1st Advantage MortgageEffingham County households have a median income of $88,438 and median rent of $1,147 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Effingham County
- What Effingham County households earn
- Renting and owning in Effingham County
- Jobs and commutes in Effingham County
- Regional comparison for Effingham County
- Places inside Effingham County
- Debt-to-income at Effingham County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Effingham County
- Effingham County households compared
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Effingham County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Effingham County
Roughly 69,143 residents live in Effingham County, Georgia, 35th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. It covers 479 square miles of land, or about 144 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Savannah, GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Rincon is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 11,332 people (16% of the county total).
What Effingham County households earn
Half of Effingham County households take in less than $88,438 a year and half take in more, 14% above the Georgia median of $77,353. In the state ranking that is 15th of 159.
| Yearly household income | Effingham County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.0% | -7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.7% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.9% | +6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | -1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of Effingham County households make $100,000 or more, and 15% make less than $35,000. Census counts 6.8% of Effingham County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. For a borrower in Effingham 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.
Renting and owning in Effingham County
A typical Effingham County rental runs $1,147 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Georgia. By the Census definition, 32% of Effingham County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $276,000, or 3.1 years of median income. 78% of Effingham County households own their home and 22% rent. The median year built is 2001.
| Home costs | Effingham County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,147/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $276,000 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 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).
Jobs and commutes in Effingham County
Manufacturing employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.5% in Effingham County. Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Effingham County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 19.0% | +9.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.4% | -2.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -5.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +1.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Effingham County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Effingham County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 31 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Effingham County; Bryan County is highest at $103,408 and Hampton County lowest at $44,711. The list crosses into South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effingham County | - | $88,438 | $1,147/mo | 78% |
| Jasper County, SC | 19 mi | $65,613 | $1,328/mo | 77% |
| Bulloch County, GA | 23 mi | $58,810 | $995/mo | 53% |
| Bryan County, GA | 24 mi | $103,408 | $1,618/mo | 78% |
| Chatham County, GA | 30 mi | $71,097 | $1,471/mo | 57% |
| Screven County, GA | 31 mi | $52,792 | $679/mo | 70% |
| Hampton County, SC | 31 mi | $44,711 | $843/mo | 73% |
Places inside Effingham County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Effingham County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 17,046 people, so roughly 75% of residents live outside any named place. Guyton has the highest median household income on the list ($86,250) and Springfield the lowest ($62,957), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Springfield ($1,105) and steepest in Rincon ($1,245). No Effingham County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rincon | city | 11,332 | $74,417 | $1,245 | 8 mi |
| Springfield | city | 2,974 | $62,957 | $1,105 | 2 mi |
| Guyton | city | 2,740 | $86,250 | $1,150 | 3 mi |
Debt-to-income at Effingham County's medians
Effingham County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,370 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $1,147, takes 16% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,506 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.
Local borrowing considerations for Effingham County
A few patterns in the Effingham County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Long drives. With 27% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Effingham County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Effingham County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 43% of Effingham County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
Effingham County households compared
27% of Effingham County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 9.7%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Measure | Effingham County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.2% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.7% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Effingham County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.5% |
| 60+ min | 11.6% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Effingham County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Effingham County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Effingham County
Effingham County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Effingham County?
$88,438 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 15th of 159 in the state.
What do renters pay in Effingham County?
$1,147 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
I live in a small Effingham County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Rincon, Springfield, Guyton.
Is the fit check different in Effingham County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Effingham 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.