1st Advantage MortgageIn Echols County, Georgia, the typical household earns $59,489 a year and the typical rent is $1,017. 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
- Echols County by the numbers
- Work, industries and travel time in Echols County
- What Echols County households earn
- Renting and owning in Echols County
- The communities that make up Echols County
- The counties around Echols County
- Budget math at the Echols County median
- More Echols County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Echols County
- Before you sign
- Georgia rules that apply in Echols County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Echols County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Echols County's population at 3,709; only 152 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 420 square miles, that works out to roughly 8.8 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Valdosta, GA metropolitan area. Of the 1 Census place inside Echols County, Echols County leads by population with about 3,709. With so few households sampled, Echols County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Work, industries and travel time in Echols County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 16%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward construction (15% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Echols County averages 1.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 1.9% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Echols County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.0% | +7.4 pts |
| Construction | 15.0% | +8.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.5% | +1.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.8% | +7.8 pts |
| Other services | 8.1% | +3.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Echols County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Echols County households earn
Half of Echols County households take in less than $59,489 a year and half take in more, 23% below the Georgia median of $77,353. In the state ranking that is 70th of 159.
| Household income | Echols County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.1% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +7.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.7% | -6.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.5% | -4.4 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. Census counts 14.2% of Echols County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Echols County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Echols County
Renters in Echols County pay a median of $1,017 a month, 27% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 40% of Echols County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $124,100, a typical Echols County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%.
| Housing | Echols County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,017/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $124,100 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Echols County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The communities that make up Echols County
Echols County is the only Census place mainly inside Echols County, with about 3,709 of the county's 3,709 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echols County | place | 3,709 | $59,489 | $1,017 | 0 mi |
The counties around Echols County
Distances run center to center, from Hamilton County at 15 miles out to Suwannee County at 37. Lowndes County leads the group on income ($58,541), Clinch County trails ($45,847), and Echols County out-earns 6 of the six. Some neighbors are in Florida. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Echols County resident follows Georgia rules.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echols County | - | $59,489 | $1,017/mo | 76% |
| Hamilton County, FL | 15 mi | $50,144 | $724/mo | 80% |
| Clinch County, GA | 18 mi | $45,847 | $509/mo | 71% |
| Lowndes County, GA | 24 mi | $58,541 | $1,052/mo | 57% |
| Lanier County, GA | 24 mi | $47,186 | $913/mo | 73% |
| Ware County, GA | 37 mi | $47,448 | $789/mo | 63% |
| Suwannee County, FL | 37 mi | $56,658 | $884/mo | 75% |
Budget math at the Echols County median
Echols County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,957 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,017, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $966 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Echols County's.
More Echols County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. About 21% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Echols County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.7% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 21.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 1.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 38.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Echols County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Echols County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 21% of Echols County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 43% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Echols County residents:
- Price the Echols County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Georgia rules that apply in Echols County
Consumer lenders serving Echols County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Echols County earn?
The median is $59,489; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Echols County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,017 against $1,393 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Echols County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Echols County.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Echols County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Echols 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.