1st Advantage MortgageBryan County households have a median income of $103,408 and median rent of $1,618 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 Bryan County
- The Bryan County job picture
- Income in Bryan County compared with Georgia
- Housing costs in Bryan County
- Towns and communities in Bryan County
- Regional comparison for Bryan County
- People and households in Bryan County
- Borrowing situations common in Bryan County
- Debt-to-income at Bryan County's medians
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Bryan County
With an estimated 48,263 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Bryan County ranks 43rd of 159 in Georgia for population. Packed into 438 square miles, that is close to 110 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Savannah, GA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (2 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Richmond Hill, with about 18,181 residents, or 38% of the county.
The Bryan County job picture
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 15%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward retail trade (15% against 11%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 26% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Bryan County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -5.2 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Income in Bryan County compared with Georgia
The median household income in Bryan County is $103,408; statewide it is $77,353, so Bryan County runs 34% above Georgia as a whole. That places it 5th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Bryan County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 14.1% | -8.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.6% | -4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 37.0% | +10.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 14.4% | +2.5 pts |
Some 14% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 51% have six-figure incomes. 6.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.413 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Bryan County median.
Housing costs in Bryan County
A typical Bryan County rental runs $1,618 a month including utilities, which is 16% above Georgia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $343,200, about 3.3 times the median household income. 78% of Bryan County households own their home and 22% rent.
| Bryan County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,618/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $343,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.5% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Bryan County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Towns and communities in Bryan County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Bryan County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 25,576 residents, leaving about 47% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $72,705 in Pembroke to $144,864 in Buckhead. Rent is cheapest in Pembroke ($1,037) and steepest in Buckhead ($2,482). No Bryan County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Hill | city | 18,181 | $92,824 | $1,781 | 11 mi |
| Buckhead | CDP | 4,702 | $144,864 | $2,482 | 15 mi |
| Pembroke | city | 2,693 | $72,705 | $1,037 | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Bryan County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (15 to 31 miles). Effingham County leads the group on income ($88,438), Evans County trails ($53,259), and Bryan County out-earns 6 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan County | - | $103,408 | $1,618/mo | 78% |
| Liberty County, GA | 15 mi | $60,456 | $1,246/mo | 51% |
| Chatham County, GA | 21 mi | $71,097 | $1,471/mo | 57% |
| Effingham County, GA | 24 mi | $88,438 | $1,147/mo | 78% |
| Long County, GA | 26 mi | $68,808 | $976/mo | 65% |
| Evans County, GA | 28 mi | $53,259 | $719/mo | 65% |
| Bulloch County, GA | 31 mi | $58,810 | $995/mo | 53% |
People and households in Bryan County
36% of Bryan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.7%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Bryan County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.1% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 37.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 19.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Bryan County
A few patterns in the Bryan County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 26% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Bryan County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 51% of Bryan County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 53% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income at Bryan County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Bryan County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Bryan County: $8,617
- Rent at the median, $1,618, takes 19% of that
- At 35%, room after rent is $1,398 a month
- Under a 45% cap, $3,878 total minus rent leaves $2,260
If your rent is above $1,618, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bryan County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Bryan County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bryan County a high-income county?
Its $103,408 median ranks 5th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Bryan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,618 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Bryan County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Bryan County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Bryan County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Richmond Hill, Buckhead, Pembroke.
Does living in Bryan 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 Bryan County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.