CountyScore

Wilcox County

Georgia · GA

#21 in Georgia
70.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Wilcox County, Georgia

Wilcox ranks well above national baseline

Wilcox County's composite score of 74.4 is 49% higher than the national median of 50.0, demonstrating above-average livability. The county's strength centers on exceptional housing affordability that drives overall competitiveness.

Top-tier county within Georgia

Wilcox scores 74.4, exceeding Georgia's state average of 70.9, and ranks among the state's higher-performing counties. This positioning reflects particular strength in housing cost dimensions within Georgia's market.

Exceptional housing affordability

Wilcox County shines with a cost score of 90.8, offering some of the lowest housing costs among these seven counties—median home value of $71,200 and rent of just $612/month. This exceptional affordability makes the county highly attractive to budget-conscious households.

Lower incomes and higher tax burden

Wilcox's income score of 14.8 reflects a median household income of $48,036, limiting financial capacity for higher-cost decisions. The tax score of 72.5 and effective tax rate of 1.058% are also the highest among these counties, partially offsetting housing savings.

Ideal for extremely budget-conscious families

Wilcox County suits families prioritizing the lowest possible housing costs and willing to manage modest household incomes. This county offers maximum affordability for those seeking minimal living expenses, though higher tax rates require careful financial planning.

Score breakdown

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

Tax72.5Cost90.8SafetyComing SoonHealth56.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome14.8Risk86.9WaterComing Soon
🏛72.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠90.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼14.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤56.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡86.9
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 Wilcox County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Elmore County
Alabama
70.9
Median income: $75,553
Randolph County
Arkansas
70.9
Median income: $52,838
Putnam County
Illinois
70.9
Median income: $77,526
Greene County
Iowa
70.9
Median income: $59,159
Taylor County
Iowa
70.9
Median income: $67,279

Deep Dives

Wilcox County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Wilcox County

via TaxByCounty

Wilcox taxes higher than national average

Wilcox County's effective tax rate of 1.058% exceeds the national median effective rate, placing it above the typical American county despite lower home values. The median annual tax of $753 is still 72% below the national median, reflecting Wilcox's relatively modest property values.

Wilcox among Georgia's highest-tax counties

At 1.058%, Wilcox's effective rate significantly outpaces Georgia's state average of 0.898%, ranking in the upper third of all state counties. This makes Wilcox one of the state's higher-burden jurisdictions despite modest home prices.

Wilcox carries steeper rate than neighbors

Wilcox's 1.058% rate ranks among the region's highest, exceeded only by Worth County (1.086%) and Wilkes County (1.137%), but significantly above Wheeler (0.753%), White (0.661%), Whitfield (0.673%), and Wilkinson (0.882%). This positions Wilcox as a higher-tax area for the region.

Wilcox tax bills reflect elevated rates

On the median home value of $71,200, Wilcox County residents pay approximately $753 annually without a mortgage. Those with mortgages face a steeper bill of $1,643 due to escrow, reflecting the county's elevated rate.

Challenge your assessment in Wilcox

With higher tax rates, assessment accuracy becomes even more critical—an error here costs proportionally more than in lower-tax counties. Request a review of your property's assessed value and potentially recover hundreds in annual savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Wilcox County

via CostByCounty

Wilcox Offers Rock-Bottom Rent-to-Income Ratio

At 15.3%, Wilcox County's rent-to-income ratio represents exceptional value compared to the national context, with median rent of just $612 per month. This translates to families keeping more income available for healthcare, education, and savings—a significant advantage for budget-conscious households.

Georgia's Affordable Housing Gem

Wilcox County ranks among Georgia's most affordable counties with a 15.3% rent-to-income ratio well below the state average of 18.6%. At $71,200 median home value, Wilcox offers the lowest property prices among Georgia's rural counties.

Beats All Rivals on Cost of Living

Wilcox's $612 median rent and $448 monthly owner costs beat every neighboring county—Wheeler ($551 rent leads on rent alone), Wilkinson ($766), and Wilkes ($759). The county's 15.3% rent burden is the region's lowest overall affordability measure.

Just 15% of Income Covers Housing Needs

Wilcox County households earning $48,036 annually spend approximately $612 on rent or $448 on mortgage, consuming only 15.3% of gross income. This leaves significantly more money for essentials and emergencies compared to the national 30% affordability benchmark.

