CountyScore

Tuscola County

Michigan · MI

#62 in Michigan
66.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Tuscola County, Michigan

Tuscola outperforms most U.S. counties

Tuscola County's composite score of 69.0 ranks well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the 86th percentile nationwide. The county delivers livability performance that beats the vast majority of American communities.

Slightly above Michigan's average

At 69.0, Tuscola exceeds Michigan's county average of 68.7 by just 0.3 points, ranking essentially at the state midline. The county sits among Michigan's solid middle-tier performers.

Excellent housing affordability throughout

Tuscola boasts a cost score of 82.1 with median rent at just $796/month and homes priced around $136,900. The 1.280% effective tax rate stays competitive, making the county one of the most affordable in this group.

Income opportunities remain modest

The income score of 24.4 reflects a median household income of $62,847, indicating limited high-wage employment locally. Health, schools, and safety information are not yet available, which families should investigate for a complete picture.

Ideal for affordable-first households

Tuscola works best for budget-conscious families, retirees, and remote workers who prioritize low costs over maximum earning potential. The county delivers excellent housing value and tax efficiency for those who don't depend on local job markets.

Score breakdown

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

Tax66.3Cost82.1SafetyComing SoonHealth72.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome24.4Risk26.9WaterComing Soon
🏛66.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼24.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡26.9
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 Tuscola County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Benton County
Arkansas
66.2
Median income: $89,879
Phillips County
Arkansas
66.2
Median income: $38,874
Sumter County
Florida
66.2
Median income: $73,297
Carroll County
Georgia
66.2
Median income: $72,327
Plaquemines Parish
Louisiana
66.2
Median income: $82,874

Deep Dives

Tuscola County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Tuscola County

via TaxByCounty

Tuscola taxes above national median

Tuscola County's effective tax rate of 1.280% exceeds the national median of 1.0%, placing it in the top 45% of U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax bill of $1,753 is $937 below the national median of $2,690 due to substantially lower home values. Tuscola homeowners pay a notably higher percentage of their home's value in taxes than the typical American.

10% higher than Michigan average

At 1.280%, Tuscola County's effective rate exceeds Michigan's state average of 1.166%, ranking it in the upper-middle tier of Michigan counties by tax burden. The median property tax of $1,753 is $349 below the state median of $2,102 due to lower regional property values. Tuscola residents face above-average tax pressure relative to their home values.

Higher-taxed than most neighbors

Tuscola's 1.280% effective rate tops Sanilac County (0.917%), Schoolcraft County (1.091%), and St. Joseph County (1.114%), but falls short of Shiawassee County (1.345%) and Saginaw County (1.571%). Among the eight-county region, Tuscola ranks third-highest for tax burden. The county's rate is steeper than most surrounding communities.

Median home taxes: $1,753 annually

A typical $136,900 home in Tuscola County generates roughly $1,753 in annual property taxes at the current effective rate. With mortgage, taxes rise to $1,841; without mortgage, they fall to $1,663. This amounts to approximately $146 per month in property taxes for a median-valued home.

Many homeowners can appeal assessments

Across Michigan, thousands of homeowners discover their properties are overassessed, leading to inflated tax bills. Tuscola County residents paying above-average effective rates should review their assessment notices and consider filing an appeal if values seem high relative to recent comparable sales. A successful challenge can reduce your tax burden meaningfully.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Tuscola County

via CostByCounty

Tuscola's rents rank among America's most affordable

Tuscola County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.2% sits well below the national average, offering households substantial financial flexibility compared to typical U.S. markets. With median rent at $796 monthly and household income at $62,847, Tuscola delivers competitive affordability nationwide.

Well above Michigan's affordability average

Tuscola County significantly outperforms Michigan's state average, with a 15.2% rent-to-income ratio below the state's 16.3% and median rent at $796—$77 cheaper than Michigan's $873 median. The county ranks among Michigan's most affordable housing markets.

Cheapest ownership, competitive rental costs

Tuscola's $796 rent ranks among the lowest regionally, beaten only by Schoolcraft ($654) and comparable to Sanilac ($814). At 15.2%, its rent-to-income ratio ties Van Buren for the third-best in the comparison, trailing only Schoolcraft (13.6%) and St. Joseph (15.3%).

Low costs across both rental and ownership

Tuscola renters allocate just 15.2% of a $62,847 income to $796 monthly rent, while homeowners spend 15.2% on $793 monthly mortgages—a rare occurrence where rental and ownership costs align perfectly. This balance reflects the county's overall affordability strength.

Tuscola excels for budget-conscious movers

If affordability drives your relocation decision, Tuscola delivers excellent value at a 15.2% rent-to-income ratio and sub-$800 monthly housing costs. The county's rental-ownership cost parity makes it easy to compare options without surprise premium for homeownership.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Tuscola County

via IncomeByCounty

Tuscola income lags national benchmark

Tuscola County's median household income of $62,847 is 16% below the national median of $74,755, indicating below-average earning power nationally. The gap reflects Tuscola's position as a rural county with limited high-wage employment.

