CountyScore

Tarrant County

Texas · TX

#248 in Texas
50.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Tarrant County, Texas

Tarrant near national median livability

Tarrant County scores 52.8, just 2.8 points above the national median of 50.0, placing it at the center of American county livability. It represents the typical U.S. county experience rather than a standout performer.

Below average for Texas

At 52.8, Tarrant falls notably below the Texas state average of 66.8—a 14-point gap indicating the county underperforms many of its state peers. This below-average standing is significant for a major metropolitan area.

Higher incomes offset cost pressures

Tarrant's income score of 36.8 reflects a median household income of $81,905—the highest among these eight counties and strong for Texas. This higher earning power provides households with more resources to manage the county's elevated costs.

Housing costs and taxes squeeze budgets

The cost score of 57.0 reflects expensive housing, with median home values of $294,100 and monthly rents of $1,447—substantially higher than rural counterparts. Combined with an effective tax rate of 1.772% and missing data on schools and safety, the full livability picture remains incomplete.

Urban convenience at a premium price

Tarrant County suits higher-income professionals and families prioritizing metropolitan access, employment diversity, and urban amenities over affordability. It's best for those whose earnings support the higher cost of living in a major Texas urban corridor.

Score breakdown

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

Tax52.4Cost57SafetyComing SoonHealth61.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome36.8Risk0.9WaterComing Soon
🏛52.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠57
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼36.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤61.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡0.9
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 Tarrant County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Westchester County
New York
50.7
Median income: $118,411
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
Connecticut
50.8
Median income: $87,135
Kane County
Illinois
50.6
Median income: $100,678
Bergen County
New Jersey
50.6
Median income: $123,715
Marin County
California
51
Median income: $142,785

Deep Dives

Tarrant County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Tarrant County

via TaxByCounty

Tarrant's tax burden outpaces nation

Tarrant County's effective rate of 1.772% ranks in the 85th percentile nationally, meaning it charges more than four out of five U.S. counties. The median home here costs $5,211 annually in property taxes—nearly double the national median of $2,690.

Second-highest rate in Texas

Tarrant's 1.772% effective rate ranks second among all Texas counties, exceeded only by a handful statewide. At 39% above the state average of 1.276%, Tarrant's rate reflects the high cost of services in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

Highest taxes in the Dallas-Fort Worth region

At 1.772%, Tarrant charges more than any adjacent county, reflecting its role as the region's economic and population center. Taylor County (1.403%) and Tom Green County (1.351%) both tax homeowners at noticeably lower rates.

Median home bills $5,211 yearly

The typical Tarrant home valued at $294,100 generates a $5,211 annual property tax bill. With mortgage tax escrow, that amount rises to $5,903, making property taxes a substantial component of homeownership costs in this urban county.

Appeal if your appraisal is inflated

In a fast-growing county like Tarrant, homes are frequently overappraised by the tax assessor. Homeowners who believe their assessed value exceeds market value have the right to file a protest with the appraisal district and potentially recover thousands in overcharged taxes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Tarrant County

via CostByCounty

Tarrant rents hit above-average affordability stress

Tarrant County's 21.2% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds both Texas's 18.1% average and the national benchmark, driven by median rent of $1,447 monthly. However, the county's median household income of $81,905 edges above the national median of $74,755, reflecting Fort Worth–Dallas's higher-wage job market.

Among Texas's priciest markets

Tarrant County—home to Fort Worth and Arlington—ranks in the upper tier of Texas housing costs, with median rent $484 above the state average. The county's stronger incomes partially offset high rents, but affordability pressures remain acute for lower-wage workers.

More expensive than rural West Texas

Tarrant's $1,447 median rent dwarfs rural West Texas counties but remains lower than Dallas's even pricier urban core. As a major metro area, Tarrant trades affordability for job density and economic opportunity.

Rent devours over one-fifth of income

Renters spend 21.2% of their median $81,905 income on housing, or roughly $1,447 monthly, straining household budgets. Homeowners face even steeper costs: monthly payments average $1,630 on a median home value of $294,100, eating 23.9% of household income.

