CountyScore

Stewart County

Georgia · GA

#128 in Georgia
64.1
County Score

County Report Card

About Stewart County, Georgia

Stewart outperforms national livability average

Stewart County's composite score of 66.2 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 32%, demonstrating solid livability despite economic challenges. The performance is driven primarily by exceptional housing affordability.

Below Georgia's typical county performance

Stewart scores 66.2 against Georgia's state average of 70.9, ranking in the lower half of Georgia counties. The gap reflects particular challenges in income and tax burden relative to state peers.

Lowest home prices and rent in the region

Stewart's cost score of 90.3 is exceptional, with median home values of just $53,000 and monthly rent averaging $588—the lowest figures in this entire county group. For budget-conscious buyers, value is unmatched.

Severe income and tax burden constraints

The income score of 6.2 reflects an extremely low median household income of $35,000, the lowest by far in this comparison. The effective tax rate of 1.711% is also the highest, creating financial strain despite affordable housing.

Fit for remote workers with outside income

Stewart County is best suited for remote workers, retirees with pensions, or those with outside income sources who seek rock-bottom housing costs. Local employment opportunities are limited, making self-sufficiency critical.

Score breakdown

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

Tax54.1Cost90.3SafetyComing SoonHealth48.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome6.2Risk94.2WaterComing Soon
🏛54.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠90.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼6.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤48.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡94.2
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 Stewart County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
Alaska
64.1
Median income: $52,642
Glades County
Florida
64.1
Median income: $38,905
Santa Rosa County
Florida
64.1
Median income: $88,968
Columbia County
Georgia
64.1
Median income: $96,122
Moultrie County
Illinois
64.1
Median income: $71,676

Deep Dives

Stewart County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Stewart County

via TaxByCounty

Stewart charges nation's highest analyzed rate

Stewart County's effective tax rate of 1.711% towers 86% above the national median of 0.92%, marking it as one of the steepest tax burdens in the country. Remarkably, the median property tax of $907 remains just 66% below the national median of $2,690 because Stewart homes are steeply undervalued at a median of just $53,000 versus the national $281,900.

Highest tax rate in Georgia

Stewart County's 1.711% effective rate stands highest among all Georgia counties, nearly double the state average of 0.898%. Residents shoulder a dramatically elevated tax burden relative to property values—paying at a rate that reflects structural fiscal challenges unique to the county.

Dramatically outpaces every regional peer

Stewart County's 1.711% rate more than doubles Screven's 1.181% and Seminole's 1.220%, the region's next-highest counties. Every other regional peer—from Spalding (0.965%) to Rockdale (0.718%)—charges substantially less.

Median tax bill around $907 yearly

Even with Stewart's extraordinary 1.711% rate, the median property tax bill of $907 remains low because homes are valued at just $53,000 median. With mortgage assessments, the total rises to roughly $787—unusual because the mortgage component typically adds to bills.

Appeal is essential given extreme rate

Stewart County's uniquely high tax rate means even modest assessment errors compound into substantial costs—making a property tax appeal critically important. If your home's market value, condition, or recent comparable sales suggest overvaluation, filing an appeal with Stewart County could deliver meaningful relief on an already steep tax burden.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Stewart County

via CostByCounty

Stewart County's wages sharply lag housing

Stewart County faces the region's deepest affordability crisis: a 20.2% rent-to-income ratio combined with the lowest median household income of any county here at just $35,000—$39,755 below the national average. While absolute rents ($588) rank among the nation's cheapest, they still consume a fifth of meager household earnings.

Low income defines the challenge

Stewart County's 20.2% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Georgia's 18.6% state average despite offering the state's lowest absolute rents, reflecting a county where housing costs are secondary to wage poverty. The $35,000 median household income represents the economic reality that affordable housing offers little relief without viable employment.

Cheapest housing, weakest wages

Stewart's $588 median rent ranks lowest among all eight counties, yet its $35,000 median income is the lowest by far, making relative affordability worse than these numbers suggest. The $53,000 median home value is also the region's cheapest, but homeownership remains out of reach for most residents.

Housing affordable, income insufficient

Stewart renters spend just $588 monthly (20.2% of a $35,000 annual income) on housing, while homeowners allocate 17.4% ($510), but these percentages mask a deeper crisis. The true challenge is that even affordable housing strains an insufficient wage base with limited job opportunities.

