CountyScore

Stokes County

North Carolina · NC

#11 in North Carolina
72.6
County Score

County Report Card

About Stokes County, North Carolina

Stokes ranks firmly in the national top tier

Stokes County's composite score of 76.3 crushes the national median of 50.0—a 53% advantage that places it among the nation's most livable counties. This strong performance reflects coordinated success in affordability, tax policy, and household income.

A top performer within North Carolina

At 76.3, Stokes surpasses the state average of 72.7 by nearly 3.5 points, making it one of North Carolina's standout counties for overall quality of life. This distinction suggests Stokes offers living conditions materially better than its state peers.

Balanced excellence in taxes, costs, and income

Stokes delivers a rare combination: tax score of 84.8 with a 0.620% effective rate, cost score of 83.3 with $186,800 median home values, and income score of 22.6 backed by $60,039 median household income. This trifecta of strength suggests well-rounded livability across economic dimensions.

Limited data on schools, safety, and health

While Stokes excels on financial metrics, complete information on safety, health, schools, and environmental quality is not yet available. These dimensions will be important for families making final relocation decisions.

Ideal for families seeking balanced prosperity

Stokes County suits families wanting respectable incomes, low taxes, and affordable housing all in one place—a rare triple advantage. The balanced strength across multiple livability dimensions makes Stokes especially attractive to middle-class and upper-middle-class families prioritizing financial health.

Score breakdown

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

Tax84.8Cost83.3SafetyComing SoonHealth66.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome22.6Risk60.3WaterComing Soon
🏛84.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼22.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡60.3
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 Stokes County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Greene County
Alabama
72.6
Median income: $31,495
Macon County
Alabama
72.6
Median income: $45,951
Columbia County
Arkansas
72.6
Median income: $47,363
Lincoln County
Arkansas
72.6
Median income: $51,667
Little River County
Arkansas
72.6
Median income: $52,241

Deep Dives

Stokes County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Stokes County

via TaxByCounty

Stokes homeowners pay well below nation

Stokes County's effective rate of 0.620% sits below the national median rate, with homeowners paying $1,158 annually versus the national median of $2,690. This tax advantage reflects both rate and home values in the region.

Stokes rates below North Carolina average

At 0.620%, Stokes County undercuts North Carolina's state average of 0.701%, placing it among the state's more tax-friendly counties. Median taxes of $1,158 reflect Stokes's moderate home values.

Stokes aligns with nearby county rates

Stokes's 0.620% rate closely matches Surry (0.621%) and Stanly (0.623%), positioning it squarely in the regional middle tier. Only Swain (0.402%) offers significantly lower rates nearby.

Your annual Stokes tax bill

On a median home valued at $186,800, Stokes homeowners pay approximately $1,158 annually—about $97 per month. With a mortgage, that reaches $1,252; without one, it's $1,038.

Stokes residents can appeal assessments

Across North Carolina, overassessment remains common, and Stokes homeowners can file free appeals if they believe valuations are inflated. Documenting recent comparable sales strengthens your case with the county assessor.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Stokes County

via CostByCounty

Stokes delivers exceptional affordability

Stokes County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.3% is among the lowest in this dataset and substantially better than North Carolina's 18.6% average. With a median household income of $60,039 and rent of just $766/month, Stokes residents enjoy a genuinely comfortable housing situation.

Top-tier affordability in North Carolina

At 15.3%, Stokes County's rent-to-income ratio ranks it among North Carolina's most affordable markets, beating the state average by over 3 percentage points. This strong performance reflects solid incomes ($60,039) paired with below-average rents ($766/month).

Stokes beats most peer counties

Stokes' 15.3% rent-to-income ratio is better than all comparable counties here, including Stanly (16.2%), Surry (15.8%), and Swain (15.5%). The $766 rent is moderate, and the $60,039 median income provides solid financial cushion.

Housing takes just 15 cents per dollar

Stokes renters allocate only 15.3% of their $60,039 income to $766/month rent—among the best ratios regionally. Homeowners benefit similarly, paying $750/month on the same income, with a median home value of $186,800 remaining accessible.

Stokes County: affordability meets stability

Relocating to Stokes County positions you in one of North Carolina's most affordable housing markets while maintaining solid incomes. The 15.3% rent-to-income ratio ranks among the state's best—real financial breathing room for working families.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Stokes County

via IncomeByCounty

Stokes income trails national average slightly

Stokes County's median household income of $60,039 falls $14,716 short of the national median of $74,755, representing a roughly 20% gap. This places Stokes in the middle-lower tier nationally, ahead of most rural and struggling counties but behind prosperous suburban and metro regions. The county's economy shows moderate health relative to many rural North Carolina peers.

