1st Advantage MortgageIn Dade County, Georgia, the typical household earns $64,568 a year and the typical rent is $829. 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
- Dade County by the numbers
- Income in Dade County compared with Georgia
- Housing costs in Dade County
- Employment and commuting in Dade County
- Towns and communities in Dade County
- Regional comparison for Dade County
- Who lives in Dade County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Dade County
- Debt-to-income at Dade County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- Checklist for Dade County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dade County by the numbers
Roughly 16,165 residents live in Dade County, Georgia, 105th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 174 square miles, that is close to 93 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (1 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Trenton, with about 2,123 residents, or 13% of the county.
Income in Dade County compared with Georgia
Half of Dade County households take in less than $64,568 a year and half take in more, 17% below the Georgia median of $77,353. That places it 57th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Band | Dade County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.3% | +4.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.3% | -5.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -4.1 pts |
Some 26% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 29% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 8.2% of Dade County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. A household earning below the $64,568 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Dade County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $829 in Dade County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 29% of Dade County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $198,500, a typical Dade County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. 80% of Dade County households own their home and 20% rent.
| Housing | Dade County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $829/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $198,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 10% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Employment and commuting in Dade County
The biggest employer of Dade County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward manufacturing (20% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Dade County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Dade County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.0% | +9.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -4.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.9% | -4.4 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Towns and communities in Dade County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Dade County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 3,926 residents, leaving about 76% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Dade 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | city | 2,123 | $39,441 | $670 | 2 mi |
| West Brow | CDP | 1,044 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| New England | CDP | 391 | $26,374 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Wildwood | CDP | 368 | $80,721 | n/a | 9 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Dade County
Distances run center to center, from Walker County at 14 miles out to Chattooga County at 28. Income ranges from $50,285 in Chattooga County to $76,183 in Hamilton County; 2 of these neighbors top Dade County's median. The list crosses into Alabama, Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dade County | - | $64,568 | $829/mo | 80% |
| Walker County, GA | 14 mi | $59,469 | $940/mo | 77% |
| Marion County, TN | 20 mi | $61,824 | $853/mo | 79% |
| Catoosa County, GA | 21 mi | $74,639 | $993/mo | 74% |
| Hamilton County, TN | 28 mi | $76,183 | $1,253/mo | 64% |
| Jackson County, AL | 28 mi | $51,908 | $780/mo | 75% |
| Chattooga County, GA | 28 mi | $50,285 | $790/mo | 67% |
Who lives in Dade County, in numbers
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. 9.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Dade County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Dade County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Dade County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dade County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Dade County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Debt-to-income at Dade County's medians
Dade County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $64,568 a year is $5,381 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $829, takes 15% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,108 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Consumer lenders serving Dade County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Checklist for Dade County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dade County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Georgia borrowers.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dade County a high-income county?
Its $64,568 median ranks 57th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Dade County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $829 against $1,393 statewide, and 29% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Dade County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Dade County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Dade County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Trenton, West Brow, New England, Wildwood.
Does living in Dade County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Dade County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.