Tuscola near Michigan's county average

At $62,847, Tuscola's median household income is $1,457 below Michigan's county average of $64,304, placing it slightly below the state's mid-tier. The county ranks in the lower-middle range of Michigan's 83 counties.

Tuscola sits mid-range among peers

Tuscola ($62,847) surpasses Saginaw ($58,347), Sanilac ($59,074), and Schoolcraft ($57,708), but trails Shiawassee ($64,464), St. Joseph ($64,707), Van Buren ($66,902), and St. Clair ($69,349). It occupies the lower-middle position in this regional group.

Housing costs very reasonable in Tuscola

Tuscola's rent-to-income ratio of 15.2% is among the lowest in this group, meaning housing is highly affordable relative to earnings. The median home value of $136,900 is accessible on a $62,847 income, supporting stable homeownership for most families.

Use Tuscola's low costs to build wealth

With housing consuming only 15% of income, Tuscola residents have significant room to save and invest. Automatic 401(k) contributions paired with a diversified investment strategy can accumulate substantial retirement assets over 25–35 years.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Tuscola County

via HealthByCounty

Tuscola Life Expectancy Below U.S. Average

At 75.3 years, Tuscola County residents live about 3.7 years less than the U.S. average of 79 years. The 18.7% poor/fair health rate exceeds the national average of 15% but remains below the highest-stress counties in this dataset. Tuscola faces moderate health challenges relative to national peers.

Tuscola Slightly Below State Health Average

Tuscola's life expectancy of 75.3 years is 1.0 year below Michigan's state average of 76.3 years. The 18.7% poor/fair health rate is also above state norms but better than several peers. Tuscola performs in the mid-range among Michigan counties—neither exceptional nor critically stressed.

Tuscola's Provider Shortage Limits Care

With only 30 primary care providers per 100K, Tuscola has among the fewest primary care resources in this dataset, barely ahead of St. Joseph (28). Mental health providers at 286 per 100K are solid but don't offset the primary care gap. Rural isolation and limited provider density make routine care access difficult.

Moderate Uninsured Rate, Tight Provider Network

Tuscola's 5.9% uninsured rate is close to Michigan's 6.4% average and better than high-uninsurance counties like St. Joseph (7.7%). Yet with only 30 primary care providers per 100K, insured residents still struggle to schedule appointments. Many Tuscola residents must travel outside the county for timely specialist care.

Get Covered, Then Plan Ahead for Care

Tuscola's 5.9% uninsured rate suggests most residents have coverage, but if you don't, enrollment is available year-round through Medicaid or marketplace plans. Visit Michigan.gov/HealthInsurance or call 1-800-867-9272. Insured residents should book preventive appointments early and ask about telemedicine to work around local provider shortages.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Tuscola County

via RiskByCounty

Tuscola faces above-average combined risk

Tuscola County scores 73.06 on the composite risk scale, placing it above Michigan's state average of 49.56 and in the "Relatively Low" risk category. This moderate-to-above-average rating reflects meaningful exposure to tornadoes and flooding that residents should understand and prepare for. The county's risk profile is manageable but demands targeted preparedness attention.

Upper-middle tier for Michigan risk

Tuscola County ranks in the upper-middle portion of Michigan counties for disaster risk, with a composite score about 47% above the state average. This positioning places Tuscola above roughly half of Michigan counties but well below the state's highest-risk areas like Saginaw. The county faces meaningful but not extreme hazard exposure compared to statewide peers.

Moderate risk amid similarly exposed areas

Tuscola's score of 73.06 sits in the middle of its regional cluster, falling between Sanilac County (70.32) and St. Clair County (82.00). Only Saginaw County (88.55) substantially exceeds Tuscola's risk in this geographic region, while most immediate neighbors carry comparable exposure. The three-county group shows consistent moderate-to-above-average disaster risk.

Flooding and tornadoes lead the profile

Tuscola County faces significant flood risk (79.23) and moderate-to-high tornado risk (74.43), making these two hazards the county's primary disaster concerns. Earthquake exposure (33.56) and hurricane risk (49.10) are modest, while wildfire risk remains minimal at 15.97. Residents should anchor preparedness efforts on flood awareness and tornado safety above other natural hazards.

Prioritize flood insurance and roof integrity

With flood risk at 79.23, residents in flood-prone areas of Tuscola County should obtain separate flood insurance, as standard homeowners policies exclude water damage. Ensure homeowners insurance provides comprehensive wind and hail coverage appropriate for the county's 74.43 tornado risk. Regular roof inspections and basement waterproofing assessments offer cost-effective loss reduction.

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.