CountyScore

Yadkin County

North Carolina · NC

#16 in North Carolina
71.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Yadkin County, North Carolina

Yadkin Scores High Against National Averages

Yadkin County's composite score of 76.4 surpasses the national median of 50.0 by 53%, placing it among the more livable counties across the United States. This strong performance reflects a balanced combination of low taxes, affordable housing, and slightly higher incomes than some regional neighbors.

Yadkin Ranks Above North Carolina Average

With a score of 76.4, Yadkin County outperforms the state average of 72.7, establishing it as one of North Carolina's more attractive counties for residents. This edge reflects the county's particular strength in cost management and tax efficiency.

Smart Balance of Affordability and Income Growth

Yadkin County combines a cost score of 84.9 with a median home value of $176,400 and the highest income score (22.8) among these four counties, reflecting a median household income of $60,321. A tax score of 83.0 and effective rate of 0.686% further solidify its appeal for families seeking both value and earning potential.

Incomplete Data Limits Full Assessment

Safety, health, school quality, risk, and water condition data are not yet available for Yadkin County, preventing a comprehensive evaluation of community health and educational outcomes. These gaps should be monitored as additional data becomes accessible.

Best Fit for Growing Families and Professionals

Yadkin County suits families and professionals seeking an affordable county with modestly higher incomes and strong tax advantages. Its balance of cost, tax efficiency, and income potential makes it an appealing middle ground for those not willing to sacrifice earning power for savings.

Score breakdown

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

Tax83Cost84.9SafetyComing SoonHealth62.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome22.8Risk61.7WaterComing Soon
🏛83
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠84.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼22.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤62.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡61.7
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 Yadkin County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Yakutat City and Borough
Alaska
71.7
Median income: $80,625
Howard County
Arkansas
71.7
Median income: $44,492
Monroe County
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71.7
Median income: $43,955
Montrose County
Colorado
71.7
Median income: $66,072
Lawrence County
Indiana
71.7
Median income: $65,551

Deep Dives

Yadkin County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Yadkin County

via TaxByCounty

Yadkin taxes fall well below U.S. norms

Yadkin County's effective tax rate of 0.686% trails the national median property tax of $2,690 on a $281,900 home substantially. Local homeowners pay roughly 55% less in annual property taxes than the average American, landing in the bottom quartile nationally.

Slightly below North Carolina average

Yadkin County's 0.686% effective rate edges just under North Carolina's state average of 0.701%, keeping the county near the middle of the pack statewide. The median tax bill of $1,210 runs $223 below the state median, offering modest savings for residents.

Yadkin balanced among regional peers

Yadkin County's 0.686% rate places it in the middle of nearby counties: higher than Yancey County's 0.476% and Wilkes County's 0.621%, but lower than Wilson County's 0.831%. This positions Yadkin as a moderate-tax area in northwestern North Carolina.

Your annual Yadkin tax bill

On Yadkin County's median home value of $176,400, property owners pay approximately $1,210 annually in property taxes. Homeowners with mortgages typically pay around $1,318, while those without pay roughly $1,043.

Verify your assessment accuracy

Even in a reasonably priced county, assessment errors happen—and Yadkin homeowners should double-check whether their property is valued correctly. Requesting a free assessment review can help identify overvaluations and potentially trim your annual bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Yadkin County

via CostByCounty

Yadkin leads regional affordability

Yadkin County's rent-to-income ratio of 14.6% ranks among the nation's most affordable housing markets, significantly outpacing the national average and giving renters real financial breathing room. With a median household income of $60,321—higher than Wilkes or Wilson—Yadkin households earn more while paying proportionally less for housing.

North Carolina's affordability standout

At 14.6%, Yadkin County's rent-to-income ratio decisively beats the state average of 18.6%, marking it as one of North Carolina's most housing-accessible counties. This advantage reflects both modest rents ($734/month) and strong local incomes that cushion housing costs.

Yadkin: the region's best value

Yadkin County combines the region's second-lowest rent ($734/month) with the strongest median household income ($60,321), delivering the best rent-to-income ratio at 14.6% among these four counties. Even its median home value of $176,400 represents solid equity potential without premium pricing.

Lean housing costs, strong income

Yadkin County households allocate $734 monthly for rent or $683 for mortgage payments against a median annual income of $60,321 ($5,027/month). This means renters dedicate just 14.6% of income to housing and owners only 13.6%—well below the 30% affordability threshold.

