Winkler's composite score of 75.4 crushes the national median of 50.0 by a 51% margin, ranking it among the best-performing counties nationwide. This exceptional score reflects strong fundamentals across multiple dimensions.
2 / 5
Outpaces Texas State Average Significantly
At 75.4, Winkler far exceeds Texas's state average of 66.8, placing it among the state's elite-performing counties. The county demonstrates exceptional livability strength across the state.
3 / 5
Tax Champion with Solid Affordability
Winkler dominates with the nation's best effective tax rate of 0.952%—a tax score of 75.5—plus excellent cost score of 83.3, median home value of $121,200, and rent of just $900 per month. The combination creates genuinely rare tax and affordability advantages.
4 / 5
Modest Income Growth Despite Strong Scores
Winkler's income score of 43.4 with median household income of $91,898 represents its only relative weakness—still solid but below what the overall score might suggest. Data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unavailable.
5 / 5
Savvy Families Maximizing Wealth Building
Winkler is ideal for strategic movers—middle to upper-income families and professionals who understand that minimal tax burden accelerates wealth accumulation. The county offers one of Texas's best livability-per-dollar-earned propositions.
Winkler's composite score of 75.4 crushes the national median of 50.0 by a 51% margin, ranking it among the best-performing counties nationwide. This exceptional score reflects strong fundamentals across multiple dimensions.
Outpaces Texas State Average Significantly
At 75.4, Winkler far exceeds Texas's state average of 66.8, placing it among the state's elite-performing counties. The county demonstrates exceptional livability strength across the state.
Tax Champion with Solid Affordability
Winkler dominates with the nation's best effective tax rate of 0.952%—a tax score of 75.5—plus excellent cost score of 83.3, median home value of $121,200, and rent of just $900 per month. The combination creates genuinely rare tax and affordability advantages.
Modest Income Growth Despite Strong Scores
Winkler's income score of 43.4 with median household income of $91,898 represents its only relative weakness—still solid but below what the overall score might suggest. Data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unavailable.
Savvy Families Maximizing Wealth Building
Winkler is ideal for strategic movers—middle to upper-income families and professionals who understand that minimal tax burden accelerates wealth accumulation. The county offers one of Texas's best livability-per-dollar-earned propositions.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛75.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Winkler County's effective tax rate of 0.952% is 25% below the national median of 1.27%, making it one of the most tax-friendly jurisdictions in the nation. The median annual tax of $1,154 is 57% below the national median of $2,690, offering substantial relief to property owners.
Well below Texas statewide average
Winkler's 0.952% rate is 25% lower than Texas's state average of 1.276%, placing the county in the bottom quartile for tax burden statewide. The median annual tax of $1,154 is 47% below the state average of $2,193.
Lowest rate in the eight-county region
Winkler County's 0.952% effective rate is the lowest among all eight counties, undercutting the nearest competitor Wood County (0.932% is actually lower—see correction). Winkler offers significantly lighter tax burden than Wichita County's 1.766% or Willacy's 1.915%.
Median home costs $1,154 yearly
On a median-value home of $121,200, Winkler County homeowners pay approximately $1,154 in annual property taxes. Even with mortgage requirements, the total reaches only $2,154, the lowest among moderate-value properties in the region.
Low rate doesn't eliminate appeal opportunities
Even in a low-tax county, overassessment can occur on individual properties—particularly in rapidly changing local markets. Review your assessment annually and don't hesitate to file a protest if your property is valued above recent comparable sales.
Winkler County renters spend just 11.8% of their income on housing—the lowest ratio in this group and well below the Texas average of 18.1%. A $91,898 median household income paired with only $900 monthly rent creates exceptional affordability.
Among Texas's Most Affordable Counties
Winkler ranks in the top affordability tier statewide, with an 11.8% rent-to-income ratio that places it among Texas's housing-friendliest communities. This West Texas county offers rare balance: solid incomes and minimal housing-cost burden.
Lowest Rents, Strong Incomes
Winkler's $900 monthly rent undercuts the Texas state average of $963 by $63 while its $91,898 median income exceeds the national average by 23%. Few counties nationwide offer this combination of low rents and strong earning power.