Affordable only with outside income

Stewart County offers unbeatable housing costs but ranks as the region's economically weakest county, with median incomes far below state norms. Relocate here only if you bring remote work, retirement income, or strong portable employment—local job prospects remain severely limited.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Stewart County

via IncomeByCounty

Stewart faces severe national income disadvantage

Stewart County's median household income of just $35,000 represents only 47% of the U.S. median of $74,755—a staggering 53% gap. This places Stewart among America's most economically challenged counties, with structural barriers to income growth.

Georgia's lowest-income county

Stewart County's $35,000 median household income is catastrophically below Georgia's state average of $60,488—a 42% deficit. With a per-capita income of just $21,024, Stewart faces severe limitations in job quality, business investment, and educational opportunity.

Dramatically underperforming all regional peers

Stewart County's $35,000 income is less than 60% of every neighboring county profiled here, from Seminole ($49,559) to Rockdale ($72,349). This profound gap reflects deep structural economic challenges distinct from the region.

Housing costs deceptively affordable but income crisis

While Stewart's rent-to-income ratio of 20.2% appears manageable and median home value ($53,000) is lowest regionally, the median income of $35,000 creates severe overall affordability stress. Residents struggle with basic necessities beyond housing, limiting wealth-building potential.

Urgent need for economic development and training

Stewart County residents must actively seek skills training, mentorship, and job opportunities in adjacent counties while saving every possible dollar. Even micro-investments through employer retirement plans or savings clubs can initiate long-term wealth accumulation, though systemic economic investment is critical.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Stewart County

via HealthByCounty

Stewart County faces severe health gap

Stewart County's 71.0-year life expectancy falls 6 years below the U.S. average of 77 years, reflecting serious population health crises. Alarmingly, 30.2% of residents report poor or fair health—nearly double the 17% national rate.

Georgia's most vulnerable county

At 71.0 years, Stewart County ranks among Georgia's lowest life expectancies, falling 2.3 years below the state average of 73.3 years. Its 30.2% poor/fair health rate dramatically exceeds the state trend, signaling a health emergency.

Worst health outcomes in region

Stewart County's 71.0-year life expectancy and 30.2% poor/fair health rate represent the region's worst performance, trailing even struggling peers Screven (70.9 years) and Richmond (71.4 years). Only Rockdale and Schley offer healthier profiles.

Coverage and provider crisis

Stewart County's 16.5% uninsured rate is the highest among regional counties and exceeds Georgia's 15.0% state average by 1.5 percentage points. Primary care provider data is unavailable, but with only 21 mental health providers per 100K, healthcare access is severely limited.

Urgent: get covered today

Stewart County faces a healthcare emergency demanding immediate action on insurance enrollment and provider access. Call 1-800-318-2596 or visit healthcare.gov now to explore Medicaid, ACA coverage, and community health resources.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Stewart County

via RiskByCounty

Stewart County ranks among safest nationally

Stewart County's composite risk score of just 5.85 places it in the nation's lowest tier for natural disaster exposure, with a very low risk rating across almost all hazard types. This exceptional safety reflects minimal exposure to the full range of natural hazards.

Georgia's second-safest county

Stewart County's score of 5.85 ranks it among Georgia's most protected areas, standing dramatically below the state average of 39.49. Only a handful of Georgia counties rival its level of safety from natural disasters.

Standout refuge from Georgia's hazard profile

Stewart County's minimal composite risk distinguishes it sharply from surrounding areas, making it an exceptional sanctuary from the state's typical disaster pressures. Even its highest-scoring hazard categories remain moderate relative to statewide exposure.

Hurricane exposure is primary consideration

Stewart County's only noteworthy natural hazard concern is hurricane risk at 60.49, reflecting residual Gulf Coast storm potential. All other hazard categories—flood, tornado, earthquake, and wildfire—remain exceptionally low.

Minimal preparations needed for safety

Stewart County's exceptionally low risk profile means standard homeowners insurance provides comprehensive household protection for most residents. During hurricane season, basic storm awareness and a family communication plan complete practical preparedness for the county's minimal hazard exposure.

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.