CountyScore

Washita County

Oklahoma · OK

#13 in Oklahoma
72.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Washita County, Oklahoma

Washita: Top Tier Among Oklahoma Counties

Washita County's composite score of 72.2 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by 44%, positioning it as one of the most livable counties in Oklahoma. This achievement is driven by exceptional tax and cost performance that few counties nationwide can match.

Outperforming State Average

Washita's score of 72.2 ranks above Oklahoma's state average of 68.4, making it one of the state's top-performing counties for overall livability. The county competes favorably with the state's best despite modest income levels.

Lowest Taxes and Most Affordable Housing

Washita leads this group with a tax score of 87.0 and an extraordinarily low effective tax rate of 0.542%, paired with a cost score of 85.0. Median home values of $113,300 and monthly rents of just $775 represent the most affordable housing in this set of counties.

Income and Health Remain Limited

With an income score of 23.8 and median household income of $61,980, Washita offers limited earning potential, while its health score of 58.0 is the lowest among these counties. These gaps suggest residents prioritize affordability over income growth and wellness services.

Perfect for Minimum-Cost Living

Washita County is tailor-made for retirees, remote workers, and families seeking the absolute lowest cost of living with minimal tax burden. It's the best choice for those who can earn income elsewhere and simply want to stretch every dollar.

Score breakdown

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

Tax87Cost85SafetyComing SoonHealth58SchoolsComing SoonIncome23.8Risk68.1WaterComing Soon
🏛87
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠85
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼23.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡68.1
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 Washita County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Chilton County
Alabama
72.2
Median income: $61,873
Baker County
Florida
72.2
Median income: $70,833
Dade County
Georgia
72.2
Median income: $58,936
Oconee County
Georgia
72.2
Median income: $115,925
Dearborn County
Indiana
72.2
Median income: $82,693

Deep Dives

Washita County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Washita County

via TaxByCounty

Washita offers relief from national burden

Washita County's effective tax rate of 0.542% sits significantly below the national median of 0.67%, placing it in the bottom quartile nationally. At $614 median annual tax, residents pay roughly one-quarter what Americans pay nationally ($2,690), reflecting both lower rates and lower home values.

Washita ranks among Oklahoma's most affordable

Washita County's effective rate of 0.542% falls well below Oklahoma's state average of 0.652%, positioning it in the lower tier statewide. Its median tax of $614 represents just 64% of the state median of $959, offering genuine property tax relief.

Washita ties for region's lowest rate

Washita County's 0.542% effective rate matches Woods County as the region's lowest, beating Woodward (0.621%), Wagoner (0.812%), and Washington (0.935%) substantially. For tax-conscious homeowners, Washita delivers the most affordable property tax environment in this five-county area.

Median home: $113.3K costs just $614

A typical Washita County home valued at $113,300 generates an annual property tax bill of only $614. With a mortgage, that rises to $753; without one, homeowners pay $460 annually—among the lowest tax obligations in the state.

Even modest savings help in tight markets

Despite lower overall rates, Washita homeowners can still benefit from assessment appeals if their property was overvalued. Even a 5–10% reduction in assessed value yields real savings on already-low tax bills—reach out to the Washita County assessor to explore your options.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Washita County

via CostByCounty

Washita wins on national affordability scale

Washita County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.0% is among the nation's most affordable, beating the implicit national standard considerably. Even with a median household income of $61,980—below the national median—housing costs remain remarkably manageable.

Oklahoma's most affordable housing market

Washita County boasts a rent-to-income ratio of 15.0%, the lowest among all comparison counties and well below Oklahoma's state average of 17.0%. The median rent of $775 is the cheapest in the region, making this county an affordability standout.

Washita leads the affordability pack

With a 15.0% rent-to-income ratio, Washita County beats all nearby counties: Woodward (15.6%), Wagoner (16.1%), Washington (17.7%), and Woods (19.1%). Median rent at just $775 is the lowest in the comparison group, offering genuine affordability for renters.

Housing takes the smallest piece here

Median gross rent is just $775 monthly, while homeowners average $629—the most affordable combination in the region. With a median household income of $61,980 annually ($5,165 monthly), housing costs consume only 15% of earnings, the best ratio we're tracking.

