1st Advantage MortgageDecatur County (29,195 residents) has a $53,317 median household income and $838 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. For a Decatur County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Georgia license.
On this page
- Decatur County by the numbers
- Employment and commuting in Decatur County
- Decatur County at the extremes
- Paychecks and income spread in Decatur County
- Where Decatur County households live
- Counties near Decatur County
- Decatur County communities by population
- More Decatur County figures
- $4,443 a month: the Decatur County median budget
- Reading the Decatur County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Decatur County applicants
- Verifying a lender from Decatur County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Decatur County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Decatur County's population at 29,195; only 63 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 597 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 49 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Decatur County is not part of any metropolitan area. Bainbridge (14,404 people) heads the county's list of 5 Census places, 4 incorporated and 1 census-designated.
Employment and commuting in Decatur County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Decatur County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 6% locally and 1% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in Decatur County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 12%; under 15 minutes: 43%. 734 Decatur County households, 6.9%, have no vehicle.
| Sector | Decatur County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | +3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -5.8 pts |
| Public administration | 7.6% | +2.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -2.5 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Decatur County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
Decatur County at the extremes
Ranked against the other 158 county-level areas in Georgia, these are the Decatur County figures furthest from the middle.
- On the share of commutes over 45 minutes, Decatur County sits near the bottom of Georgia at 12%, 29th lowest of 159. Less driving means fewer surprise repair bills.
- Homeownership: 62% in Decatur County. Only 27 of 159 Georgia counties are lower. In a renter-heavy county, unsecured loans and cards are the main options.
- The share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 39% in Decatur County. Only 27 of 159 Georgia counties are lower. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
- The share of workers who work from home: 4.4% in Decatur County. Only 31 of 159 Georgia counties are lower. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
Paychecks and income spread in Decatur County
The median household income in Decatur County is $53,317; statewide it is $77,353, so Decatur County runs 31% below Georgia as a whole.
| Income band | Share in Decatur County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.1% | +14.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.5% | -1.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.8% | -5.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -8.2 pts |
37% under $35,000 and 24% at $100,000 or more: that is the Decatur County income split. Census counts 22.0% of Decatur County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Where Decatur County households live
A typical Decatur County rental runs $838 a month including utilities, which is 40% below Georgia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $158,800, about 3.0 times the median household income. In Decatur County, 62% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1986. Nationally, Decatur County's $838 rent is 4% below the middle county.
| Cost | Decatur County | Georgia figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $838/mo | $1,393/mo | 40% lower |
| Median home value | $158,800 | $303,300 | 48% lower |
| Owners | 62% | 66% | -3.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 52% | -13.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 26% | +5.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 20.6% | 7.8% | +12.8 pts |
Counties near Decatur County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 33 miles). Decatur County's $53,317 median trails 2 of the six and beats 4; the range runs $46,012 (Baker County) to $58,980 (Grady County). Some neighbors are in Florida. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Decatur County resident follows Georgia rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | - | $53,317 | $838/mo | 62% |
| Seminole County, GA | 17 mi | $49,495 | $879/mo | 80% |
| Grady County, GA | 20 mi | $58,980 | $779/mo | 66% |
| Gadsden County, FL | 21 mi | $48,801 | $851/mo | 71% |
| Miller County, GA | 21 mi | $51,425 | $810/mo | 70% |
| Baker County, GA | 31 mi | $46,012 | $631/mo | 77% |
| Mitchell County, GA | 33 mi | $57,613 | $797/mo | 65% |
Decatur County communities by population
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Decatur County residents live in one of the 5. No Decatur County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bainbridge | city | 14,404 | $45,422 | $791 | 2 mi |
| Attapulgus | city | 673 | $38,750 | $717 | 11 mi |
| Brinson | town | 207 | $73,750 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Climax | city | 170 | $36,500 | $698 | 9 mi |
| Faceville | CDP | 142 | $38,833 | n/a | 9 mi |
More Decatur County figures
In Decatur County, 15% of adults have at least a four-year degree (35% in Georgia). The uninsured rate is 13.8%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| People and households | Decatur County | Compared with Georgia | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.1% | -19.8 pts | -7.0 pts |
| Work from home | 4.4% | -11.5 pts | -4.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 22.0% | +8.7 pts | +8.9 pts |
| No high school diploma | 16.4% | +5.6 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.8% | +1.5 pts | +6.0 pts |
| Median age | 38.9 | +1.3 yrs | -2.6 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | +1.2 pts | +1.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Decatur County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
$4,443 a month: the Decatur County median budget
How much room does a median Decatur County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $53,317 a year is $4,443 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $838 uses 19%
- Under a 35% cap, $1,555 total minus rent leaves $717
- Under a 45% cap, $1,999 total minus rent leaves $1,161
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Decatur County data as a borrower
What the Decatur County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 14% uninsured. In Decatur County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 21% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 22% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Checklist for Decatur County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Decatur County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Verifying a lender from Decatur County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Decatur County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov.
Nearby and statewide guides
No city in Decatur County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Decatur County earn?
The median is $53,317; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 37% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Decatur County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $838 median rent and $4,443 median monthly income, rent alone uses 19%; add other debts before a new payment.
I live in a small Decatur County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Bainbridge, Attapulgus, Brinson, Climax, Faceville.
Are Decatur 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.
Who regulates personal lenders for Decatur 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.