1st Advantage MortgageThe median Fayette County household earns $111,978, and 6% 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
- Fayette County at a glance
- Housing costs in Fayette County
- Income in Fayette County compared with Georgia
- Employment and commuting in Fayette County
- Places inside Fayette County
- How Fayette County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Fayette County's medians
- Who lives in Fayette County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Fayette County
- A Fayette County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Fayette County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Fayette County at a glance
Roughly 122,244 residents live in Fayette County, Georgia, 21st by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 195 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 628 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Peachtree City, with about 39,576 residents, or 32% of the county.
Housing costs in Fayette County
Renters in Fayette County pay a median of $1,898 a month, 36% above the Georgia figure of $1,393. 59% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. With a median value of $436,400, a typical Fayette County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%. Half the housing stock was built before 1993.
| Home costs | Fayette County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,898/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $436,400 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.4% | 7.8% | 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). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Income in Fayette County compared with Georgia
Half of Fayette County households take in less than $111,978 a year and half take in more, 45% above the Georgia median of $77,353. That places it 3rd among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Fayette County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.0% | -10.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.9% | -7.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.2% | +8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 20.9% | +9.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 56% of Fayette County households make $100,000 or more, and 12% make less than $35,000. 5.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Fayette County
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 13%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (12% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Fayette County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 26% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 18% work from home. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Fayette County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.6% | -1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.5% | +5.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.4% | -1.6 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 Fayette County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Fayette County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 68,029 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $135,691 at the median in Tyrone, $82,188 in Fayetteville. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peachtree City | city | 39,576 | $113,987 | $2,086 | 5 mi |
| Fayetteville | city | 19,719 | $82,188 | $1,720 | 3 mi |
| Tyrone | town | 7,896 | $135,691 | $1,191 | 7 mi |
| Brooks | town | 603 | $105,714 | $1,625 | 9 mi |
| Woolsey | town | 235 | $121,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
How Fayette County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 11 to 25 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. None of the six report a higher median household income than Fayette County; Coweta County is highest at $95,548 and Clayton County lowest at $59,806.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | - | $111,978 | $1,898/mo | 80% |
| Clayton County, GA | 11 mi | $59,806 | $1,433/mo | 55% |
| Spalding County, GA | 16 mi | $62,071 | $1,113/mo | 63% |
| Coweta County, GA | 16 mi | $95,548 | $1,488/mo | 78% |
| Henry County, GA | 20 mi | $83,146 | $1,674/mo | 75% |
| Pike County, GA | 24 mi | $86,719 | $993/mo | 85% |
| Douglas County, GA | 25 mi | $82,984 | $1,570/mo | 67% |
Debt-to-income at Fayette County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Fayette County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Fayette County: $9,332
- Median rent: $1,898, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $2,115 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,898, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Fayette County, in numbers
Degree holders: 50% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.6%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Fayette County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 49.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.6% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Fayette County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 21.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.4% |
| 60+ min | 11.9% |
Before borrowing in Fayette County
What the Fayette County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 26% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 56% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Tight rental budgets. With 59% of Fayette County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Fayette County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Fayette County:
- Price the Fayette County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Fayette County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Fayette 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. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fayette County a high-income county?
Its $111,978 median ranks 3rd of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Fayette County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,898 a month; 59% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Fayette County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Fayette County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Peachtree City?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Fayette County, such as Fayetteville, Tyrone, Brooks.
Will a Fayette County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.