1st Advantage MortgageAbout 89% of Harris County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $97,302. 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
- Getting oriented in Harris County
- How much Harris County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Harris County
- Employment and commuting in Harris County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Places inside Harris County
- Room for a loan payment in Harris County
- What the numbers mean for Harris County borrowers
- More Harris County figures
- Licensing and complaints for Harris County
- Checklist for Harris County applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Harris County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Harris County's population at 36,086; only 52 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. It covers 464 square miles of land, or about 78 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Columbus, GA-AL metropolitan area. Of the 8 Census places inside Harris County, Hamilton leads by population with about 2,043; 4 of the 8 are incorporated.
How much Harris County households make
At $97,302, the typical Harris County household income is 48% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Harris County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.3% | -6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.5% | -3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.3% | +5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.9% | +4.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 48% of Harris County households make $100,000 or more, and 15% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.0%, 4 points lower than the state's 13.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Harris County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Harris County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,048 in Harris County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 49% of Harris County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $302,800, about 3.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 89% of homes. The median year built is 1997.
| Housing | Harris County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,048/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $302,800 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 89% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Harris 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.
Employment and commuting in Harris County
The biggest employer of Harris County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by manufacturing (12%). Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 21%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.9% in Harris County. About 78% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 1.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Harris County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | -3.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Muscogee County at 15 miles out to Chattahoochee County at 28. Income ranges from $41,597 in Talbot County to $65,824 in Lee County; none of these neighbors top Harris County's median. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Harris County resident follows Georgia rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | - | $97,302 | $1,048/mo | 89% |
| Muscogee County, GA | 15 mi | $58,073 | $1,106/mo | 51% |
| Troup County, GA | 22 mi | $56,776 | $1,087/mo | 61% |
| Talbot County, GA | 22 mi | $41,597 | $816/mo | 80% |
| Meriwether County, GA | 25 mi | $57,340 | $920/mo | 73% |
| Lee County, AL | 27 mi | $65,824 | $1,058/mo | 66% |
| Chattahoochee County, GA | 28 mi | $61,042 | $1,348/mo | 39% |
Places inside Harris County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 24% of Harris County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $167,570 at the median in Antioch, $75,313 in Waverly Hall. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | city | 2,043 | $92,083 | $1,078 | 3 mi |
| Cataula | CDP | 1,522 | $123,920 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Pine Mountain | town | 1,314 | $91,250 | $954 | 9 mi |
| Ellerslie | CDP | 1,011 | $107,384 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Antioch | CDP | 870 | $167,570 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Shiloh | city | 758 | $82,875 | $1,267 | 14 mi |
| Waverly Hall | town | 650 | $75,313 | $1,256 | 11 mi |
| Piney Grove | CDP | 576 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Harris County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Harris County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Harris County: $8,108
- Housing at the median rent of $1,048 uses 13%
- Under a 43% cap, $3,487 total minus rent leaves $2,439
Two-income households and single earners in Harris County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
What the numbers mean for Harris County borrowers
Based on the Harris County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Higher earners. 48% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
More Harris County figures
College graduates make up 38% of the adult population. 6.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Harris County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.0% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 1.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 13.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Licensing and complaints for Harris 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. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Checklist for Harris County applicants
Steps that save money for Harris County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Harris County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Harris County household make?
About $97,302 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 26% above the Georgia median.
What do renters pay in Harris County?
$1,048 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
Should Harris County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 89% of Harris County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Harris County?
By population: Hamilton, Cataula, Pine Mountain, Ellerslie, Antioch. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Does living in Harris 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 Harris County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.