1st Advantage MortgageAbout 63% of Ben Hill County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $41,758. 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
- Ben Hill County at a glance
- Household income in Ben Hill County
- Ben Hill County housing compared with Georgia
- The Ben Hill County job picture
- Counties near Ben Hill County
- Places inside Ben Hill County
- More Ben Hill County figures
- Before borrowing in Ben Hill County
- Budget math at the Ben Hill County median
- A Ben Hill County borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for Ben Hill County
- More guides for Ben Hill County
- Frequently asked questions
Ben Hill County at a glance
With an estimated 17,089 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Ben Hill County ranks 103rd of 159 in Georgia for population. Packed into 250 square miles, that is close to 68 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Ben Hill County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Fitzgerald, with about 8,918 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county.
Household income in Ben Hill County
The median household income in Ben Hill County is $41,758; statewide it is $77,353, so Ben Hill County runs 46% below Georgia as a whole. In the state ranking that is 150th of 159.
| Income band | Share in Ben Hill County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 39.3% | +17.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.8% | +7.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.4% | -14.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.4% | -10.5 pts |
About 39% of households earn under $35,000, while 14% clear $100,000. Census counts 25.2% of Ben Hill County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.443 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Ben Hill 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.
Ben Hill County housing compared with Georgia
Renters in Ben Hill County pay a median of $688 a month, 51% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. With a median value of $112,700, a typical Ben Hill County house costs 2.7 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 63% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1981.
| Ben Hill County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $688/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $112,700 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
The Ben Hill County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Ben Hill County residents work in manufacturing and 19% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 21% locally and 10% for Georgia. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 6.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Ben Hill County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.1% | +11.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.7% | +0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.4% | +0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Ben Hill County
Distances run center to center, from Irwin County at 12 miles out to Dodge County at 29. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Ben Hill County; Wilcox County is highest at $54,138 and Turner County lowest at $36,799.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Hill County | - | $41,758 | $688/mo | 63% |
| Irwin County, GA | 12 mi | $51,384 | $865/mo | 70% |
| Telfair County, GA | 17 mi | $50,929 | $712/mo | 65% |
| Coffee County, GA | 22 mi | $50,683 | $710/mo | 65% |
| Wilcox County, GA | 23 mi | $54,138 | $610/mo | 75% |
| Turner County, GA | 28 mi | $36,799 | $679/mo | 64% |
| Dodge County, GA | 29 mi | $51,587 | $723/mo | 71% |
Places inside Ben Hill County
Fitzgerald is the only Census place mainly inside Ben Hill County, with about 8,918 of the county's 17,089 residents. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald | city | 8,918 | $37,323 | $670 | 6 mi |
More Ben Hill County figures
13% of Ben Hill County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 19.0%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Ben Hill County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.0% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 19.0% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.2% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Ben Hill County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
Before borrowing in Ben Hill County
A few patterns in the Ben Hill County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Ben Hill County. For the 19% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 21% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 25% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Ben Hill County loan.
Budget math at the Ben Hill County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Ben Hill County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $41,758 a year is $3,480 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $688, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 40% ceiling, about $704 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ben Hill County's.
A Ben Hill County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Ben Hill County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Ben Hill County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
More guides for Ben Hill County
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Ben Hill County earn?
The median is $41,758; 14% earn $100,000 or more and 39% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Ben Hill County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $688 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Ben Hill County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fitzgerald.
Will a Ben Hill 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 Ben Hill County?
Start with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.