1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Grady County is $779 a month against a median household income of $58,980, about 16% of income (ACS 2020-24). 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 Grady County
- Housing costs in Grady County
- Grady County against other Georgia counties
- The $58,980 median and what sits around it
- Where Grady County works
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Grady County
- People and households in Grady County
- Debt-to-income at Grady County's medians
- What the numbers mean for Grady County borrowers
- Verifying a lender from Grady County
- Before you sign
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Grady County
With an estimated 26,108 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Grady County ranks 75th of 159 in Georgia for population. Density: about 57.4 residents per square mile across 454 square miles of land. Metro status: none; Grady County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (2 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Cairo, with about 10,055 residents, or 39% of the county.
Housing costs in Grady County
$779 a month is the median gross rent in Grady County, 44% below the state. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $152,400, or 2.6 years of median income. The ownership rate is 66%. Half the housing stock was built before 1991.
| Cost | Grady County | Georgia figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 30.7% | 7.8% | +22.8 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | -10.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 17% | 26% | -8.8 pts |
| Median home value | $152,400 | $303,300 | 50% lower |
| Median gross rent | $779/mo | $1,393/mo | 44% lower |
| Vacant units | 13% | 10% | +2.9 pts |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | +0.4 pts |
Grady County against other Georgia counties
The 2 Grady County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Georgia, and what each means for a borrower:
- On the uninsured rate, Grady County sits near the top of Georgia at 18.1%, 18th highest of 159. Ask any provider about financial assistance before borrowing for care.
- The share of workers who work from home: 3.5% in Grady County. Only 21 of 159 Georgia counties are lower. Few remote jobs means most pay stubs come from local employers.
The $58,980 median and what sits around it
At $58,980, the typical Grady County household income is 10% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Grady County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.5% | +10.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -7.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -5.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 26% of Grady County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. Census counts 20.3% of Grady County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Grady County median.
Where Grady County works
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Grady County residents work in education and health care and 12% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 24% locally and 21% for Georgia. Unemployment in Grady County, ACS five-year: 3.7%; Georgia: 5.1%. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Grady County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.1% | -3.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.8% | -2.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Grady County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Grady County's, from 19 to 33 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Grady County; Leon County is highest at $66,287 and Baker County lowest at $46,012. The list crosses into Florida, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grady County | - | $58,980 | $779/mo | 66% |
| Thomas County, GA | 19 mi | $60,736 | $1,018/mo | 64% |
| Decatur County, GA | 20 mi | $53,317 | $838/mo | 62% |
| Mitchell County, GA | 25 mi | $57,613 | $797/mo | 65% |
| Leon County, FL | 29 mi | $66,287 | $1,291/mo | 53% |
| Gadsden County, FL | 30 mi | $48,801 | $851/mo | 71% |
| Baker County, GA | 33 mi | $46,012 | $631/mo | 77% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Grady County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Grady County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 10,709 people, so roughly 59% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo | city | 10,055 | $40,920 | $778 | 2 mi |
| Whigham | city | 449 | $64,000 | $950 | 5 mi |
| Calvary | CDP | 205 | n/a | $680 | 13 mi |
People and households in Grady County
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 18.1% of Grady County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Grady County | Gap to Georgia | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.4% | -18.5 pts | -5.7 pts |
| Work from home | 3.5% | -12.5 pts | -5.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 19.5% | +8.7 pts | n/a |
| Poverty rate | 20.3% | +6.9 pts | +7.1 pts |
| No health insurance | 18.1% | +5.7 pts | +10.2 pts |
| Median age | 39.4 | +1.8 yrs | -2.1 yrs |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | -1.4 pts | -0.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | -0.6 pts | -0.1 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Debt-to-income at Grady County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Grady County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Grady County: $4,915
- Less median rent of $779, which is 16% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,113 total minus rent leaves $1,334
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Grady County's.
What the numbers mean for Grady County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Grady County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Grady County. For the 18% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 31% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Before borrowing. At 20.3% poverty, Grady County has local aid programs worth checking (options).
Verifying a lender from Grady County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. State-level detail for Grady County borrowers is in the Georgia guide.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Grady County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Keep exploring
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Grady County earn?
The median is $58,980; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Grady County?
$779 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Cairo?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Grady County, such as Whigham, Calvary.
Does living in Grady 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 Grady County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
How do I know a lender is legitimate in Grady County?
Look it up with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, read the written offer, and refuse any fee before funding.