1st Advantage MortgageIn Bartow County, Georgia, the typical household earns $82,243 a year and the typical rent is $1,268. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Georgia before sharing details.
On this page
- Bartow County, GA: the basics
- What Bartow County households earn
- Renting and owning in Bartow County
- Jobs and commutes in Bartow County
- Bartow County towns compared
- How Bartow County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Bartow County median
- More Bartow County figures
- Before borrowing in Bartow County
- Before you sign
- Who licenses lenders for Bartow County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bartow County, GA: the basics
With an estimated 113,113 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bartow County ranks 24th of 159 in Georgia for population. Land area is 459 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 246 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Bartow County, Cartersville leads by population with about 24,074; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
What Bartow County households earn
At $82,243, the typical Bartow County household income is 25% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 23rd among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Bartow County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.7% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.3% | +4.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -2.7 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 40% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.3% of Bartow County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.415 here. For a borrower in Bartow 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.
Renting and owning in Bartow County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,268 in Bartow County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $289,000, about 3.5 times the median household income. Owners occupy 73% of homes. Median construction year: 1994.
| Bartow County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,268/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $289,000 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
Because most Bartow 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.
Jobs and commutes in Bartow County
The biggest employer of Bartow County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 17% locally and 10% for Georgia. The survey's unemployment rate for Bartow County averages 4.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). About 75% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 2.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Bartow County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.2% | -1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% | +6.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.2% | -4.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Bartow County towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Bartow County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 36,822 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $103,449 at the median in Adairsville, $52,682 in Kingston. Median rent ranges from $891 in White to $1,486 in Emerson. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartersville | city | 24,074 | $84,437 | $1,229 | 6 mi |
| Adairsville | city | 4,999 | $103,449 | $990 | 10 mi |
| Euharlee | city | 4,230 | $99,597 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Emerson | city | 1,573 | $75,250 | $1,486 | 9 mi |
| Kingston | city | 993 | $52,682 | $932 | 6 mi |
| White | city | 953 | $79,286 | $891 | 6 mi |
How Bartow County compares with nearby counties
Gordon County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cobb County, is 26 miles off. Income ranges from $63,650 in Gordon County to $108,115 in Cherokee County; 3 of these neighbors top Bartow County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bartow County | - | $82,243 | $1,268/mo | 73% |
| Gordon County, GA | 19 mi | $63,650 | $937/mo | 74% |
| Cherokee County, GA | 21 mi | $108,115 | $1,799/mo | 77% |
| Floyd County, GA | 22 mi | $65,565 | $1,014/mo | 64% |
| Paulding County, GA | 22 mi | $98,031 | $1,772/mo | 81% |
| Pickens County, GA | 25 mi | $78,930 | $1,136/mo | 81% |
| Cobb County, GA | 26 mi | $102,738 | $1,730/mo | 67% |
Budget math at the Bartow County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bartow County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $82,243 a year is $6,854 of gross monthly income
- 19% goes to median rent ($1,268)
- Under a 36% cap, $2,467 total minus rent leaves $1,199
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More Bartow County figures
24% of Bartow County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 15% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Bartow County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.6% |
Before borrowing in Bartow County
Where the Bartow County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 15% of Bartow County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 23% of Bartow County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 40% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bartow 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.
- A Georgia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Bartow County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Bartow County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Bartow County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bartow County a high-income county?
Its $82,243 median ranks 23rd of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Bartow County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,268 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Bartow County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 73% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Bartow County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cartersville, Adairsville, Euharlee, Emerson, Kingston and 1 more.
Are Bartow County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.