1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Johnson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $51,028. 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
- Johnson County at a glance
- The Johnson County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Johnson County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Johnson County
- Johnson County and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in Johnson County
- What a median Johnson County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Johnson County
- Johnson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Steps before you apply in Johnson County
- Licensing and complaints for Johnson County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Johnson County at a glance
Johnson County is home to about 9,190 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 128th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Spread over 303 square miles, that works out to roughly 30.3 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Wrightsville is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 3,487 people (38% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Johnson County estimates can move a lot between releases.
The Johnson County job picture
The biggest employer of Johnson County residents, by industry, is construction at 20% of workers, followed by education and health care (17%). Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward construction (20% against 7%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.4% in Johnson County. Long commutes are common here: 24% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.8% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Where residents work | Johnson County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 19.7% | +12.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.9% | -4.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.8% | +5.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.7% | +3.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Johnson County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Johnson County
Johnson County households have a median income of $51,028 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 120th of 159 in Georgia.
| Household income | Johnson County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 38.4% | +16.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.1% | -9.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.3% | -8.6 pts |
Some 38% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 24.2% of Johnson County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.474 here. None of these numbers decides a Johnson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rent, home values and ownership in Johnson County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $647 in Johnson County versus $1,393 statewide. 60% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. Home values center on $94,900, or 1.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Median construction year: 1985.
| Measure | Johnson County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $647/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Johnson 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Johnson County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Johnson County's, from 20 to 31 miles away. Treutlen County leads the group on income ($55,518), Wilkinson County trails ($45,465), and Johnson County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | - | $51,028 | $647/mo | 76% |
| Treutlen County, GA | 20 mi | $55,518 | $733/mo | 65% |
| Washington County, GA | 21 mi | $46,023 | $858/mo | 65% |
| Emanuel County, GA | 22 mi | $52,772 | $783/mo | 61% |
| Laurens County, GA | 26 mi | $55,010 | $863/mo | 64% |
| Jefferson County, GA | 29 mi | $53,014 | $731/mo | 68% |
| Wilkinson County, GA | 31 mi | $45,465 | $825/mo | 81% |
Towns and communities in Johnson County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Johnson County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 4,265 residents, leaving about 54% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrightsville | city | 3,487 | $34,631 | $661 | 4 mi |
| Adrian | city | 590 | $62,500 | $560 | 12 mi |
| Kite | city | 188 | $41,719 | $595 | 9 mi |
What a median Johnson County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Johnson County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $51,028 a year is $4,252 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $647, takes 15% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,054 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Johnson County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Johnson County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 14% of Johnson County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 33% of Johnson 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 24% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Johnson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
8% of Johnson County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.8%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Residents | Johnson County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 8.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 23.3% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.2% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.4% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Johnson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.6% |
Steps before you apply in Johnson County
A short checklist for Johnson County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Johnson County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Johnson County
Consumer lenders serving Johnson County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Johnson County a high-income county?
Its $51,028 median ranks 120th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Johnson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $647 against $1,393 statewide, and 60% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Johnson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Johnson 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 Johnson County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Wrightsville, Adrian, Kite.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Johnson County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.