South Georgia's Most Affordable County

Wilcox County delivers some of Georgia's lowest housing costs without sacrificing basic community services or quality of life. If maximum housing affordability is your priority, Wilcox's 15.3% rent burden and sub-$612 rents make it an unbeatable relocation target.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Wilcox County

via IncomeByCounty

Wilcox Faces Significant Income Gap

Wilcox County's median household income of $48,036 trails the national median of $74,755 by 35.8%, reflecting persistent economic challenges. This gap places Wilcox among lower-income counties nationally, signaling the need for targeted economic development and job creation.

Below State Average by $12K

Wilcox's median household income of $48,036 falls $12,452 below Georgia's state average of $60,488, positioning it among the state's lower-income counties. The per capita income of $21,028 trails the state average of $31,115 by one-third.

Among the Lowest Regional Earners

Wilcox's $48,036 median income ranks above only Wheeler ($45,262) and Wilkinson ($46,673) among its neighbors, but significantly below Wilkes ($52,542), Worth ($57,201), and Whitfield ($64,262). This positions Wilcox at the lower end of the regional income spectrum.

Affordable Housing on Modest Income

Wilcox's 15.3% rent-to-income ratio is among the best in its region, offering reasonable housing affordability on limited incomes. With median home values of $71,200, homeownership remains accessible but provides limited equity appreciation compared to stronger-income counties.

Start Small, Dream Big

Wilcox residents should focus on budgeting, emergency savings, and accessing free or low-cost financial literacy resources to build household wealth. Even small regular investments and side income from skills or gigs can compound over time into meaningful financial security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Wilcox County

via HealthByCounty

Wilcox faces significant longevity gap

At 70.6 years, Wilcox County residents live 5.5 years less than the U.S. average and 2.7 years below Georgia's state average—one of the steepest longevity deficits in the region. Nearly one in four reports poor or fair health, reflecting chronic disease burdens.

Georgia's lowest life expectancy gap

Wilcox County trails the state average by 2.7 years, placing it among Georgia's lowest-performing counties on longevity. Combined with a 23.8% poor/fair health rate, the county faces compounding health disparities requiring urgent intervention.

Lowest life expectancy in the region

At 70.6 years, Wilcox lags all regional peers: Wheeler (76.5), Whitfield (75.1), White (74.4), Wilkinson (69.9 is lower), and Worth (72.9). With only 11 primary care providers per 100,000, Wilcox has the region's scarcest physician access.

Provider shortage drives unmet healthcare needs

Wilcox has just 11 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in its region—paired with only 23 mental health providers per 100K. Though the 13.8% uninsured rate is below state average, severe provider shortages mean coverage alone can't ensure timely care.

Insurance is step one to better health

While 13.8% uninsured is relatively low, Wilcox County's critical provider shortage means residents need coverage to reach the few doctors available. Confirm your insurance status at healthcare.gov and connect with Georgia's telehealth programs to bridge access gaps.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Wilcox County

via RiskByCounty

Wilcox County remains below national risk average

Wilcox County's composite risk score of 13.17 places it well below Georgia's state average of 39.49, earning a very low risk rating. The county's hazard exposure remains modest compared to typical national disaster risk patterns.

Low-risk county in Georgia rankings

Wilcox County ranks among Georgia's safer counties for overall natural disaster risk, positioned in the very low category well below the state average. The county's rural south-central location reduces exposure to several major hazard corridors affecting other regions.

Safer than White County, similar to Wheeler

Wilcox County's 13.17 score slightly exceeds Wheeler County's 6.42 but remains far below White County's 45.74. The county enjoys similar low-risk positioning as other rural south-central Georgia areas.

Hurricane risk elevates despite low composite score

Wilcox County's hurricane risk of 77.31 stands dramatically above its composite average of 13.17, representing the county's primary natural hazard concern. Tornado risk (40.33) and wildfire risk (39.98) present secondary considerations, though all remain moderate by state standards.

Hurricane and windstorm coverage critical

Despite low overall risk, Wilcox County homeowners should prioritize wind and storm damage coverage given the elevated hurricane risk score. Standard homeowner's insurance may not fully cover hurricane-specific damage; work with an agent to ensure adequate windstorm protection.

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.