1st Advantage MortgageAbout 73% of Giles County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $62,307. 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
- Giles County by the numbers
- Giles County housing compared with Tennessee
- Paychecks and income spread in Giles County
- Work, industries and travel time in Giles County
- Giles County and the counties next door
- Places inside Giles County
- Budget math at the Giles County median
- Reading the Giles County data as a borrower
- More Giles County figures
- Checklist for Giles County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Giles County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Giles County's population at 30,620; only 48 of Tennessee's 95 county-level areas are larger. It covers 611 square miles of land, or about 50 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Giles County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside Giles County, Pulaski leads by population with about 8,285; 5 of the 7 are incorporated.
Giles County housing compared with Tennessee
Renters in Giles County pay a median of $862 a month, 28% below the Tennessee figure of $1,189. By the Census definition, 37% of Giles County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $234,300, a typical Giles County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 73% of homes. Median construction year: 1982.
| Housing | Giles County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $862/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $234,300 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Giles County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Paychecks and income spread in Giles County
Half of Giles County households take in less than $62,307 a year and half take in more, 10% below the Tennessee median of $69,595. In the state ranking that is 37th of 95.
| Income band | Share in Giles County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.2% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.2% | -2.7 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.8%, 1 point lower than the state's 13.8%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.467 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Giles County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Giles County
The biggest employer of Giles County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 23% of workers, followed by education and health care (18%). Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward manufacturing (23% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 28% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Giles County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22.7% | +10.2 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.8% | -4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -1.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | 0.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Giles County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 20 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Giles County; Limestone County is highest at $83,629 and Lawrence County lowest at $54,706. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giles County | - | $62,307 | $862/mo | 73% |
| Lawrence County, TN | 20 mi | $54,706 | $763/mo | 78% |
| Marshall County, TN | 24 mi | $71,049 | $946/mo | 77% |
| Lincoln County, TN | 25 mi | $64,667 | $857/mo | 76% |
| Limestone County, AL | 27 mi | $83,629 | $970/mo | 78% |
| Maury County, TN | 29 mi | $76,130 | $1,300/mo | 71% |
| Lewis County, TN | 34 mi | $56,285 | $708/mo | 82% |
Places inside Giles County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Giles County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 11,160 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. Minor Hill has the highest median household income on the list ($52,845) and Ardmore the lowest ($47,188), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $763 in Minor Hill to $871 in Ardmore. None of the 7 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski | city | 8,285 | $48,538 | $835 | 1 mi |
| Ardmore | city | 1,073 | $47,188 | $871 | 17 mi |
| Minor Hill | city | 704 | $52,845 | $763 | 12 mi |
| Elkton | city | 469 | $66,944 | $950 | 12 mi |
| Lynnville | town | 465 | $63,333 | $718 | 12 mi |
| Prospect | CDP | 145 | $61,607 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Frankewing | CDP | 19 | $95,357 | n/a | 10 mi |
Budget math at the Giles County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Giles County's medians:
- $62,307 a year is $5,192 of gross monthly income
- 17% goes to median rent ($862)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,007 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.
Reading the Giles County data as a borrower
Based on the Giles County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Long drives. With 28% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Giles County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 16% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
More Giles County figures
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Giles County | Tennessee | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.8% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.4% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.5% |
| 60+ min | 15.3% |
Checklist for Giles County applicants
A short checklist for Giles County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Giles County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Tennessee borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Giles County, check the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Tennessee state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Tennessee guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Giles County?
$62,307 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $69,595 for Tennessee. It ranks 37th of 95 in the state.
How much is rent in Giles County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $862 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Giles County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Giles County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Giles County?
By population: Pulaski, Ardmore, Minor Hill, Elkton, Lynnville. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Does living in Giles 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 Giles County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.