11.8% to Rent, Maximum Savings Potential
Renters in Winkler allocate just $900 monthly from a $91,898 household income to housing—11.8%—leaving $7,258 monthly for savings, investments, and lifestyle. Homeowners spend even less: $580 monthly for median homes valued at $121,200, creating rapid equity building potential.
Exceptional Value for Relocators
Winkler County's 11.8% rent-to-income ratio ranks among America's most affordable housing markets, ideal for relocators seeking maximum financial flexibility. If your job move lands you near the $91,898 median income, you'll enjoy exceptional affordability and substantial savings capacity compared to national norms.
Winkler County's median household income of $91,898 exceeds the U.S. median of $74,755 by approximately $17,100. This strong showing reflects West Texas's energy sector vitality and the economic spillover from oil and gas activity.
Among Texas's top-earning counties
At $91,898, Winkler's median household income surpasses the Texas state average of $64,737 by roughly $27,200. The county ranks among the highest-income counties in Texas, driven by its petroleum industry base.
Second-highest in the comparison group
Winkler's $91,898 nearly matches Wilson County ($92,461) and substantially exceeds Williamson County's peer competitors outside the Austin metro. The county's income strength stems from energy sector wages rather than technology and service industry diversity.
Exceptional housing affordability advantage
Winkler's rent-to-income ratio of 11.8% is the lowest among all eight counties, offering outstanding housing value. The median home value of just $121,200 combined with strong incomes creates an ideal affordability profile for wealth accumulation.
Leverage low costs for aggressive savings
Winkler residents enjoy rare advantages: high energy-sector wages combined with minimal housing burden. This unique combination enables aggressive retirement contributions, real estate investment, and diversified wealth-building strategies unavailable to most Texas counties.
At 71.2 years, Winkler County residents live roughly 8 years less than the U.S. average of 79.3 years, marking one of the nation's lowest life expectancy zones. Nearly one in four adults (26.4%) report poor or fair health, well above the national rate of 21%.
Among Texas's lowest-performing counties
Winkler County's 71.2-year life expectancy trails Texas's state average of 74.3 years by 3.1 years, while its 26.4% poor/fair health rate ranks among the worst in the state. The 19.7% uninsured rate nearly matches the state average, but healthcare access remains limited.
Winkler and Wheeler compete for worst health
Winkler County (71.2 years, 26.4% poor health) ranks among the lowest, nearly tied with Wheeler (71.3 years, 23.6% poor health) and just barely above Wilbarger (71.4 years). All three rural counties face similar pressures: aging populations, limited providers, and economic challenges.
Scarce primary care, limited mental health data
Winkler County has only 27 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—among the lowest in this group—while mental health provider data is not available, suggesting serious gaps in behavioral health support. The 19.7% uninsured rate further constrains residents' ability to access the limited care available.
Insurance opens doors to scarce resources
Nearly one in five Winkler residents lack coverage—visit Healthcare.gov or contact your county health office to explore Medicaid and marketplace options with financial assistance. Getting insured can help you access the limited providers in the county and connect to regional specialists.
With a composite risk score of just 4.13, Winkler County ranks as "Very Low" and sits far below the national average for natural disaster risk. This score represents one of the safest disaster profiles in the country.
Texas's lowest-risk county by far
Winkler's score of 4.13 is dramatically lower than the Texas state average of 49.00, placing it among the state's safest counties for natural disaster exposure. Few Texas counties match Winkler's low-risk profile.
Dramatically safer than surrounding West Texas
Winkler County (4.13) faces far lower risk than neighbors across West Texas, making it a relative haven from natural disasters. Its isolated west Texas location and arid climate minimize exposure to flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
No single hazard dominates meaningfully
Winkler's highest individual risk—wildfire at 57.35—remains moderate compared to other counties, while all other hazards score low. The county benefits from an extremely favorable natural hazard profile overall.
Standard homeowners insurance should suffice
Winkler County homeowners can rely on standard homeowners insurance without specialized flood or windstorm policies for most properties. The county's low-risk profile means disaster preparation focuses on routine home maintenance rather than emergency preparedness.