1st Advantage MortgageAbout 66% of Cook County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $53,651. 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 Cook County
- Paychecks and income spread in Cook County
- Renting and owning in Cook County
- The Cook County job picture
- Cook County towns compared
- The counties around Cook County
- People and households in Cook County
- Local borrowing considerations for Cook County
- Budget math at the Cook County median
- Checklist for Cook County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Cook County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Cook County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Cook County's population at 17,532; only 100 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 228 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 77 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Cook County, Adel leads by population with about 5,641; 4 of the 4 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Cook County
At $53,651, the typical Cook County household income is 18% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 99th of 159.
| Yearly household income | Cook County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.7% | +13.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +1.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.2% | -10.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -4.7 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. 17.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.492 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Cook County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Renting and owning in Cook County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $956 in Cook County versus $1,393 statewide. 54% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. With a median value of $157,500, a typical Cook County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 66% of homes.
| Measure | Cook County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $956/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $157,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 10% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The Cook County job picture
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Cook County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. Construction stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Cook County. About 80% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Cook County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.7% | +2.4 pts |
| Construction | 13.6% | +6.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Other services | 5.9% | +1.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Cook County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cook County towns compared
4 Census places fall mainly inside Cook County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 8,896 residents, leaving about 49% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $43,618 at the median in Adel, $29,423 in Lenox. No Cook County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adel | city | 5,641 | $43,618 | $969 | 2 mi |
| Sparks | town | 2,056 | $39,191 | $929 | 1 mi |
| Lenox | town | 713 | $29,423 | $823 | 8 mi |
| Cecil | city | 486 | $43,250 | $1,080 | 8 mi |
The counties around Cook County
Six nearby counties, 15 to 24 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Cook County; Lowndes County is highest at $58,541 and Brooks County lowest at $46,807.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook County | - | $53,651 | $956/mo | 66% |
| Berrien County, GA | 15 mi | $52,876 | $782/mo | 71% |
| Colquitt County, GA | 20 mi | $49,341 | $818/mo | 64% |
| Tift County, GA | 22 mi | $53,255 | $777/mo | 61% |
| Lanier County, GA | 23 mi | $47,186 | $913/mo | 73% |
| Lowndes County, GA | 24 mi | $58,541 | $1,052/mo | 57% |
| Brooks County, GA | 24 mi | $46,807 | $809/mo | 72% |
People and households in Cook County
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 15.3%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Cook County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.3% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Cook County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Cook County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Cook County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 27% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Budget math at the Cook County median
Cook County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Cook County: $4,471
- Median rent: $956, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 40% cap, $1,788 total minus rent leaves $832
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Cook County's.
Checklist for Cook County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Cook 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 about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Cook County
Consumer lenders serving Cook County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Cook County?
$53,651 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 99th of 159 in the state.
Is Cook County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $956 against $1,393 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Cook County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Adel, Sparks, Lenox, Cecil.
Is the fit check different in Cook County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Cook County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.