Yadkin offers rare affordability balance

If you're considering relocation within North Carolina, Yadkin County delivers superior affordability combined with stronger household incomes than neighboring Wilkes or Wilson. Compare job markets and lifestyle factors, but know that Yadkin's housing economics give you more financial flexibility.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Yadkin County

via IncomeByCounty

Yadkin closes the national income gap

Yadkin County's median household income of $60,321 outpaces Wilkes and Wilson, though it still lags the national median of $74,755 by $14,434. This positions Yadkin in the middle of the pack nationally, reflecting a healthier economic foundation than many rural North Carolina counties.

Nearly matches North Carolina average

At $60,321, Yadkin sits just $751 below the state median of $61,072, placing it squarely in the middle tier among North Carolina's 100 counties. This near-parity with the state average signals a more balanced economy and better-than-typical employment opportunities for the region.

Strongest income county in this cluster

Yadkin outearns Wilkes ($50,438), Wilson ($51,381), and Yancey ($54,961), making it the economic leader among these four counties. The $6,000+ advantage over its nearest rival reflects stronger manufacturing and agricultural sectors, plus lower unemployment than peers.

Housing costs are comfortably low

Yadkin's rent-to-income ratio of 14.6% is the lowest among these four counties and well below the 30% affordability threshold. This efficiency means Yadkin households can dedicate more income to savings, debt repayment, and quality-of-life investments.

Capitalize on housing affordability

With both strong median income and low housing costs, Yadkin households have the best combination for wealth-building among these counties. A disciplined approach to homeownership, retirement savings, and diversified investments can turn Yadkin's economic advantage into generational wealth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Yadkin County

via HealthByCounty

Yadkin County below U.S. health benchmarks

Yadkin County residents live an average of 73.6 years, roughly 5.6 years shorter than the U.S. average of 79.2 years. With 19.8% of adults reporting poor or fair health, the county's health profile aligns closer to national median rates, though still reflects higher chronic disease burden than healthiest regions.

Nearly at state average, but just behind

Yadkin County's life expectancy of 73.6 years falls 0.8 years below North Carolina's state average of 74.4 years, placing it near the middle of this four-county cohort. The uninsured rate of 13.4% sits slightly above the state average of 12.5%, indicating modest but measurable coverage gaps.

Struggling with provider shortages

Yadkin County's life expectancy of 73.6 years ranks second-best in this peer group, yet the county faces the lowest provider density: just 24 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—half the rate of neighboring Wilkes County. This severe shortage of primary care capacity may limit preventive services and early disease detection in daily healthcare access.

Fewest doctors, highest coverage gaps

Yadkin County struggles with the lowest primary care availability (24 per 100K) and among the lowest mental health provider density (95 per 100K) in this four-county analysis. With 13.4% of residents uninsured and limited primary care options, residents often delay preventive visits and rely on emergency care, driving worse health outcomes despite relatively moderate poor-health reporting.

Insurance helps bridge access gaps

Yadkin County residents without health insurance can explore options at healthcare.gov or contact North Carolina Medicaid to lower costs and access preventive care. Given the county's tight provider network, having insurance ensures you can reach available doctors faster and avoid emergency-room delays.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Yadkin County

via RiskByCounty

Yadkin County enjoys low disaster risk

With a composite risk score of 38.36, Yadkin County ranks as very low and substantially below North Carolina's state average of 66.72. The county's risk profile is one of the most favorable in the state, though residents still face manageable exposure across multiple hazard types.

Among North Carolina's safest counties

Yadkin County's 38.36 composite score places it in the bottom quartile of risk across all 100 North Carolina counties. This very low rating means residents face significantly below-average disaster exposure compared to the vast majority of North Carolinians.

Yadkin leads the safer counties in its region

Yadkin County's 38.36 score makes it the lowest-risk county in its cluster, alongside similarly safe Yancey County (42.24). Both stand dramatically below the higher-exposure Wilkes County (82.63) and Wilson County (76.27), marking this area's safest communities.

Hurricane and flood risks remain manageable

Yadkin County's highest risk comes from hurricanes (68.21) and flooding (53.18), but both remain well below state averages. Wildfire risk is exceptionally low at 17.53, and tornado and earthquake exposures are moderate, creating a balanced and manageable overall hazard profile.

Standard coverage works well for Yadkin

While Yadkin County's low risk profile means basic homeowners insurance provides solid protection, a flood policy still makes sense as affordable risk management. Review your coverage annually to ensure it matches your home's current value, and consider it an inexpensive safeguard despite your county's favorable position.

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.