CountyScore

Terry County

Texas · TX

#204 in Texas
57.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Terry County, Texas

Terry scores clearly above national median

Terry County's composite score of 65.2 places it 15 points above the national median of 50.0, indicating above-average livability compared to most U.S. counties. The county delivers measurable advantages across key dimensions.

Near parity with Texas average

At 65.2, Terry sits just below the Texas state average of 66.8 by a marginal 1.6 points, making it effectively average to slightly-above-average within its state. It ranks competitively among Texas counties.

Affordability drives livability advantage

Terry's cost score of 81.5 reflects strong housing affordability with median home values of $111,200 and monthly rents of $813—among the lowest in the region. This affordability is the county's primary livability strength.

Low incomes and modest taxes create strain

The income score of 13.4 reflects a median household income of $45,905—the lowest among these counties—creating real financial pressure for households despite affordable housing. The tax score of 60.7 (effective rate 1.479%) is moderate but offers no offsetting advantage.

Best for retirees and remote-income residents

Terry County suits retirees with fixed incomes and remote workers whose earnings come from outside the county, where minimal housing costs stretch fixed dollars further. It's less suitable for families dependent on local employment at typical rural wage levels.

Score breakdown

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

Tax60.7Cost81.5SafetyComing SoonHealth41.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome13.4Risk48WaterComing Soon
🏛60.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠81.5
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼13.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤41.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡48
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 Terry County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

District of Columbia
District of Columbia
57.8
Median income: $106,287
Stephenson County
Illinois
57.8
Median income: $61,943
Wayne County
Michigan
57.8
Median income: $59,521
Bucks County
Pennsylvania
57.8
Median income: $111,951
San Joaquin County
California
57.7
Median income: $88,531

Deep Dives

Terry County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Terry County

via TaxByCounty

Terry's rate exceeds national typical

Terry County's effective tax rate of 1.479% runs about 16% higher than the national median of 1.27%, placing it in the 60th percentile nationally. Homeowners here pay more in property taxes relative to home value than most Americans.

Above Texas state average

At 1.479%, Terry County's rate exceeds the Texas average of 1.276%, ranking it in the upper-middle tier statewide. This reflects Terry's funding needs for rural schools and county services.

Moderate rate in West Texas context

Terry's 1.479% falls between Terrell County's very low 0.803% and Swisher County's 1.743%. Among the eight-county comparison, Terry occupies the middle ground for tax burden.

Median home costs $1,645 annually

With a median home value of $111,200, Terry County residents pay an estimated $1,645 per year in property taxes. This rises to $1,930 for homeowners with mortgages due to escrow adjustments, adding meaningful cost to monthly housing payments.

Appeal overvalued assessments

Terry County homeowners should regularly review their property's assessed value to catch overvaluations before they inflate multiple years of taxes. The appraisal district allows free appeals if your assessed value exceeds market reality.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Terry County

via CostByCounty

Terry County rents pinch tight household budgets

Terry County's 21.3% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Texas's 18.1% state average, with median rent of $813 consuming a significant slice of the county's $45,905 median income—38% below the national median. The affordability squeeze reflects both modest local wages and rising rental pressures.

Below-average affordability in Texas

Terry County ranks in the lower half of Texas counties for housing affordability, with its 21.3% rent-to-income ratio trailing the state average. Limited local employment diversity makes income constraints the primary affordability driver.

Rents moderate for the region

Terry's $813 median rent sits between rural West Texas extremes and more urbanized markets, offering modest affordability relative to Tarrant County. Owner costs average $808 monthly, making homeownership and renting nearly equivalent in absolute terms.

Over one-fifth of income goes to housing

Renters spend 21.3% of their $45,905 median income on housing, or $813 monthly, leaving limited cushion for unexpected expenses. Homeowners fare similarly, dedicating about 21.1% to monthly payments on a median $111,200 home.

Best for remote workers with portable income

Terry County works well if you're bringing stable income from elsewhere, but relocating for local jobs requires caution given modest wage prospects. The county's affordability gains evaporate if you're forced into below-average West Texas employment rates.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Terry County

via IncomeByCounty

Terry's income significantly below national

Terry County's median household income of $45,905 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by nearly $29,000, ranking in the bottom 10% nationally. The county also falls well short of Texas's $64,737 state average.

Among lowest-earning Texas counties

At $45,905, Terry County ranks in the bottom 5% of Texas counties by household income, reflecting severe economic constraints. The county's $18,832 shortfall against the state average signals limited job growth and opportunity.

One of the region's lowest earners

Terry's $45,905 ranks among the lowest in the region, exceeding only Swisher County ($39,031) while trailing Stonewall ($61,250), Sutton ($75,000), and Taylor ($66,406). Economic stagnation affects the broader panhandle landscape.

Housing costs burden tight budgets

Terry County's rent-to-income ratio of 21.3% means residents spend over one-fifth of income on housing, well above the healthy threshold. With a median home value of $111,200, affordability is a genuine struggle for many households.

Seek support for financial stability

Terry residents should prioritize immediate financial stability through budgeting, emergency savings, and access to financial counseling before pursuing wealth-building strategies. Local community organizations, workforce development programs, and education grants can help build pathways to better-paying work.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Terry County

via HealthByCounty

Rural Texas health crisis county

Terry County residents live an average of 70.8 years—5.7 years below the national average of 76.5—and 30.4% report poor or fair health, nearly 70% above the national rate. This rural West Texas county faces severe health challenges across multiple measures.

Among Texas's worst health outcomes

Terry's 70.8-year life expectancy is 3.5 years below Texas's 74.3-year state average, ranking it among the lowest in the state. The 23.6% uninsured rate exceeds Texas's 19.8% average, leaving nearly 1 in 4 residents without coverage.

Worst or tied for worst every metric

Terry's 30.4% poor/fair health rate is the highest among all counties shown, and its 70.8-year life expectancy ranks third-lowest. The 23.6% uninsured rate is second-worst only to Swisher, creating a triple crisis of poor health, short lives, and no coverage.

Acute provider shortage and uninsured crisis

Terry has just 34 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and a critically low 9 mental health providers per 100K—among the worst ratios in Texas. With 23.6% uninsured, most residents cannot afford the scarce care that exists.

Coverage is urgent in Terry County

Nearly 1 in 4 Terry County residents lack health insurance, compounding the county's shortage of providers and poorest health outcomes. Immediate enrollment at healthcare.gov or through Texas Medicaid can be life-changing for uninsured families.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Terry County

via RiskByCounty

Terry carries moderate national risk level

Terry County's composite risk score of 52.04 slightly exceeds the national average, placing it in the Relatively Low category. This South Plains county confronts material but manageable exposure to multiple natural hazards.

Slightly above Texas average risk

At 52.04, Terry scores just above Texas's state average of 49.00, placing it slightly higher-risk than the typical Texas county. The county sits in the middle of the state's risk distribution.

Terry faces more risk than western peers

Terry's 52.04 score exceeds Stonewall (3.82), Sutton (7.06), Swisher (37.44), and Terrell (0.41), but remains well below Tarrant (99.14) and Taylor (83.81). The county occupies the mid-range among this cluster of West and Central Texas communities.

Tornado and wildfire are primary concerns

Tornado risk at 54.55 is Terry's highest hazard exposure, followed by wildfire risk at 58.65, creating a dual threat profile. Hurricane risk at 31.33 and flood risk at 11.67 present secondary but meaningful concerns.

Wind and fire coverage recommended

Terry residents should secure homeowners insurance with robust tornado/wind and wildfire coverage, particularly given the county's 54.55 tornado score. Standard coverage should suffice for flood and other secondary 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.