1st Advantage MortgageIn Elbert County, Georgia, the typical household earns $58,450 a year and the typical rent is $844. 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
- Who lives in Elbert County
- Employment and commuting in Elbert County
- Income in Elbert County compared with Georgia
- Housing costs in Elbert County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Elbert County
- Elbert County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Elbert County's medians
- Borrowing situations common in Elbert County
- People and households in Elbert County
- Steps before you apply in Elbert County
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Elbert County
Elbert County is home to about 19,849 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 91st most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Packed into 351 square miles, that is close to 57 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Elbert County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Elbert County, Elberton leads by population with about 4,720; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Elbert County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Elbert County residents work in manufacturing and 19% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 26% locally and 10% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.6% in Elbert County. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Elbert County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 25.8% | +15.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -2.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.4% | +5.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.8% | -1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Elbert County compared with Georgia
The median household income in Elbert County is $58,450; statewide it is $77,353, so Elbert County runs 24% below Georgia as a whole. That places it 79th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Elbert County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.0% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.0% | +6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.4% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -8.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Elbert County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.0% of Elbert County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.425 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Elbert 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.
Housing costs in Elbert County
Renters in Elbert County pay a median of $844 a month, 39% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. Home values center on $142,000, or 2.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 71% of homes.
| Cost | Elbert County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $844/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,000 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Elbert County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 28% of Elbert County residents live in one of the 3. Live in one of these Elbert County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elberton | city | 4,720 | $50,059 | $916 | 2 mi |
| Bowman | city | 804 | $40,625 | $712 | 12 mi |
| Dewy Rose | CDP | 131 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Elbert County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Hart County at 17 miles out to Franklin County at 28. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Elbert County; Oglethorpe County is highest at $75,034 and Wilkes County lowest at $52,043. The list crosses into South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elbert County | - | $58,450 | $844/mo | 71% |
| Hart County, GA | 17 mi | $59,385 | $844/mo | 78% |
| Madison County, GA | 21 mi | $61,963 | $972/mo | 77% |
| Oglethorpe County, GA | 22 mi | $75,034 | $913/mo | 84% |
| Abbeville County, SC | 23 mi | $52,935 | $799/mo | 78% |
| Wilkes County, GA | 24 mi | $52,043 | $786/mo | 66% |
| Franklin County, GA | 28 mi | $53,046 | $844/mo | 77% |
Debt-to-income at Elbert County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Elbert County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $58,450 a year is $4,871 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $844, takes 17% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $909 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,250 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $844, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Elbert County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Elbert County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Elbert County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 22% of Elbert County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
People and households in Elbert County
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 12.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Elbert County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.2% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Elbert County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
Steps before you apply in Elbert County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Georgia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Elbert County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elbert County a high-income county?
Its $58,450 median ranks 79th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Elbert County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $844 a month; 39% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Elbert County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Elberton, Bowman, Dewy Rose.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Elbert County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Elbert 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.