1st Advantage MortgageHall County households have a median income of $80,901 and median rent of $1,341 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Hall County, GA: the basics
- How much Hall County households make
- What it costs to live in Hall County
- Employment and commuting in Hall County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Hall County
- The counties around Hall County
- Room for a loan payment in Hall County
- Local borrowing considerations for Hall County
- People and households in Hall County
- Steps before you apply in Hall County
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- More guides for Hall County
- Frequently asked questions
Hall County, GA: the basics
With an estimated 212,705 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Hall County ranks 10th of 159 in Georgia for population. Packed into 392 square miles, that is close to 542 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Gainesville, GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Gainesville is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 45,032 people (21% of the county total).
How much Hall County households make
At $80,901, the typical Hall County household income is 23% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Household income | Hall County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.6% | -3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.8% | +1.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.6% | -0.3 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 39% have six-figure incomes. 11.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.446 here. A household earning below the $80,901 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Hall County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,341 in Hall County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 53% of Hall County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $350,400, or 4.3 years of median income. The ownership rate is 69%. Half the housing stock was built before 1996.
| Home costs | Hall County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,341/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $350,400 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Employment and commuting in Hall County
By the Census industry count, 18% of employed Hall County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 16% locally and 10% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.5% in Hall County. Long commutes are common here: 17% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Hall County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.2% | -2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.2% | +6.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Hall County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Hall County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Hall County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 63,062 residents, leaving about 70% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Clermont has the highest median household income on the list ($135,500) and Gainesville the lowest ($66,974), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Clermont ($984) and steepest in Flowery Branch ($1,814). This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | city | 45,032 | $66,974 | $1,299 | 2 mi |
| Flowery Branch | city | 10,925 | $103,942 | $1,814 | 12 mi |
| Oakwood | city | 5,862 | $67,917 | $1,560 | 8 mi |
| Clermont | town | 1,243 | $135,500 | $984 | 12 mi |
The counties around Hall County
Distances run center to center, from Banks County at 18 miles out to White County at 23. Income ranges from $70,666 in White County to $143,784 in Forsyth County; 3 of these neighbors top Hall County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hall County | - | $80,901 | $1,341/mo | 69% |
| Banks County, GA | 18 mi | $77,063 | $827/mo | 79% |
| Forsyth County, GA | 19 mi | $143,784 | $2,090/mo | 84% |
| Jackson County, GA | 19 mi | $89,544 | $1,126/mo | 79% |
| Lumpkin County, GA | 20 mi | $77,448 | $1,142/mo | 76% |
| Dawson County, GA | 22 mi | $92,991 | $1,626/mo | 79% |
| White County, GA | 23 mi | $70,666 | $1,032/mo | 79% |
Room for a loan payment in Hall County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Hall County's medians:
- Start: $6,742 gross per month ($80,901 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,341, takes 20% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,558 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Hall County
Where the Hall County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Hall County. For the 16% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
People and households in Hall County
27% of Hall County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 16% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Hall County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.0% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.5% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.7% |
Steps before you apply in Hall County
Quick steps for Hall County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Hall County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
More guides for Hall County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Hall County earn?
The median is $80,901; 39% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Hall County rent compare with Georgia?
$1,341 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 4% below.
What are the biggest places in Hall County?
By population: Gainesville, Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Clermont. The county has 4 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Hall County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Is there a Hall County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.