1st Advantage MortgageAbout 66% of Gwinnett County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $87,890. 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
- Gwinnett County, GA: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Gwinnett County
- Work, industries and travel time in Gwinnett County
- Gwinnett County housing compared with Georgia
- The communities that make up Gwinnett County
- Gwinnett County and the counties next door
- What a median Gwinnett County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Gwinnett County borrowers
- People and households in Gwinnett County
- Lender oversight for Gwinnett County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Gwinnett County, GA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Gwinnett County's population at 979,864; only 1 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. It covers 431 square miles of land, or about 2,273 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area. Peachtree Corners is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 42,373 people (4% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Gwinnett County
Half of Gwinnett County households take in less than $87,890 a year and half take in more, 14% above the Georgia median of $77,353. Only 15 Georgia counties post a higher median.
| Band | Gwinnett County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.5% | -5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.4% | -0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 13.2% | +1.3 pts |
Some 16% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 44% have six-figure incomes. 10.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.432 here. For a borrower in Gwinnett County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Work, industries and travel time in Gwinnett County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed Gwinnett County residents work in education and health care and 15% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward construction (9% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.2% in Gwinnett County. About 67% drive to work alone and 28% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 3.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Gwinnett County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.8% | -2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.9% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +2.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.8% | -1.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Gwinnett County housing compared with Georgia
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,810 in Gwinnett County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 62% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $380,900, about 4.3 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 66%.
| Housing | Gwinnett County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,810/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $380,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 62% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The communities that make up Gwinnett County
14 Census places fall mainly inside Gwinnett County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 255,037 residents, leaving about 74% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $165,909 at the median in Berkeley Lake, $61,561 in Lawrenceville. Median rent ranges from $1,357 in Buford to $2,267 in Berkeley Lake. This guide covers each of the 14 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peachtree Corners | city | 42,373 | $82,139 | $1,701 | 12 mi |
| Duluth | city | 32,426 | $95,331 | $1,828 | 8 mi |
| Lawrenceville | city | 30,954 | $61,561 | $1,613 | 2 mi |
| Sugar Hill | city | 26,128 | $107,389 | $1,862 | 9 mi |
| Suwanee | city | 22,349 | $103,260 | $1,885 | 7 mi |
| Snellville | city | 21,620 | $89,896 | $1,818 | 7 mi |
| Norcross | city | 18,007 | $75,266 | $1,715 | 10 mi |
| Buford | city | 17,997 | $69,471 | $1,357 | 11 mi |
| Lilburn | city | 15,390 | $63,581 | $1,778 | 8 mi |
| Mountain Park | CDP | 12,850 | $96,166 | $1,818 | 10 mi |
| Dacula | city | 7,444 | $100,821 | $1,836 | 7 mi |
| Grayson | city | 4,858 | $131,293 | $2,237 | 6 mi |
| Berkeley Lake | city | 2,597 | $165,909 | $2,267 | 9 mi |
| Rest Haven | town | 44 | n/a | $1,393 | 13 mi |
Gwinnett County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 27 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Gwinnett County; Forsyth County is highest at $143,784 and Rockdale County lowest at $77,247.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwinnett County | - | $87,890 | $1,810/mo | 66% |
| DeKalb County, GA | 17 mi | $80,644 | $1,692/mo | 59% |
| Barrow County, GA | 18 mi | $80,653 | $1,318/mo | 79% |
| Forsyth County, GA | 19 mi | $143,784 | $2,090/mo | 84% |
| Walton County, GA | 21 mi | $84,945 | $1,175/mo | 79% |
| Rockdale County, GA | 21 mi | $77,247 | $1,525/mo | 70% |
| Hall County, GA | 27 mi | $80,901 | $1,341/mo | 69% |
What a median Gwinnett County budget can carry
Gwinnett County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $7,324 a month: gross income for a household at the Gwinnett County median
- Rent at the median, $1,810, takes 25% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,339 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Gwinnett County borrowers
A few patterns in the Gwinnett County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Gwinnett County. For the 15% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Commuter costs. 28% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 44% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- Renters under pressure. When 62% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
People and households in Gwinnett County
College graduates make up 39% of the adult population. 15.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Gwinnett County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.0% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.2% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 18.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 15.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.6% |
| 60+ min | 14.1% |
Lender oversight for Gwinnett County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Gwinnett County?
$87,890 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 16th of 159 in the state.
Is Gwinnett County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,810 against $1,393 statewide, and 62% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Peachtree Corners?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Gwinnett County, such as Duluth, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill.
Is the fit check different in Gwinnett County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Gwinnett County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.