Texas County Significantly Exceeds National Benchmark
Texas County's composite score of 78.1 powerfully outperforms the national median of 50.0, ranking it among America's more livable counties. This 56% lead reflects exceptional fundamentals in affordability and tax structure.
2 / 5
One of Missouri's Top Performers
Texas County ranks above Missouri's state average of 74.8, establishing itself as one of the state's most livable counties. Its above-average score demonstrates superior conditions for cost and tax-conscious residents.
3 / 5
Lowest Costs and Favorable Taxes
Texas County leads with a cost score of 86.9 and a tax score of 87.4, featuring median rent of just $647 per month and median home values of $123,300. An effective tax rate of 0.529% ensures residents keep more of their income.
4 / 5
Income Levels Stand Below Typical
The income score of 14.8 reveals a median household income of $48,055, among the lowest in this county group, indicating limited high-wage employment. Safety, health, schools, environmental, and risk data remain unavailable.
5 / 5
Ideal for Frugal Households and Retirees
Texas County is tailor-made for households operating on tight budgets or fixed incomes seeking maximum stretch of every dollar. The combination of ultra-low housing and rental costs with minimal tax burden makes it exceptional for those prioritizing financial stability over earning capacity.
Texas County Significantly Exceeds National Benchmark
Texas County's composite score of 78.1 powerfully outperforms the national median of 50.0, ranking it among America's more livable counties. This 56% lead reflects exceptional fundamentals in affordability and tax structure.
One of Missouri's Top Performers
Texas County ranks above Missouri's state average of 74.8, establishing itself as one of the state's most livable counties. Its above-average score demonstrates superior conditions for cost and tax-conscious residents.
Lowest Costs and Favorable Taxes
Texas County leads with a cost score of 86.9 and a tax score of 87.4, featuring median rent of just $647 per month and median home values of $123,300. An effective tax rate of 0.529% ensures residents keep more of their income.
Income Levels Stand Below Typical
The income score of 14.8 reveals a median household income of $48,055, among the lowest in this county group, indicating limited high-wage employment. Safety, health, schools, environmental, and risk data remain unavailable.
Ideal for Frugal Households and Retirees
Texas County is tailor-made for households operating on tight budgets or fixed incomes seeking maximum stretch of every dollar. The combination of ultra-low housing and rental costs with minimal tax burden makes it exceptional for those prioritizing financial stability over earning capacity.
Score breakdown
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🏛87.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Texas County's effective tax rate of 0.529% places it in the bottom 15% of U.S. counties, offering substantial relief compared to national norms. The median annual tax of just $652 represents less than a quarter of the national median of $2,690.
Well below Missouri's average rate
At 0.529%, Texas County ranks in Missouri's lower quartile, well below the state average of 0.733%. The county's median tax of $652 is among the lowest in the state despite modest home values.
Lowest rate in the south-central region
Texas County's 0.529% rate is the lowest in its region, beating neighboring Washington County (0.576%), Stone County (0.493%), and Wayne County (0.500%). The county offers exceptional tax affordability for rural Ozark homeowners.
A $123,300 home costs $652 yearly
The median Texas County home valued at $123,300 generates an estimated annual property tax of just $652. With a mortgage, homeowners pay approximately $668, while outright owners pay around $635.
Appeal if your assessment seems high
Even in Texas County's favorable tax environment, homeowners should verify their assessments match fair market value through the county assessor's office. A free appeal can further reduce already-low tax bills.
Texas County's 16.2% rent-to-income ratio sits above the national average, yet its $647 median rent is among the lowest in the state. The challenge lies in the county's depressed median household income of just $48,055—the lowest among these eight counties—which narrows affordability despite bargain rents.
Affordable rents in an economically struggling county
Texas County offers below-average rents at $647, well below the state median of $768, but its 16.2% rent-to-income ratio still exceeds Missouri's 15.6% average. The county's economic challenges—reflected in its lowest median income—drive this paradox.
Second-cheapest rents regionally
Texas County's $647 rent trails only Wayne County ($632) in the region, making it among the most affordable for cost-conscious renters. However, the county's $48,055 median income—lowest here—means even cheap rents strain household budgets.
