1st Advantage MortgageThe median Gilmer County household earns $74,499, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Gilmer County
- Employment and commuting in Gilmer County
- What Gilmer County households earn
- Rent, home values and ownership in Gilmer County
- Counties near Gilmer County
- Places inside Gilmer County
- What a median Gilmer County budget can carry
- Gilmer County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Gilmer County
- A Gilmer County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Gilmer County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Gilmer County
Roughly 32,426 residents live in Gilmer County, Georgia, 58th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 426 square miles, that is close to 76 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Gilmer County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Gilmer County, Ellijay leads by population with about 1,927; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Gilmer County
Education and health care employs 17% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 16% locally and 10% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Gilmer County. About 77% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 2.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Gilmer County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.5% | -3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.8% | +5.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 12.1% | +5.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -5.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Gilmer County households earn
The median household income in Gilmer County is $74,499; statewide it is $77,353, so Gilmer County runs 4% below Georgia as a whole. In the state ranking that is 37th of 159.
| Household income | Gilmer County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +4.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | +1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Gilmer County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 16.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.423 here. None of these numbers decides a Gilmer County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Gilmer County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $998 in Gilmer County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 40% of Gilmer County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $314,000, or 4.2 years of median income. Owners occupy 81% of homes.
| Measure | Gilmer County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $998/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $314,000 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.0% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 30% | 10% | 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).
Counties near Gilmer County
Distances run center to center, from Fannin County at 14 miles out to Lumpkin County at 27. Dawson County leads the group on income ($92,991), Fannin County trails ($57,073), and Gilmer County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County | - | $74,499 | $998/mo | 81% |
| Fannin County, GA | 14 mi | $57,073 | $900/mo | 79% |
| Pickens County, GA | 16 mi | $78,930 | $1,136/mo | 81% |
| Murray County, GA | 18 mi | $69,253 | $857/mo | 74% |
| Dawson County, GA | 23 mi | $92,991 | $1,626/mo | 79% |
| Gordon County, GA | 27 mi | $63,650 | $937/mo | 74% |
| Lumpkin County, GA | 27 mi | $77,448 | $1,142/mo | 76% |
Places inside Gilmer 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 7% of Gilmer County residents live in one of the 3. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellijay | city | 1,927 | $48,136 | $791 | 2 mi |
| East Ellijay | city | 488 | $29,125 | $663 | 3 mi |
| Cherry Log | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Gilmer County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Gilmer County's medians:
- $74,499 a year is $6,208 of gross monthly income
- 16% goes to median rent ($998)
- $1,237: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Gilmer County households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. 14.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Gilmer County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.8% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.9% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Gilmer County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 14.6% |
Borrowing situations common in Gilmer County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Gilmer County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Gilmer County budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 14% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Older households. A 50.0 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
A Gilmer County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Gilmer County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Gilmer County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Gilmer County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Gilmer County earn?
The median is $74,499; 33% earn $100,000 or more and 26% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Gilmer County rent compare with Georgia?
$998 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 28% below.
Does this page cover Ellijay?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Gilmer County, such as East Ellijay, Cherry Log.
Are Gilmer County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Gilmer 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.