1st Advantage MortgageCherokee County households have a median income of $108,115 and median rent of $1,799 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 Cherokee County
- Work, industries and travel time in Cherokee County
- Paychecks and income spread in Cherokee County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Cherokee County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Cherokee County
- Budget math at the Cherokee County median
- Borrowing situations common in Cherokee County
- Cherokee County households compared
- Checklist for Cherokee County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Cherokee County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Cherokee County
Cherokee County is home to about 281,032 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 7th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Land area is 421 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 668 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 6 Census places inside Cherokee County, Woodstock leads by population with about 37,381; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Cherokee County
By the Census industry count, 18% of employed Cherokee County residents work in education and health care and 17% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 17% locally and 14% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Cherokee County. About 68% drive to work alone and 26% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 2.4% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Cherokee County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.1% | -2.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 16.5% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +2.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -1.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Cherokee County
The median household income in Cherokee County is $108,115; statewide it is $77,353, so Cherokee County runs 40% above Georgia as a whole.
| Households earning | Cherokee County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 13.1% | -9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.5% | -7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.0% | +9.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 18.4% | +6.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 54% of Cherokee County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. 7.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.410 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $108,115 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Cherokee County
Renters in Cherokee County pay a median of $1,799 a month, 29% above the Georgia figure of $1,393. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. With a median value of $435,100, a typical Cherokee County house costs 4.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. Half the housing stock was built before 2001.
| Cherokee County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,799/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $435,100 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Cherokee 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 15 to 29 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $63,650 in Gordon County to $143,784 in Forsyth County; 1 of these neighbors top Cherokee County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | - | $108,115 | $1,799/mo | 77% |
| Pickens County, GA | 15 mi | $78,930 | $1,136/mo | 81% |
| Forsyth County, GA | 20 mi | $143,784 | $2,090/mo | 84% |
| Bartow County, GA | 21 mi | $82,243 | $1,268/mo | 73% |
| Cobb County, GA | 22 mi | $102,738 | $1,730/mo | 67% |
| Dawson County, GA | 22 mi | $92,991 | $1,626/mo | 79% |
| Gordon County, GA | 29 mi | $63,650 | $937/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Cherokee County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Cherokee County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 96,116 people, so roughly 66% of residents live outside any named place. Mountain Park has the highest median household income on the list ($129,583) and Waleska the lowest ($56,250), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $879 in Waleska to $1,850 in Holly Springs. This guide covers each of the 6 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | city | 37,381 | $103,496 | $1,821 | 10 mi |
| Canton | city | 35,741 | $80,091 | $1,680 | 1 mi |
| Holly Springs | city | 18,627 | $113,992 | $1,850 | 5 mi |
| Ball Ground | city | 2,856 | $117,829 | $1,344 | 9 mi |
| Waleska | city | 808 | $56,250 | $879 | 6 mi |
| Mountain Park | city | 703 | $129,583 | $1,818 | 12 mi |
Budget math at the Cherokee County median
Cherokee County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $108,115 a year is $9,010 of gross monthly income
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,799)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,444 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,075 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cherokee County's.
Borrowing situations common in Cherokee County
What the Cherokee County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 10% of Cherokee County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 26% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Cherokee County budgets.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 54% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Rent squeeze. 57% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Cherokee County households compared
Degree holders: 41% of adults over 25. 10.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Cherokee County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 41.1% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.4% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.1% |
| 60+ min | 11.2% |
Checklist for Cherokee County applicants
Quick steps for Cherokee County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Cherokee County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Cherokee County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Related local guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Cherokee County?
$108,115 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 4th of 159 in the state.
How does Cherokee County rent compare with Georgia?
$1,799 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 29% above.
I live in a small Cherokee County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Woodstock, Canton, Holly Springs, Ball Ground, Waleska and 1 more.
Are Cherokee 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.
Is there a Cherokee County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.