1st Advantage MortgageThe median Habersham County household earns $67,309, and 14% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Population and place: Habersham County
- Habersham County industries and commutes
- Housing costs in Habersham County
- Household income in Habersham County
- Habersham County next to its neighbors
- Cornelia and the rest of Habersham County
- Local borrowing considerations for Habersham County
- Habersham County demographics against Georgia
- Budget math at the Habersham County median
- A Habersham County borrower's checklist
- Verifying a lender from Habersham County
- Other Georgia guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Habersham County
Habersham County is home to about 47,793 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 44th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Packed into 277 square miles, that is close to 173 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Habersham County is not part of any metropolitan area. Cornelia is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 4,992 people (10% of the county total).
Habersham County industries and commutes
Top Habersham County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 20%; second, manufacturing, 18%. Habersham County over-indexes on manufacturing: 18% versus 10% in Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Habersham County. 31% of Habersham County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 18% need 45 or more.
| Top industries | Habersham County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.0% | -1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.1% | +8.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -4.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.1% | -0.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Housing costs in Habersham County
$974 a month is the median gross rent in Habersham County, 30% below the state. By the Census definition, 43% of Habersham County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $238,300, about 3.5 times the median household income. Homeowners 73%, renters 27%. Half the housing stock was built before 1992.
| Housing | Habersham County | Georgia statewide | Habersham County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $974/mo | $1,393/mo | 30% lower |
| Median home value | $238,300 | $303,300 | 21% lower |
| Owners | 73% | 66% | +7.1 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | -9.3 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | +1.5 pts |
| Vacant units | 12% | 10% | +1.9 pts |
At a $238,300 median value, many Habersham County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
Household income in Habersham County
Habersham County households have a median income of $67,309 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 50th of 159 in Georgia.
| Household income | Habersham County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.5% | +4.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.6% | -1.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -5.2 pts |
Six-figure households (31%) outnumber those under $35,000 (24%) in Habersham County. Poverty rate, Habersham County: 14.1%; Georgia: 13.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.452 here. A household earning below the $67,309 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Habersham County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from White County at 12 miles out to Franklin County at 25. Income ranges from $53,046 in Franklin County to $77,063 in Banks County; 3 of these neighbors top Habersham County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habersham County | - | $67,309 | $974/mo | 73% |
| White County, GA | 12 mi | $70,666 | $1,032/mo | 79% |
| Stephens County, GA | 15 mi | $54,754 | $820/mo | 74% |
| Rabun County, GA | 19 mi | $67,493 | $1,047/mo | 77% |
| Banks County, GA | 20 mi | $77,063 | $827/mo | 79% |
| Towns County, GA | 22 mi | $59,135 | $808/mo | 82% |
| Franklin County, GA | 25 mi | $53,046 | $844/mo | 77% |
Cornelia and the rest of Habersham County
17,626 of Habersham County's 47,793 residents live in its 7 Census places (37%); the 7 largest are listed. Incomes vary by place: $87,868 at the median in Mount Airy, $39,775 in Cornelia. Rent is cheapest in Mount Airy ($721) and steepest in Demorest ($1,302). No Habersham County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornelia | city | 4,992 | $39,775 | $942 | 8 mi |
| Baldwin | city | 4,000 | $59,242 | $1,088 | 9 mi |
| Demorest | city | 2,512 | $77,941 | $1,302 | 5 mi |
| Raoul | CDP | 2,253 | $44,597 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Clarkesville | city | 1,959 | $73,798 | $1,271 | 2 mi |
| Mount Airy | town | 1,622 | $87,868 | $721 | 8 mi |
| Tallulah Falls | town | 288 | $94,821 | $820 | 10 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Local borrowing considerations for Habersham County
A few patterns in the Habersham County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 18% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Habersham County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile homes in Habersham County. At 20% of units, they are a big part of local housing; check whether yours is titled as real or personal property.
Habersham County demographics against Georgia
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 14.5% of Habersham County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Habersham County | Gap to Georgia | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.6% | -10.3 pts | +2.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 17.4% | +6.7 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 9.6% | -6.3 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | -2.4 pts | -1.7 pts |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | +2.2 pts | +6.7 pts |
| Median age | 39.4 | +1.8 yrs | -2.1 yrs |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | -1.7 pts | -1.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 14.1% | +0.7 pts | +0.9 pts |
| Minutes to work | Habersham County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.3% |
Budget math at the Habersham County median
DTI math using Habersham County medians ($67,309 income, $974 rent):
- Monthly gross at the median, Habersham County: $5,609
- Housing at the median rent of $974 uses 17%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,045 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $974, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A Habersham County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Habersham County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Ask a Habersham County credit union about member loans.
Verifying a lender from Habersham County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Habersham County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Nationally, Habersham County residents can file with the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Other Georgia guides
No city in Habersham County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Habersham County rank on income in Georgia?
50th of 159, with a median of $67,309. The state median is $77,353.
What is the median rent in Habersham County, GA?
$974 a month, utilities included, or $11,688 a year.
Does this page cover Cornelia?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Habersham County, such as Baldwin, Demorest, Raoul.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Habersham County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Habersham 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.