1st Advantage MortgageGordon County households have a median income of $63,650 and median rent of $937 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Gordon County, GA: the basics
- What it costs to live in Gordon County
- Income in Gordon County compared with Georgia
- Work, industries and travel time in Gordon County
- Towns and communities in Gordon County
- Gordon County next to its neighbors
- What a median Gordon County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Gordon County borrowers
- Gordon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Gordon County
- More guides for Gordon County
- Frequently asked questions
Gordon County, GA: the basics
With an estimated 59,100 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Gordon County ranks 40th of 159 in Georgia for population. It covers 356 square miles of land, or about 166 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Gordon County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (4 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Calhoun, with about 18,183 residents, or 31% of the county.
What it costs to live in Gordon County
Renters in Gordon County pay a median of $937 a month, 33% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 42% of Gordon County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $222,900, a typical Gordon County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 74% of Gordon County households own their home and 26% rent. Median construction year: 1987.
| Measure | Gordon County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $937/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $222,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Gordon County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Income in Gordon County compared with Georgia
At $63,650, the typical Gordon County household income is 3% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 58th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Band | Gordon County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +6.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.7% | -2.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.6% | -5.2 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.0% of Gordon County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Gordon County
The biggest employer of Gordon County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 24% of workers, followed by education and health care (18%). Manufacturing stands out: 24% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Gordon County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.0% | +14.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.6% | -3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.5% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.1% | -6.4 pts |
| Other services | 6.2% | +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.
Towns and communities in Gordon County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Gordon County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 21,082 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,557 in Resaca to $63,056 in Fairmount. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calhoun | city | 18,183 | $58,750 | $873 | 3 mi |
| Fairmount | city | 1,279 | $63,056 | $1,090 | 11 mi |
| Resaca | town | 1,126 | $57,557 | $1,144 | 6 mi |
| Plainville | city | 360 | $48,750 | $830 | 12 mi |
| Ranger | CDP | 134 | $68,854 | $1,087 | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Gordon County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 27 miles). All of the six report a higher median household income than Gordon County; Bartow County is highest at $82,243 and Floyd County lowest at $65,565.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon County | - | $63,650 | $937/mo | 74% |
| Bartow County, GA | 19 mi | $82,243 | $1,268/mo | 73% |
| Whitfield County, GA | 21 mi | $67,070 | $971/mo | 67% |
| Murray County, GA | 21 mi | $69,253 | $857/mo | 74% |
| Pickens County, GA | 22 mi | $78,930 | $1,136/mo | 81% |
| Floyd County, GA | 26 mi | $65,565 | $1,014/mo | 64% |
| Gilmer County, GA | 27 mi | $74,499 | $998/mo | 81% |
What a median Gordon County budget can carry
Here is the Gordon County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $63,650 a year is $5,304 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $937, which is 18% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $972 a month
If your rent is above $937, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
What the numbers mean for Gordon County borrowers
What the Gordon County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 15% of Gordon County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Gordon County residents: age, schooling, coverage
19% of Gordon County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 15.4%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Indicator | Gordon County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.8% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.3% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.4% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Gordon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.9% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Gordon County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Georgia borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Gordon County
Gordon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
More guides for Gordon County
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gordon County a high-income county?
Its $63,650 median ranks 58th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Gordon County rent compare with Georgia?
$937 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 33% below.
I live in a small Gordon County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Calhoun, Fairmount, Resaca, Plainville, Ranger.
Is the fit check different in Gordon County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Gordon 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.