1st Advantage MortgageCarroll County (124,569 residents) has a $73,714 median household income and $1,153 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. 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
- Getting oriented in Carroll County
- Homes and rents, Carroll County
- Where Carroll County differs from the rest of Georgia
- Carroll County industries and commutes
- Household income in Carroll County
- Regional comparison for Carroll County
- The communities that make up Carroll County
- More Carroll County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
- Budget math at the Carroll County median
- Lender oversight for Carroll County
- Checklist for Carroll County applicants
- More guides for Carroll County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Carroll County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Carroll County's population at 124,569; only 19 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 249.6 residents per square mile across 499 square miles of land. Metro area: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (OMB, 2023). Largest place: Carrollton, about 27,392 residents (22% of Carroll County); 7 Census places in all.
Homes and rents, Carroll County
Renters in Carroll County pay a median of $1,153 a month, 17% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 52% of Carroll County renters are cost-burdened. Median value $255,100; median income $73,714; ratio 3.5. Owners occupy 71% of homes. Median construction year: 1991. Against the median U.S. county, Carroll County rent is 31% above.
| Measure | Carroll County | Georgia | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 71% | 66% | +5.6 pts |
| Mobile homes | 11.0% | 7.8% | +3.1 pts |
| Vacant units | 8% | 10% | -2.5 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | +2.0 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,153/mo | $1,393/mo | 17% lower |
| Median home value | $255,100 | $303,300 | 16% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | -0.4 pts |
52% of Carroll County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
Where Carroll County differs from the rest of Georgia
Where Carroll County lands at the extremes of Georgia's county rankings:
- Median age: 35.4 in Carroll County. Only 14 of 159 Georgia counties are lower. Younger borrowers often have thin credit files; a co-signer or credit union may help.
- Population: 124,569 in Carroll County. Only 19 of 159 Georgia counties are higher. More people usually means more banks and credit unions to compare nearby.
- On the housing vacancy rate, Carroll County sits near the bottom of Georgia at 8%, 23rd lowest of 159. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
Carroll County industries and commutes
Education and health care (22%), manufacturing (14%) and professional and administrative services (12%) lead Carroll County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 14% locally and 10% for Georgia. Unemployment in Carroll County, ACS five-year: 5.9%; Georgia: 5.1%. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Only 3.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Carroll County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.2% | +4.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +1.7 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.
Household income in Carroll County
The median household income in Carroll County is $73,714; statewide it is $77,353, so Carroll County runs 5% below Georgia as a whole. That places it 39th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Household income | Carroll County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.4% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.4% | +1.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | +1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -5.1 pts |
On the low end, 24% of Carroll County households report under $35,000; at the top, 34% report $100,000-plus. Poverty rate, Carroll County: 15.4%; Georgia: 13.4%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Carroll County median.
Regional comparison for Carroll County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Carroll County's, from 17 to 26 miles away. Carroll County's $73,714 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $55,345 (Cleburne County) to $98,031 (Paulding County). The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | - | $73,714 | $1,153/mo | 71% |
| Haralson County, GA | 17 mi | $72,127 | $923/mo | 72% |
| Douglas County, GA | 20 mi | $82,984 | $1,570/mo | 67% |
| Heard County, GA | 20 mi | $65,868 | $917/mo | 72% |
| Coweta County, GA | 24 mi | $95,548 | $1,488/mo | 78% |
| Cleburne County, AL | 26 mi | $55,345 | $798/mo | 79% |
| Paulding County, GA | 26 mi | $98,031 | $1,772/mo | 81% |
The communities that make up Carroll County
Places, by size: the top 7 of 7. Roughly 64% of Carroll County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Fairfield Plantation ($102,984) and Mount Zion ($53,750) mark the top and bottom of Carroll County's income range among larger places. From Carrollton to the smallest crossroads, Carroll County residents share this guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrollton | city | 27,392 | $54,379 | $1,089 | 0 mi |
| Fairfield Plantation | CDP | 6,172 | $102,984 | $1,783 | 10 mi |
| Temple | city | 5,901 | $91,180 | $1,384 | 11 mi |
| Mount Zion | city | 2,433 | $53,750 | $1,430 | 7 mi |
| Bowdon | city | 2,006 | $65,337 | $919 | 10 mi |
| Whitesburg | city | 525 | $55,938 | $788 | 11 mi |
| Roopville | town | 467 | $78,036 | n/a | 9 mi |
More Carroll County figures
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24% of Carroll County adults. The uninsured rate is 12.0%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Indicator | Carroll County | +/- Georgia | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.8% | -11.1 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Work from home | 10.1% | -5.8 pts | +1.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 14.2% | +3.4 pts | n/a |
| Median age | 35.4 | -2.2 yrs | -6.1 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | +2.0 pts | +2.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.9% | -2.0 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 12.0% | -0.4 pts | +4.2 pts |
| Minutes to work | Carroll County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 14.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Carroll County
A few patterns in the Carroll County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 12% uninsured. In Carroll County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Carroll County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Carroll County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Budget math at the Carroll County median
Here is the Carroll County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,143 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,153, takes 19% of that
- $997: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,611 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 Carroll County's.
Lender oversight for Carroll County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Carroll County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a Carroll County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Carroll County borrowers is in the Georgia guide.
Checklist for Carroll County applicants
Steps that save money for Carroll County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Carroll County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Carroll County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Georgia borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Carroll County
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Carroll County earn?
The median is $73,714; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Carroll County?
$1,153 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I live near Carrollton. Which guide is mine?
This one. Carrollton and the rest of Carroll County have no separate city guide.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Carroll County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Is there a Carroll County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.