1st Advantage MortgageIn Emanuel County, Georgia, the typical household earns $52,772 a year and the typical rent is $783. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Georgia license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Emanuel County
- Household income in Emanuel County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Emanuel County
- The Emanuel County job picture
- Places inside Emanuel County
- Regional comparison for Emanuel County
- Debt-to-income at Emanuel County's medians
- Emanuel County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Emanuel County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Emanuel County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Emanuel County
Roughly 23,026 residents live in Emanuel County, Georgia, 81st by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 681 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 34 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Swainsboro is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 7,571 people (33% of the county total).
Household income in Emanuel County
At $52,772, the typical Emanuel County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 109 Georgia counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Emanuel County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.6% | +10.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.0% | +10.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -11.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.9% | -10.0 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 17% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 25.7% of Emanuel County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. A household earning below the $52,772 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Emanuel County
Renters in Emanuel County pay a median of $783 a month, 44% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 29% of renter households here. Home values center on $94,700, or 1.8 years of median income. 61% of Emanuel County households own their home and 39% rent.
| Cost | Emanuel County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $783/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,700 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 32.0% | 7.8% | n/a |
The Emanuel County job picture
The biggest employer of Emanuel County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 15% locally and 10% for Georgia. Averaged over the five survey years, 8.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 23% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Emanuel County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.9% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.5% | +4.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.9% | +4.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Emanuel County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Emanuel County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 11,498 residents, leaving about 50% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $33,750 in Stillmore to $49,750 in Swainsboro. Live in one of these Emanuel County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swainsboro | city | 7,571 | $49,750 | $836 | 2 mi |
| Twin City | city | 2,075 | $39,893 | $680 | 8 mi |
| Stillmore | city | 715 | $33,750 | $800 | 11 mi |
| Oak Park | town | 428 | $48,750 | $904 | 16 mi |
| Garfield | city | 270 | $63,929 | $550 | 12 mi |
| Summertown | city | 210 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Nunez | city | 124 | $48,750 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Canoochee | CDP | 84 | $61,983 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Norristown | CDP | 21 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Regional comparison for Emanuel County
Distances run center to center, from Candler County at 19 miles out to Toombs County at 33. Income ranges from $44,389 in Jenkins County to $55,518 in Treutlen County; 1 of these neighbors top Emanuel County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emanuel County | - | $52,772 | $783/mo | 61% |
| Candler County, GA | 19 mi | $49,581 | $715/mo | 62% |
| Treutlen County, GA | 20 mi | $55,518 | $733/mo | 65% |
| Johnson County, GA | 22 mi | $51,028 | $647/mo | 76% |
| Jenkins County, GA | 24 mi | $44,389 | $535/mo | 82% |
| Montgomery County, GA | 32 mi | $51,941 | $760/mo | 76% |
| Toombs County, GA | 33 mi | $52,621 | $768/mo | 61% |
Debt-to-income at Emanuel County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Emanuel County's medians:
- Start: $4,398 gross per month ($52,772 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $783 uses 18%
- Under a 43% cap, $1,891 total minus rent leaves $1,108
Two-income households and single earners in Emanuel County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Emanuel County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. About 16% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Emanuel County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.5% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.3% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.0% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.7% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Emanuel County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 17.7% |
What the numbers mean for Emanuel County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Emanuel County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 16% of Emanuel County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 23% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Emanuel County budgets.
- Manufactured homes. 32% of Emanuel County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Assistance before credit. With a 26% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Emanuel County loan.
Lender oversight for Emanuel County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Emanuel County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Emanuel County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Georgia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Emanuel County earn?
The median is $52,772; 17% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Emanuel County?
$783 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Does this page cover Swainsboro?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Emanuel County, such as Twin City, Stillmore, Oak Park.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Emanuel County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Emanuel 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.