1st Advantage MortgageThe median Dooly County household earns $60,987, and 16% 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
- Dooly County, GA: the basics
- The Dooly County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Dooly County
- Renting and owning in Dooly County
- The communities that make up Dooly County
- The counties around Dooly County
- Room for a loan payment in Dooly County
- Dooly County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Dooly County
- A Dooly County borrower's checklist
- Georgia rules that apply in Dooly County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dooly County, GA: the basics
Roughly 10,984 residents live in Dooly County, Georgia, 121st by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 393 square miles, that works out to roughly 28.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 6 Census places inside Dooly County, Unadilla leads by population with about 3,064; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
The Dooly County job picture
Manufacturing employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 15%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward manufacturing (21% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.6% in Dooly County. About 79% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 7.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Dooly County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 20.5% | +10.5 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.7% | -6.3 pts |
| Public administration | 11.2% | +6.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -4.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.3% | +8.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.3% | -4.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Dooly County
At $60,987, the typical Dooly County household income is 7% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 64th of 159.
| Household income | Dooly County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.7% | +8.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.1% | -10.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -4.2 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 15.7%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.437 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Dooly County
A typical Dooly County rental runs $758 a month including utilities, which is 46% below Georgia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 21% of renter households here. Home values center on $107,400, or 1.8 years of median income. Owners occupy 65% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1983.
| Measure | Dooly County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $758/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $107,400 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 21% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 31.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
The communities that make up Dooly County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Dooly County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 7,263 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $57,736 at the median in Vienna, $36,875 in Unadilla. Rent is cheapest in Byromville ($526) and steepest in Unadilla ($771). None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unadilla | city | 3,064 | $36,875 | $771 | 8 mi |
| Vienna | city | 2,881 | $57,736 | $597 | 4 mi |
| Byromville | town | 575 | $44,083 | $526 | 7 mi |
| Pinehurst | city | 557 | $45,781 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Lilly | city | 150 | $30,208 | $619 | 4 mi |
| Dooling | town | 36 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
The counties around Dooly County
Distances run center to center, from Crisp County at 16 miles out to Wilcox County at 25. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Dooly County; Houston County is highest at $80,698 and Macon County lowest at $41,031.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dooly County | - | $60,987 | $758/mo | 65% |
| Crisp County, GA | 16 mi | $45,105 | $778/mo | 56% |
| Pulaski County, GA | 20 mi | $50,406 | $883/mo | 71% |
| Macon County, GA | 20 mi | $41,031 | $655/mo | 65% |
| Houston County, GA | 23 mi | $80,698 | $1,208/mo | 67% |
| Sumter County, GA | 24 mi | $42,653 | $857/mo | 57% |
| Wilcox County, GA | 25 mi | $54,138 | $610/mo | 75% |
Room for a loan payment in Dooly County
How much room does a median Dooly County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,082 gross per month ($60,987 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $758 uses 15%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,021 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,529: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Dooly County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. 11.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Dooly County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.8% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.9% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.9% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Dooly County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 4.0% |
Before borrowing in Dooly County
Where the Dooly County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 12% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 31% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
A Dooly County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Dooly County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Dooly County credit union about member loans.
Georgia rules that apply in Dooly County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dooly County household make?
About $60,987 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 21% below the Georgia median.
What do renters pay in Dooly County?
$758 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Dooly County?
By population: Unadilla, Vienna, Byromville, Pinehurst, Lilly. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Can Dooly 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.
Where can someone in Dooly County check a lender's license?
With the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.