1st Advantage MortgageIn Atkinson County, Georgia, the typical household earns $42,347 a year and the typical rent is $657. 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
- A quick profile of Atkinson County
- Paychecks and income spread in Atkinson County
- How Atkinson County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Atkinson County
- Counties near Atkinson County
- Towns and communities in Atkinson County
- People and households in Atkinson County
- Local borrowing considerations for Atkinson County
- Budget math at the Atkinson County median
- Who licenses lenders for Atkinson County residents
- Four steps for Atkinson County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Atkinson County
Atkinson County is home to about 8,337 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 138th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Land area is 343 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (2 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Pearson, with about 1,919 residents, or 23% of the county. Because Atkinson County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Paychecks and income spread in Atkinson County
The median household income in Atkinson County is $42,347; statewide it is $77,353, so Atkinson County runs 45% below Georgia as a whole. Only 147 Georgia counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Atkinson County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 44.8% | +22.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.5% | -3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.8% | -10.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -8.9 pts |
About 45% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. Census counts 25.0% of Atkinson County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.436 here. For a borrower in Atkinson County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Atkinson County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Atkinson County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 27% of workers, followed by education and health care (15%). Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward manufacturing (27% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.8% in Atkinson County. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.3% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Top industries | Atkinson County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27.1% | +17.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.5% | -5.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.3% | +6.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.8% | -4.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Atkinson County
Renters in Atkinson County pay a median of $657 a month, 53% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 44% of Atkinson County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $79,000, a typical Atkinson County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 62%. The median year built is 1989.
| Cost | Atkinson County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $657/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $79,000 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 26% | n/a |
Counties near Atkinson County
Coffee County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Irwin County, is 32 miles off. All of the six report a higher median household income than Atkinson County; Berrien County is highest at $52,876 and Bacon County lowest at $44,694.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atkinson County | - | $42,347 | $657/mo | 62% |
| Coffee County, GA | 18 mi | $50,683 | $710/mo | 65% |
| Berrien County, GA | 21 mi | $52,876 | $782/mo | 71% |
| Lanier County, GA | 21 mi | $47,186 | $913/mo | 73% |
| Clinch County, GA | 28 mi | $45,847 | $509/mo | 71% |
| Bacon County, GA | 31 mi | $44,694 | $743/mo | 69% |
| Irwin County, GA | 32 mi | $51,384 | $865/mo | 70% |
Towns and communities in Atkinson County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 42% of Atkinson County residents live in one of the 3. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearson | city | 1,919 | $32,286 | $689 | 1 mi |
| Willacoochee | city | 1,301 | $32,750 | $629 | 10 mi |
| Axson | CDP | 268 | $80,526 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
People and households in Atkinson County
9% of Atkinson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 26.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Atkinson County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 8.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 31.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 26.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Atkinson County
What the Atkinson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Atkinson County. For the 26% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 51% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 25% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Budget math at the Atkinson County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Atkinson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $3,529 gross per month ($42,347 / 12)
- Median rent: $657, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- $578: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $931 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who licenses lenders for Atkinson County residents
Consumer lenders serving Atkinson County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Atkinson County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Atkinson County:
- Price the Atkinson County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- 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
What does a typical Atkinson County household make?
About $42,347 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 45% below the Georgia median.
How much is rent in Atkinson County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $657 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Atkinson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Pearson, Willacoochee, Axson.
Will a Atkinson County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Atkinson County check a lender's license?
With the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.