1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clarke County household earns $53,625, and 26% 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
- Getting oriented in Clarke County
- Work, industries and travel time in Clarke County
- Income in Clarke County compared with Georgia
- Renting and owning in Clarke County
- Clarke County towns compared
- The counties around Clarke County
- People and households in Clarke County
- What the numbers mean for Clarke County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Clarke County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Clarke County
- Lender oversight for Clarke County
- More guides for Clarke County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Clarke County
Clarke County is home to about 129,609 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. It covers 119 square miles of land, or about 1,086 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 3 Census places inside Clarke County, Athens leads by population with about 127,345; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Clarke County
The biggest employer of Clarke County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 34% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (13%). Education and health care stands out: 34% of workers here, versus 21% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Clarke County averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Clarke County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.7% | +12.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.8% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.0% | -2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.0% | -2.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Clarke County compared with Georgia
Clarke County households have a median income of $53,625 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 100th of 159 in Georgia.
| Households earning | Clarke County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.6% | +12.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.5% | -5.4 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. 26.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.501 here. None of these numbers decides a Clarke County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Clarke County
Renters in Clarke County pay a median of $1,219 a month, 12% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. 60% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 35% spend half or more. With a median value of $298,900, a typical Clarke County house costs 5.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 41% of Clarke County households own their home and 59% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| Home costs | Clarke County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,219/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $298,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 41% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 7.8% | n/a |
For the many renters in Clarke County, deposits, moving costs and card balances are typical reasons to borrow. Keep the amount small and the term short. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Clarke County towns compared
3 Census places fall mainly inside Clarke County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 130,971 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $52,974 in Athens to $110,804 in Winterville. Median rent ranges from $1,033 in Winterville to $1,219 in Athens. Live in one of these Clarke County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | place | 127,345 | $52,974 | $1,219 | 0 mi |
| Winterville | city | 2,223 | $110,804 | $1,033 | 5 mi |
| Bogart | town | 1,403 | $90,292 | $1,158 | 10 mi |
The counties around Clarke County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (9 to 24 miles). Oconee County leads the group on income ($121,217), Madison County trails ($61,963), and Clarke County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County | - | $53,625 | $1,219/mo | 41% |
| Oconee County, GA | 9 mi | $121,217 | $1,462/mo | 81% |
| Madison County, GA | 15 mi | $61,963 | $972/mo | 77% |
| Jackson County, GA | 17 mi | $89,544 | $1,126/mo | 79% |
| Oglethorpe County, GA | 18 mi | $75,034 | $913/mo | 84% |
| Barrow County, GA | 20 mi | $80,653 | $1,318/mo | 79% |
| Walton County, GA | 24 mi | $84,945 | $1,175/mo | 79% |
People and households in Clarke County
College graduates make up 47% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 11.2%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Residents | Clarke County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 47.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.2% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
What the numbers mean for Clarke County borrowers
A few patterns in the Clarke County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Clarke County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 26% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Renters under pressure. When 60% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income at Clarke County's medians
Clarke County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,469 before taxes
- 27% goes to median rent ($1,219)
- Under a 35% cap, $1,564 total minus rent leaves $345
- Under a 45% cap, $2,011 total minus rent leaves $792
If your rent is above $1,219, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Clarke County
A short checklist for Clarke County borrowers:
- Price the Clarke County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Clarke County
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. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Clarke County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clarke County earn?
The median is $53,625; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 35% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Clarke County?
$1,219 a month at the median, about 27% of median household income.
I live in a small Clarke County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Athens, Winterville, Bogart.
Can Clarke County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Georgia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Clarke County residents?
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance licenses consumer lenders in Georgia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.