Relocation requires job market leverage

Tarrant County's metro dynamism justifies higher housing costs if you're securing a higher-wage position in Fort Worth or Arlington. But if you're moving without a new job locked in, scout salaries carefully—you'll need that metro premium to justify the price of entry.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Tarrant County

via IncomeByCounty

Tarrant leads Texas in household income

Tarrant County's median household income of $81,905 exceeds the U.S. median of $74,755 by nearly $7,200, placing it in the top 30% nationally. This robust performance reflects the county's urban and suburban economic diversity.

Top earner among Texas counties

At $81,905, Tarrant County ranks in the top 10% of Texas counties by household income, well above the state average of $64,737. The county's economic strength drives Texas's overall income figures upward.

Significantly outearns surrounding rural counties

Tarrant's $81,905 household income dwarfs nearby rural counties like Stonewall ($61,250), Taylor ($66,406), and Throckmorton ($58,864). The gap reflects Tarrant's status as a major metropolitan area anchoring the Fort Worth–Dallas region.

High incomes offset elevated housing costs

Despite a rent-to-income ratio of 21.2% and a median home value of $294,100, Tarrant County's robust median income of $81,905 supports homeownership and rental affordability. The urban market's higher costs remain manageable for most households.

Maximize growth through diversified strategy

Tarrant County residents benefit from strong income enabling aggressive wealth-building through real estate, equity investments, and retirement accounts. Consult a financial advisor to develop a personalized plan that includes tax optimization and long-term asset allocation.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Tarrant County

via HealthByCounty

Texas's urban health advantage

Tarrant County residents live an average of 77.0 years—0.5 years above the national average of 76.5—and just 18.9% report poor or fair health, below the national rate. This major metropolitan county outperforms the nation on both key health metrics.

Health leader in Texas

Tarrant's 77.0-year life expectancy beats Texas's 74.3-year state average by 2.7 years, positioning it among the healthiest counties in the state. The 18.2% uninsured rate is below Texas's 19.8% average, meaning better coverage access for its 2 million residents.

Urban prosperity meets health gains

Tarrant's 18.9% poor/fair health rate and 77.0-year life expectancy dramatically outpace rural neighbors like Swisher (70.3 years, 27.0% poor/fair). Only Taylor County approaches Tarrant's health metrics, reflecting the urban-rural divide in health outcomes.

Urban density drives provider access

Tarrant has 58 primary care providers and 196 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—robust capacity concentrated in the Fort Worth metropolitan area. The 18.2% uninsured rate is low, but coverage gaps still exist in pockets of the county's sprawling territory.

Maintain your health coverage

Even in Tarrant's relatively healthy landscape, 1 in 5 residents lack coverage—and life changes like job loss happen fast. Review your options annually at healthcare.gov to ensure continuous access to care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Tarrant County

via RiskByCounty

Tarrant faces significantly elevated national risks

Tarrant County's composite risk score of 99.14 places it in the Relatively High category, nearly double the national average. This densely populated Dallas-Fort Worth region confronts serious exposure across multiple natural hazard categories.

Texas's highest-risk county

At 99.14, Tarrant County ranks among the highest-risk counties in Texas, far exceeding the state average of 49.00. This metropolitan county bears substantially greater natural disaster exposure than virtually all other Texas communities.

Tarrant's risk dwarfs surrounding counties

Tarrant's score of 99.14 vastly exceeds neighboring counties like Taylor County (83.81) and Terry County (52.04). The urbanized DFW metroplex presents a unique hazard concentration compared to the surrounding rural Texas landscape.

Tornadoes, flooding, and wildfires threaten

Tornado risk at 99.87 is Tarrant's most severe hazard, combined with flood risk at 99.14 and wildfire risk at 91.48. Earthquake risk at 88.26 and hurricane risk at 72.26 create a multi-hazard environment uncommon in Texas.

Comprehensive coverage is non-negotiable

Tarrant residents must carry robust homeowners insurance with specific tornado/wind, flood, and wildfire protections given the county's elevated scores across all categories. A separate flood insurance policy is strongly recommended for this high-risk metropolitan area.

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.