Stokes slightly below state average rank

At $60,039, Stokes's median household income edges below the North Carolina state average of $61,072 by about $1,000. The county ranks in the upper-middle tier among North Carolina's 100 counties, just shy of statewide parity. This near-average position reflects Stokes's character as a stable, working-class rural county without significant poverty concentrations.

Competitive with piedmont manufacturing belt

Stokes's $60,039 trails Stanly ($61,631) by a narrow $1,600 but exceeds Surry ($56,095) and Rutherford ($49,771) by substantial margins. Compared to Transylvania ($64,523), Stokes lags by $4,500, reflecting the latter's distinct mountain economy. Stokes's income position aligns it with stable, manufacturing-dependent piedmont counties.

Rents affordable, homeownership accessible

Stokes's rent-to-income ratio of 15.3% ranks among the healthiest of all eight counties, signaling genuine housing affordability for renters. The median home value of $186,800 sits within reach for two-income households and those with modest down payments at conventional mortgage rates. This favorable housing ratio leaves meaningful room in household budgets for savings and investment.

Strong position for long-term wealth building

Stokes households earning $60,039 can comfortably save 10–12% of income annually—$6,000–$7,200—for retirement, college, and home equity. The favorable rent-to-income ratio means more households can pursue homeownership and benefit from automatic equity building. Manufacturing employment often includes pension access, further strengthening retirement security when combined with disciplined personal savings.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Stokes County

via HealthByCounty

Stokes approaches national health standards

Life expectancy here reaches 73.7 years, about 3.7 years below the U.S. average of 77.4 years. Health status is relatively positive, with just over one in five reporting poor or fair health—below the national average.

Slightly below North Carolina average

Stokes's 73.7-year life expectancy falls 0.7 years short of the state's 74.4-year average. The county's uninsured rate of 10.4% is notably lower than North Carolina's 12.5%, suggesting strong insurance coverage despite modest health outcomes.

Solid health outcomes, tight provider networks

Stokes's 73.7-year life expectancy matches Surry County and exceeds Rutherford, Sampson, and Scotland, though trails Stanly and Transylvania. With only 27 primary care providers per 100,000—the lowest in the region—care availability is a constraint despite good coverage rates.

Strong coverage, sparse primary care

Stokes leads the cohort with a 10.4% uninsured rate—meaning nearly 9 in 10 residents have coverage. However, only 27 primary care providers per 100,000 serve the county, making appointments and access more challenging despite insurance eligibility.

Keep your coverage active and accessible

Stokes County has excellent insurance uptake at 10.4% uninsured—among the best in the region. Maintain your coverage and register with a primary care provider early; with limited availability, establishing care before you need it is essential.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Stokes County

via RiskByCounty

Stokes County has the lowest disaster risk statewide

With a composite risk score of 39.73, Stokes County carries a very low risk rating—among the safest communities in North Carolina and well below the national average. The county's minimal wildfire (16.09) and tornado (35.94) risks are defining strengths.

Stokes ranks as North Carolina's lowest-risk county

Stokes' 39.73 score sits dramatically below the state average of 66.72, making it one of North Carolina's safest communities for natural disasters. Wildfire risk (16.09) is exceptionally low compared to state peers, a rare advantage in the Piedmont.

Stokes offers exceptional safety compared to neighbors

Stokes' 39.73 score is substantially lower than neighboring Surry (73.57), Transylvania (64.25), and Rutherford (72.68), offering residents significantly lower disaster exposure. The county's northwestern location and terrain provide natural protection against multiple hazard types.

Hurricane risk is Stokes' primary concern

Hurricane risk (68.71) is Stokes' highest hazard score, followed by flood risk (57.98) and earthquake risk (53.18)—all moderate by state standards. Tornado (35.94) and wildfire (16.09) risks are exceptionally low, providing meaningful relief compared to surrounding counties.

Standard coverage suffices for Stokes residents

Stokes County residents benefit from exceptionally low disaster risk, so standard homeowners insurance with basic wind coverage typically provides adequate protection. That said, those in mapped flood zones should still consider flood insurance, as Stokes' 39.73 composite risk remains modestly above zero.

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.