1st Advantage MortgageIn Burke County, Georgia, the typical household earns $53,014 a year and the typical rent is $758. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Burke County
- Renting and owning in Burke County
- Paychecks and income spread in Burke County
- Employment and commuting in Burke County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Burke County
- How Burke County compares with nearby counties
- What a median Burke County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Burke County
- More Burke County figures
- Georgia rules that apply in Burke County
- Four steps for Burke County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Burke County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Burke County's population at 24,470; only 77 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 827 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 30 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (6 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Waynesboro, with about 5,644 residents, or 23% of the county.
Renting and owning in Burke County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $758 in Burke County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 47% of renter households here. With a median value of $151,600, a typical Burke County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 70%. The median year built is 1982.
| Cost | Burke County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $758/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $151,600 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 10% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Burke County
Half of Burke County households take in less than $53,014 a year and half take in more, 31% below the Georgia median of $77,353.
| Band | Burke County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.1% | +11.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -4.2 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 18.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.548 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Burke County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Employment and commuting in Burke County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Burke County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.0% in Burke County. Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Burke County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.7% | -2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% | +3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.9% | -1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.3% | +4.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.3 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Burke County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Burke County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 7,688 people, so roughly 69% of residents live outside any named place. No Burke County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesboro | city | 5,644 | $41,620 | $746 | 2 mi |
| Sardis | city | 912 | $52,303 | $659 | 15 mi |
| Midville | city | 378 | $32,778 | $362 | 21 mi |
| Keysville | city | 297 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Vidette | city | 181 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Gough | CDP | 139 | $13,872 | $823 | 13 mi |
| Girard | town | 137 | $66,250 | n/a | 17 mi |
How Burke County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 37 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Burke County; Richmond County is highest at $55,637 and Jenkins County lowest at $44,389. The list crosses into South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County | - | $53,014 | $758/mo | 70% |
| Jenkins County, GA | 18 mi | $44,389 | $535/mo | 82% |
| Richmond County, GA | 21 mi | $55,637 | $1,141/mo | 51% |
| Jefferson County, GA | 24 mi | $53,014 | $731/mo | 68% |
| Screven County, GA | 31 mi | $52,792 | $679/mo | 70% |
| Barnwell County, SC | 36 mi | $46,626 | $740/mo | 71% |
| Emanuel County, GA | 37 mi | $52,772 | $783/mo | 61% |
What a median Burke County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Burke County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $4,418 gross per month ($53,014 / 12)
- 17% goes to median rent ($758)
- At 35%, room after rent is $788 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,230 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Borrowing situations common in Burke County
Where the Burke County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Burke County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 27% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Burke County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 30% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 18% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
More Burke County figures
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 13.8%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Indicator | Burke County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.5% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Burke County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.0% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Georgia rules that apply in Burke County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Burke County borrowers answers to 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.
Four steps for Burke County borrowers
A short checklist for Burke County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Burke County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Burke County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burke County a high-income county?
Its $53,014 median ranks 106th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Burke County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $758 against $1,393 statewide, and 47% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Burke County?
By population: Waynesboro, Sardis, Midville, Keysville, Vidette. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Will a Burke 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 Burke County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.