1st Advantage MortgageThe median Chattooga County household earns $50,285, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Chattooga County at a glance
- Income in Chattooga County compared with Georgia
- What it costs to live in Chattooga County
- The Chattooga County job picture
- How Chattooga County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Chattooga County
- Chattooga County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Chattooga County borrowers
- What a median Chattooga County budget can carry
- A Chattooga County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Chattooga County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Chattooga County at a glance
Roughly 25,036 residents live in Chattooga County, Georgia, 77th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. It covers 313 square miles of land, or about 80 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Chattooga County, Summerville leads by population with about 4,408; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
Income in Chattooga County compared with Georgia
The median household income in Chattooga County is $50,285; statewide it is $77,353, so Chattooga County runs 35% below Georgia as a whole.
| Household income | Chattooga County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.5% | +14.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.0% | -10.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -9.3 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 19% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 21.2%, 8 points higher than the state's 13.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.430 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Chattooga County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Chattooga County
A typical Chattooga County rental runs $790 a month including utilities, which is 43% below Georgia. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $115,600, about 2.3 times the median household income. Owners occupy 67% of homes.
| Cost | Chattooga County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $790/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $115,600 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | 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?
The Chattooga County job picture
Manufacturing employs 30% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward manufacturing (30% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Chattooga County. Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 7.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Chattooga County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 30.2% | +20.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -6.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.0% | -3.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How Chattooga County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (16 to 31 miles). Income ranges from $51,204 in DeKalb County to $67,070 in Whitfield County; all six of these neighbors top Chattooga County's median. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Chattooga County resident follows Georgia rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattooga County | - | $50,285 | $790/mo | 67% |
| Floyd County, GA | 16 mi | $65,565 | $1,014/mo | 64% |
| Walker County, GA | 18 mi | $59,469 | $940/mo | 77% |
| DeKalb County, AL | 26 mi | $51,204 | $693/mo | 78% |
| Gordon County, GA | 27 mi | $63,650 | $937/mo | 74% |
| Dade County, GA | 28 mi | $64,568 | $829/mo | 80% |
| Whitfield County, GA | 31 mi | $67,070 | $971/mo | 67% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Chattooga County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Chattooga County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 7,586 residents, leaving about 70% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $32,662 in Summerville to $72,250 in Menlo. No Chattooga County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summerville | city | 4,408 | $32,662 | $593 | 0 mi |
| Trion | town | 2,033 | $48,750 | $770 | 5 mi |
| Menlo | city | 620 | $72,250 | $595 | 8 mi |
| Lyerly | town | 525 | $47,750 | $780 | 6 mi |
Chattooga County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 13.1%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Chattooga County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.0% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 24.6% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.2% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Chattooga County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
What the numbers mean for Chattooga County borrowers
Where the Chattooga County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Chattooga County. For the 13% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Chattooga County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
What a median Chattooga County budget can carry
Here is the Chattooga County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Chattooga County: $4,190
- Rent at the median, $790, takes 19% of that
- $1,012: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
A Chattooga County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Chattooga County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Who licenses lenders for Chattooga County residents
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chattooga County a high-income county?
Its $50,285 median ranks 125th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Chattooga County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $790 against $1,393 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Chattooga County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Summerville, Trion, Menlo, Lyerly.
Are Chattooga County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Chattooga County check a lender's license?
With the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.