1st Advantage MortgageAbout 77% of Baker County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $46,012. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Baker County, GA: the basics
- Housing costs in Baker County
- Paychecks and income spread in Baker County
- The Baker County job picture
- Baker County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Baker County
- A Baker County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Baker County
- Reading the Baker County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Baker County
- Checklist for Baker County applicants
- More guides for Baker County
- Frequently asked questions
Baker County, GA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Baker County's population at 2,790; only 155 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. It covers 342 square miles of land, or about 8 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Baker County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 1 Census place inside Baker County, Newton leads by population with about 479. With so few households sampled, Baker County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Housing costs in Baker County
A typical Baker County rental runs $631 a month including utilities, which is 55% below Georgia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $119,500, about 2.6 times the median household income. 77% of Baker County households own their home and 23% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Baker County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $631/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $119,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 14% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 29.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
Because most Baker 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Paychecks and income spread in Baker County
The median household income in Baker County is $46,012; statewide it is $77,353, so Baker County runs 41% below Georgia as a whole. That places it 140th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Baker County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.7% | +17.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.7% | -1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.9% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -9.2 pts |
Some 40% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. 26.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Baker County median.
The Baker County job picture
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (11% against 1%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Baker County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +6.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.9% | +9.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 8.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.7% | -4.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Baker County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Baker County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 31 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Baker County; Mitchell County is highest at $57,613 and Calhoun County lowest at $46,940.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker County | - | $46,012 | $631/mo | 77% |
| Mitchell County, GA | 17 mi | $57,613 | $797/mo | 65% |
| Calhoun County, GA | 17 mi | $46,940 | $546/mo | 59% |
| Miller County, GA | 20 mi | $51,425 | $810/mo | 70% |
| Dougherty County, GA | 21 mi | $49,044 | $935/mo | 45% |
| Early County, GA | 27 mi | $54,083 | $791/mo | 67% |
| Decatur County, GA | 31 mi | $53,317 | $838/mo | 62% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Baker County
Just one Census place, Newton, lies mainly within Baker County; it holds about 479 people. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton | city | 479 | $28,594 | $602 | 7 mi |
A Baker County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Baker County's medians:
- $46,012 a year is $3,834 of gross monthly income
- 16% goes to median rent ($631)
- $903: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Baker County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Baker County
17% of Baker County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 19% go without health insurance.
| Baker County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.7% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.2% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 19.0% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Baker County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Reading the Baker County data as a borrower
Based on the Baker County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 19% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 30% of Baker County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Fixed incomes. Baker County's median age is 50.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 26% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Licensing and complaints for Baker County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Baker County resident can confirm its license with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Baker County applicants
A short checklist for Baker County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Baker County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Baker County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Baker County household make?
About $46,012 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 41% below the Georgia median.
How does Baker County rent compare with Georgia?
$631 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 55% below.
What are the biggest places in Baker County?
By population: Newton. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Will a Baker County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Baker County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.