Minimal housing costs, minimal income
Renters in Texas County pay just $647 monthly and homeowners $658—the lowest costs in this group—but the median household income of $48,055 means housing still consumes 16.2% of gross income for renters and 16.4% for owners. The economic challenge isn't housing prices; it's earning power.
Cheapest housing, toughest job market
Texas County delivers the second-lowest rents in the region at $647 and home values under $125,000, ideal for those relocating on tight budgets. However, the county's median income of $48,055 signals a weaker job market—weigh housing savings against employment opportunities elsewhere.
Texas County's median household income of $48,055 trails the national median of $74,755 by 36%, marking one of the largest disparities in the region. This substantial gap reflects limited job diversity and wage stagnation affecting county families.
Among Missouri's lowest-earning counties
Texas County ranks among the state's lowest with a median income $11,448 below Missouri's average of $59,503. Per capita income of $24,570 falls 21% short of the state average of $31,011.
Lowest earner in the Ozark cluster
Texas County's $48,055 median income trails all neighboring counties—Stone ($61,323), Taney ($58,258), and Sullivan ($55,500)—by significant margins. The gap reflects Texas County's reliance on lower-wage industries and smaller employment base.
Affordable housing offers relative relief
Texas County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.2% stays below the 30% affordability threshold, providing some household budget relief despite low incomes. The median home value of $123,300 remains accessible, though still represents a substantial commitment.
Strategic planning essential for stability
Texas County families face tighter financial margins and should prioritize building emergency savings and securing employer benefits. Consider financial literacy programs and low-cost investment education to maximize every dollar.
Texas County's life expectancy of 72.6 years falls 1.9 years short of the U.S. average of 74.5 years, and 21.7% of residents report poor or fair health. This combination marks Texas County as facing notably greater health challenges than the typical American.
Among Missouri's least healthy counties
Texas County's 72.6-year life expectancy falls 1.7 years below Missouri's 74.3 average, ranking it in the lower half of state counties. The 21.7% poor/fair health rate further signals that Texas County residents face above-average health burdens.
Struggling in a challenging region
Texas County's 72.6-year life expectancy trails not only Stone County (76.0) but also Sullivan County (74.7) and Taney County (74.9). At 21.7%, the county's poor/fair health rate exceeds most neighbors, making it one of the region's most health-challenged communities.
Moderate access, significant uninsured rate
Texas County has 40 primary care providers and 39 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—moderate for the region. However, 14.0% of residents are uninsured, above Missouri's 12.5%, meaning many residents struggle to access even available providers.
Insurance matters more here
With both lower-than-average life expectancy and 14% uninsured, Texas County residents should prioritize getting coverage through the Missouri marketplace or Medicaid. Early access to primary and preventive care can help address the health challenges facing the county.
Texas County's composite risk score of 62.44 earns a Relatively Low rating but sits above the national average, placing it in the moderate-to-higher tier of U.S. counties. The county's exposure is driven primarily by earthquake and wildfire threats rather than the tornadic and flood risks typical of the Great Plains.
Mid-range risk within Missouri
Texas County's 62.44 score exceeds Missouri's state average of 50.56, ranking it in the upper-middle tier of county risk statewide. This above-average exposure, while notable, is substantially lower than the state's most vulnerable counties like Taney.
Elevated compared to surrounding areas
Texas County (62.44) faces higher cumulative risk than neighboring Wright and Dent counties to the north and west, though less than southern Ozark hotspots. The county's earthquake exposure particularly distinguishes it from the lower-risk Ozark fringe counties.
Earthquakes pose outsized threat
Earthquake risk reaches 80.09 in Texas County, the county's dominant hazard and well above state averages, reflecting proximity to the Ozark seismic zone. Wildfire (64.95) and tornado (63.07) risks round out a moderately diverse hazard profile requiring year-round vigilance.
Add earthquake coverage to standard policy
Standard homeowners policies exclude earthquake damage, making a separate endorsement or policy critical given Texas County's 80.09 earthquake risk score. Review flood and wildfire coverage as well, since multiple perils demand a layered insurance approach across the county.