1st Advantage MortgageThe median Appling County household earns $46,651, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Georgia license first.
On this page
- Appling County at a glance
- What Appling County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Appling County
- How Appling County residents earn a living
- Appling County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Appling County
- A Appling County household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Appling County
- Appling County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Lender oversight for Appling County
- Steps before you apply in Appling County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Appling County at a glance
With an estimated 18,493 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Appling County ranks 97th of 159 in Georgia for population. It covers 508 square miles of land, or about 36 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Appling County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Appling County, Baxley leads by population with about 4,888; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
What Appling County households earn
The median household income in Appling County is $46,651; statewide it is $77,353, so Appling County runs 40% below Georgia as a whole. That places it 137th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Appling County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.9% | +18.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.0% | -3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.6% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -8.4 pts |
Some 41% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 22.5%, 9 points higher than the state's 13.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.454 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Appling County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $739 in Appling County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 46% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $76,700, about 1.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 73% of homes.
| Appling County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $739/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $76,700 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 26% | n/a |
Because most Appling County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Appling County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Appling County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (18%). Retail trade stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Appling County. 18% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home.
| Sector | Appling County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 18.3% | +7.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.7% | +3.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +2.0 pts |
| Public administration | 8.3% | +3.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +0.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Appling County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Appling County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 27 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Appling County; Pierce County is highest at $60,517 and Jeff Davis County lowest at $40,283.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appling County | - | $46,651 | $739/mo | 73% |
| Bacon County, GA | 16 mi | $44,694 | $743/mo | 69% |
| Jeff Davis County, GA | 21 mi | $40,283 | $650/mo | 71% |
| Tattnall County, GA | 25 mi | $50,747 | $699/mo | 71% |
| Wayne County, GA | 26 mi | $53,427 | $846/mo | 67% |
| Toombs County, GA | 26 mi | $52,621 | $768/mo | 61% |
| Pierce County, GA | 27 mi | $60,517 | $799/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Appling County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Appling County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 5,680 people, so roughly 69% of residents live outside any named place. No Appling County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baxley | city | 4,888 | $29,880 | $725 | 4 mi |
| Graham | city | 629 | $41,094 | $470 | 14 mi |
| Surrency | town | 163 | $33,333 | n/a | 6 mi |
A Appling County household budget, worked through
Appling County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $3,888 gross per month ($46,651 / 12)
- Less median rent of $739, which is 19% of it
- $816: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Appling County's.
Local borrowing considerations for Appling County
Based on the Appling County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Appling County. For the 17% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- 37% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 22% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Appling County loan.
- 46% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Appling County residents: age, schooling, coverage
11% of Appling County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 16.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Appling County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.2% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.6% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.5% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Appling County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 12.9% |
Lender oversight for Appling County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Appling County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Steps before you apply in Appling County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Appling County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Appling County earn?
The median is $46,651; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 41% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Appling County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $739 against $1,393 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Appling County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Baxley, Graham, Surrency.
Will a Appling County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Appling County?
Start with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.