Washita offers unmatched rural affordability

For anyone prioritizing cost of living, Washita County is the region's clearest winner, with the lowest rents, cheapest homes (median $113,300), and best rent-to-income ratio. If you're relocating on a tight budget or early-career salary, Washita deserves serious consideration.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Washita County

via IncomeByCounty

Washita trails national income levels

Washita County's median household income of $61,980 falls $12,775 below the national median of $74,755, reflecting limited wage opportunities in rural southwestern Oklahoma. The county ranks in the lower third of U.S. counties for household earnings.

Slightly above Oklahoma's median

Washita County's median household income of $61,980 exceeds Oklahoma's state average of $58,273 by $3,707, placing it modestly above the typical Oklahoma household. The county ranks in Oklahoma's middle income tier, performing slightly better than state norms.

Comparable to Washington County

Washita County's median income of $61,980 nearly matches Washington County ($61,205) and substantially trails Wagoner County ($78,520) by $16,540. The county represents typical small-town Oklahoma economics, with modest but stable household earnings.

Best affordability ratio in region

Washita County's rent-to-income ratio of 15.0% is the lowest among these five counties, indicating excellent housing affordability relative to earnings. With a median home value of just $113,300, housing costs consume the smallest share of household income here.

Low costs create wealth-building opportunity

Washita County's affordable housing and cost of living provide a genuine advantage for household wealth accumulation despite modest incomes. Families here can redirect savings toward long-term investments and financial goals more easily than higher-cost regions.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Washita County

via HealthByCounty

Washita faces significant health challenges

Washita County's life expectancy of 71.5 years falls 3 years below the national average of 74.5 years, and 21.7% of residents report poor or fair health compared to 19% nationally. These gaps point to preventable chronic diseases and limited access to quality care.

Washita's health lags well behind state average

At 71.5 years, Washita County residents live 1.2 years shorter than Oklahoma's state average of 72.7 years—making it one of the state's health challenges. The 21.7% poor or fair health rate reflects a community burdened by obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

Washita County faces steepest health odds

Washita has the lowest life expectancy (71.5 years) and highest poor/fair health rate (21.7%) among its peer counties, with 4.9 fewer years of life than Wagoner County. The county's 14.6% uninsured rate also edges higher than Wagoner and Washington counties.

Provider shortages limit treatment options

Washita County has just 28 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and only 47 mental health providers per 100,000—the lowest mental health capacity in its peer group. Residents often travel significant distances for specialists and behavioral health support.

Insurance is critical in Washita County

With 14.6% of residents uninsured and limited local providers, coverage becomes even more essential for accessing care. Reach out to HealthCare.gov or a local community health center to get insured and connected to available services.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Washita County

via RiskByCounty

Washita remains well below national risk

Washita County scores just 31.93 on composite risk, earning a Very Low rating and sitting comfortably below typical U.S. county exposure. The score reflects modest natural disaster vulnerability across all major hazard categories. Compared to national averages, Washita residents enjoy significantly lower natural disaster risk than most Americans.

One of Oklahoma's safest counties

Washita County's 31.93 composite score falls well below Oklahoma's state average of 55.47, making it one of the state's lower-risk regions. The county ranks favorably compared to most of its Oklahoma peers in natural disaster exposure. Washita residents benefit from below-average hazard vulnerability statewide.

Safest among these five counties

Washita County scores 31.93, substantially lower than neighboring Wagoner (73.25), Washington (76.11), and Woodward (41.63) counties. Only Woods County (28.09) poses less natural disaster risk in this regional comparison. Washita's favorable risk profile stands out as notably safer relative to nearby communities.

Wildfire and tornado risks remain modest

Washita County's primary hazards are wildfire (68.89) and tornado risk (60.72), both elevated compared to the county's overall low composite score. Flood risk (19.75) is exceptionally low, offering residents protection from the region's wettest events. Earthquake and hurricane risks remain negligible for planning purposes.

Standard homeowners coverage suffices

Washita homeowners can rely on comprehensive homeowners insurance policies without requiring specialized wildfire or flood riders, given the county's very low 31.93 composite risk score. Basic wind coverage for the modest tornado risk (60.72) is prudent but unlikely to command premium increases. Annual policy review remains a best practice even in low-risk counties.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.