1st Advantage MortgageIn Fulton County, Georgia, the typical household earns $95,292 a year and the typical rent is $1,732. For a Fulton County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Georgia license.
On this page
- Population and place: Fulton County
- What Fulton County households earn
- How Fulton County residents earn a living
- Fulton County's most unusual numbers
- What it costs to live in Fulton County
- Fulton County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Fulton County
- Room for a loan payment in Fulton County
- Before borrowing in Fulton County
- Fulton County demographics against Georgia
- Checklist for Fulton County applicants
- Who licenses lenders for Fulton County residents
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Fulton County
With an estimated 1,076,561 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Fulton County ranks 1st of 159 in Georgia for population. It covers 527 square miles of land, or about 2,043 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area. Of the 10 Census places inside Fulton County, Atlanta leads by population with about 505,268; 10 of the 10 are incorporated.
What Fulton County households earn
$95,292 is the median household income for Fulton County, set against $77,353 for Georgia. In the state ranking that is 11th of 159.
| Income band | Share in Fulton County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.6% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 32.5% | -7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 21.1% | +9.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Fulton County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. 12.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.523 here. A household earning below the $95,292 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Fulton County residents earn a living
Professional and administrative services (22%), education and health care (19%) and finance, insurance and real estate (10%) lead Fulton County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 22% locally and 14% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Fulton County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 29% work from home. Only 10.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Fulton County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 22.4% | +8.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -1.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.9% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.2% | -2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | -0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Fulton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Fulton County's most unusual numbers
- Fulton County ranks the lowest of 159 Georgia counties for the share of mobile homes: 0.4%, against 7.8% statewide. Few mobile homes means most owners have traditional equity options.
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, Fulton County sits near the top of Georgia at 58%, the highest of 159. Student loan payments count in a debt-to-income ratio, so list them.
- Fulton County ranks 3rd highest of 159 Georgia counties for median home value: $458,800, against $303,300 statewide. Owners with equity have more options, including secured credit, but that puts the house at risk.
What it costs to live in Fulton County
Half of Fulton County renters pay more than $1,732 a month and half pay less; the Georgia midpoint is $1,393. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 51% in Fulton County, 52% statewide. Fulton County homes are worth $458,800 at the median, a 4.8-to-1 ratio to income. 54% of Fulton County households own their home and 46% rent. Nationally, Fulton County's $1,732 rent is 97% above the middle county.
| Cost | Fulton County | Georgia figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 54% | 66% | -11.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% | 7.8% | -7.4 pts |
| Median home value | $458,800 | $303,300 | 51% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,732/mo | $1,393/mo | 24% higher |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | -1.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | -0.3 pts |
46% of Fulton County households rent, so most local borrowing is unsecured; your credit and income set the price. With rent burdens at 51%, keep any Fulton County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Fulton County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (12 to 26 miles). Fulton County's $95,292 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $59,806 (Clayton County) to $111,978 (Fayette County).
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | - | $95,292 | $1,732/mo | 54% |
| Cobb County, GA | 12 mi | $102,738 | $1,730/mo | 67% |
| DeKalb County, GA | 14 mi | $80,644 | $1,692/mo | 59% |
| Clayton County, GA | 17 mi | $59,806 | $1,433/mo | 55% |
| Douglas County, GA | 18 mi | $82,984 | $1,570/mo | 67% |
| Paulding County, GA | 25 mi | $98,031 | $1,772/mo | 81% |
| Fayette County, GA | 26 mi | $111,978 | $1,898/mo | 80% |
Towns and communities in Fulton County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 93% of Fulton County residents live in one of the 10. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $121,746, Milton over Union City. Names with links open a city guide. The other 4 places are covered here.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | city | 505,268 | $85,652 | $1,711 | 3 mi |
| South Fulton | city | 110,471 | $82,324 | $1,702 | 13 mi |
| Sandy Springs | city | 107,087 | $104,340 | $1,870 | 11 mi |
| Johns Creek | city | 81,988 | $160,093 | $2,257 | 23 mi |
| Alpharetta | city | 66,855 | $147,612 | $1,948 | 22 mi |
| Milton | city | 41,546 | $171,295 | $2,065 | 26 mi |
| East Point | city | 38,335 | $68,598 | $1,364 | 8 mi |
| Union City | city | 27,728 | $49,549 | $1,330 | 15 mi |
| Fairburn | city | 16,831 | $91,897 | $1,479 | 18 mi |
| Hapeville | city | 6,630 | $95,714 | $1,640 | 10 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Fulton County
Fulton County's $95,292 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Start: $7,941 gross per month ($95,292 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,732, which is 22% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,127 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Fulton County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Before borrowing in Fulton County
Where the Fulton County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 48% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Fulton County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Fulton County demographics against Georgia
In Fulton County, 58% of adults have at least a four-year degree (35% in Georgia). 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Fulton County | Difference from Georgia | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 58.5% | +23.5 pts | +36.3 pts |
| Work from home | 29.1% | +13.2 pts | +20.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 6.2% | -4.6 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 10.0% | +4.1 pts | +4.6 pts |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | -2.8 pts | +1.7 pts |
| Median age | 36.4 | -1.2 yrs | -5.1 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | -1.0 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | +0.2 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Commute length | Fulton County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 19.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Checklist for Fulton County applicants
Steps that save money for Fulton County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Fulton County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Fulton County credit union about member loans.
Who licenses lenders for Fulton County residents
Fulton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender.
Keep exploring
City guides inside Fulton County, and the statewide guide:
- Atlanta, GA
- South Fulton, GA
- Sandy Springs, GA
- Roswell, GA
- Johns Creek, GA
- Alpharetta, GA
- Georgia state guide
Frequently asked questions
Is $95,292 a good income in Fulton County?
It is the county median, so half of Fulton County households earn more and half less; 48% earn $100,000 or more.
What is the median rent in Fulton County, GA?
$1,732 a month, utilities included, or $20,784 a year.
I live near Atlanta. Which guide is mine?
This Fulton County guide, unless your town is linked to its own city guide above.
Does living in Fulton County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Fulton County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
What agency protects Fulton County borrowers?
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance at the state level and the CFPB federally.