1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of Jenkins County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $44,389. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Jenkins County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Jenkins County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Jenkins County
- How Jenkins County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Jenkins County
- Jenkins County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Jenkins County's medians
- Jenkins County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Jenkins County data as a borrower
- Before you sign
- Georgia rules that apply in Jenkins County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jenkins County at a glance
With an estimated 8,711 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jenkins County ranks 135th of 159 in Georgia for population. Land area is 347 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 25 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Jenkins County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Millen, with about 2,956 residents, or 34% of the county. With so few households sampled, Jenkins County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Jenkins County
Half of Jenkins County households take in less than $44,389 a year and half take in more, 43% below the Georgia median of $77,353.
| Income band | Share in Jenkins County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.9% | +18.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.3% | -1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -9.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -8.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Jenkins County households make $100,000 or more, and 41% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 22.9%, 9 points higher than the state's 13.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.467 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $44,389 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Jenkins County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $535 in Jenkins County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 20% of Jenkins County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $92,900, or 2.1 years of median income. 82% of Jenkins County households own their home and 18% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Cost | Jenkins County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $535/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $92,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 20% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 15% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 27% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Jenkins 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.
How Jenkins County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Jenkins County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Wholesale trade stands out: 5% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Jenkins County. Long commutes are common here: 28% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Jenkins County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.1% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.2% | +1.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Jenkins County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Jenkins County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 3,025 residents, leaving about 65% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millen | city | 2,956 | $42,269 | $537 | 2 mi |
| Perkins | CDP | 69 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
Jenkins County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Jenkins County's, from 18 to 32 miles away. Income ranges from $49,581 in Candler County to $58,810 in Bulloch County; all six of these neighbors top Jenkins County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jenkins County | - | $44,389 | $535/mo | 82% |
| Burke County, GA | 18 mi | $53,014 | $758/mo | 70% |
| Screven County, GA | 21 mi | $52,792 | $679/mo | 70% |
| Emanuel County, GA | 24 mi | $52,772 | $783/mo | 61% |
| Candler County, GA | 28 mi | $49,581 | $715/mo | 62% |
| Bulloch County, GA | 31 mi | $58,810 | $995/mo | 53% |
| Jefferson County, GA | 32 mi | $53,014 | $731/mo | 68% |
Debt-to-income at Jenkins County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jenkins County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $44,389 a year is $3,699 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $535, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- $945: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Jenkins County's.
Jenkins County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 10% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 14.6%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Measure | Jenkins County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.8% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.9% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Jenkins County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 13.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 18.0% |
Reading the Jenkins County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Jenkins County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 15% of Jenkins County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Commuter costs. 28% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 30% of Jenkins County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 23% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Jenkins County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a Jenkins County credit union about member loans.
Georgia rules that apply in Jenkins County
Consumer lenders serving Jenkins County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jenkins County a high-income county?
Its $44,389 median ranks 145th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Jenkins County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $535 a month; 20% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Jenkins County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 82% of Jenkins County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Jenkins County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Millen, Perkins.
Can Jenkins County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Georgia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.