1st Advantage MortgageBrooks County households have a median income of $46,807 and median rent of $809 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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 Brooks County
- How much Brooks County households make
- The Brooks County job picture
- Brooks County housing compared with Georgia
- Towns and communities in Brooks County
- Brooks County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Brooks County median
- Brooks County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Brooks County
- A Brooks County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Brooks County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Brooks County
Roughly 16,293 residents live in Brooks County, Georgia, 104th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. It covers 493 square miles of land, or about 33 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Valdosta, GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Quitman, with about 4,062 residents, or 25% of the county.
How much Brooks County households make
The median household income in Brooks County is $46,807; statewide it is $77,353, so Brooks County runs 39% below Georgia as a whole.
| Band | Brooks County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.8% | +18.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.3% | +3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.0% | -14.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -8.0 pts |
Some 41% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 16% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 25.4%, 12 points higher than the state's 13.4%. For a borrower in Brooks 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.
The Brooks County job picture
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Manufacturing stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Brooks County averages 5.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 8.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Brooks County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.2% | +8.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.2% | +5.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Brooks County housing compared with Georgia
A typical Brooks County rental runs $809 a month including utilities, which is 42% below Georgia. 58% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 32% spend half or more. With a median value of $139,200, a typical Brooks County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 72% of homes.
| Cost | Brooks County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $809/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $139,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 29.9% | 7.8% | n/a |
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?
Towns and communities in Brooks County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Brooks County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 5,070 people, so roughly 69% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quitman | city | 4,062 | $19,324 | $691 | 3 mi |
| Morven | city | 553 | $36,389 | $757 | 10 mi |
| Barwick | city | 369 | $32,778 | $783 | 11 mi |
| Dixie | CDP | 86 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Brooks County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Brooks County's, from 19 to 34 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Brooks County; Thomas County is highest at $60,736 and Lanier County lowest at $47,186. The list crosses into Florida, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooks County | - | $46,807 | $809/mo | 72% |
| Lowndes County, GA | 19 mi | $58,541 | $1,052/mo | 57% |
| Thomas County, GA | 20 mi | $60,736 | $1,018/mo | 64% |
| Cook County, GA | 24 mi | $53,651 | $956/mo | 66% |
| Madison County, FL | 27 mi | $48,485 | $874/mo | 73% |
| Colquitt County, GA | 28 mi | $49,341 | $818/mo | 64% |
| Lanier County, GA | 34 mi | $47,186 | $913/mo | 73% |
Budget math at the Brooks County median
Brooks County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,901 before taxes
- Median rent: $809, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $595 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Brooks County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Brooks County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.8% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.5% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.4% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Brooks County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Brooks County
What the Brooks County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 16% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Manufactured homes. 30% of Brooks County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 25% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 58% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
A Brooks County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Brooks County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Brooks County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Brooks County resident can confirm its license with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brooks County a high-income county?
Its $46,807 median ranks 135th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Brooks County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $809 against $1,393 statewide, and 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Brooks County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Brooks County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Quitman?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Brooks County, such as Morven, Barwick, Dixie.
Does living in Brooks County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Brooks County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.