1st Advantage MortgageThe median Crisp County household earns $45,105, and 23% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in Crisp County
- Housing costs in Crisp County
- How much Crisp County households make
- How Crisp County residents earn a living
- Counties near Crisp County
- Towns and communities in Crisp County
- Debt-to-income at Crisp County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Crisp County borrowers
- Crisp County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Lender oversight for Crisp County
- Steps before you apply in Crisp County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Crisp County
Roughly 19,790 residents live in Crisp County, Georgia, 94th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 273 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 73 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Crisp County is not part of any metropolitan area. Cordele is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 9,994 people (51% of the county total).
Housing costs in Crisp County
Renters in Crisp County pay a median of $778 a month, 44% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 51% of Crisp County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $140,200, a typical Crisp County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 56% of Crisp County households own their home and 44% rent.
| Housing | Crisp County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $778/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $140,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 56% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.6% | 7.8% | 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.
How much Crisp County households make
Half of Crisp County households take in less than $45,105 a year and half take in more, 42% below the Georgia median of $77,353. That places it 143rd among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Band | Crisp County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.3% | +19.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.2% | -2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -10.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.1% | -6.7 pts |
About 41% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. 23.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.502 here. For a borrower in Crisp 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.
How Crisp County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Crisp County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 11% locally and 7% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.5% in Crisp County. About 81% drive to work alone and 14% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 15.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Crisp County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.2% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.7% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.1% | +3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.1% | -1.5 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Crisp County
Distances run center to center, from Turner County at 16 miles out to Pulaski County at 27. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Crisp County; Lee County is highest at $89,168 and Turner County lowest at $36,799.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crisp County | - | $45,105 | $778/mo | 56% |
| Turner County, GA | 16 mi | $36,799 | $679/mo | 64% |
| Dooly County, GA | 16 mi | $60,987 | $758/mo | 65% |
| Wilcox County, GA | 19 mi | $54,138 | $610/mo | 75% |
| Lee County, GA | 24 mi | $89,168 | $1,184/mo | 74% |
| Worth County, GA | 26 mi | $58,694 | $864/mo | 74% |
| Pulaski County, GA | 27 mi | $50,406 | $883/mo | 71% |
Towns and communities in Crisp County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Crisp County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 10,830 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cordele | city | 9,994 | $33,800 | $786 | 3 mi |
| Arabi | town | 550 | $85,536 | $950 | 7 mi |
| Wenona | CDP | 286 | n/a | n/a | 1 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Debt-to-income at Crisp County's medians
How much room does a median Crisp County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $45,105 a year is $3,759 of gross monthly income
- 21% goes to median rent ($778)
- $726: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Crisp County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Crisp County borrowers
Where the Crisp County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Crisp County. For the 15% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 20% of Crisp County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 23% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 51% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Crisp County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. 14.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Crisp County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.2% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 15.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Crisp County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
Lender oversight for Crisp County
Crisp County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Steps before you apply in Crisp County
Steps that save money for Crisp County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Crisp County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Crisp County earn?
The median is $45,105; 21% earn $100,000 or more and 41% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Crisp County rent compare with Georgia?
$778 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 44% below.
I live in a small Crisp County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Cordele, Arabi, Wenona.
Will a Crisp County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Crisp County?
Start with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.