 primary care providers and 32 mental health providers per 100K—well below state capacity—leaving gaps in accessible care. With 25% uninsured, one in four residents cannot afford preventive or routine treatment, worsening health outcomes.

Insurance is healthcare lifeline

Starr County's health crisis demands urgent action: 25% uninsured means many skip preventive care that could prevent disease. Apply for Medicaid, CHIP, or marketplace coverage immediately at Healthcare.gov—getting insured can be the first step toward reversing this county's troubling health trends.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Starr County

via RiskByCounty

Starr: Among America's Riskiest

Starr County's composite risk score of 84.80 ranks at the very top of elevated risk nationally. Your county faces one of the highest natural disaster exposure profiles in the entire United States.

Highest Risk in Texas

At 84.80, Starr County is the riskiest county in Texas, exceeding the state average of 49.00 by 73%. Only Smith County (84.16) approaches this level of exposure.

Riskiest in South Texas

Starr County's risk far exceeds all neighboring counties, standing isolated in its extreme exposure profile. No adjacent South Texas county comes close to Starr's 84.80 composite score.

Wildfire and Hurricanes Converge

Wildfire risk (84.89) and hurricane risk (78.77) create a dual-threat environment in Starr County. Flood risk (72.39) adds a third significant concern, making this county vulnerable across multiple hazard types.

Comprehensive Protection Essential

Starr County residents must carry flood insurance and confirm their policies cover hurricane wind damage—basic homeowners coverage alone is insufficient. Consider additional wildfire coverage and discuss earthquake protection with your agent, given elevated exposure across all major hazards.

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.