1st Advantage MortgageIn Jones County, Georgia, the typical household earns $75,500 a year and the typical rent is $964. 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
- Jones County, GA: the basics
- Renting and owning in Jones County
- What Jones County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Jones County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Jones County
- A Jones County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Jones County
- Local borrowing considerations for Jones County
- A Jones County borrower's checklist
- Georgia rules that apply in Jones County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Jones County, GA: the basics
Jones County is home to about 28,673 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 67th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Land area is 394 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 73 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Macon-Bibb County, GA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 1 Census place inside Jones County, Gray leads by population with about 3,512.
Renting and owning in Jones County
A typical Jones County rental runs $964 a month including utilities, which is 31% below Georgia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. With a median value of $194,500, a typical Jones County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 84% of homes.
| Home costs | Jones County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $964/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 10% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
What Jones County households earn
Half of Jones County households take in less than $75,500 a year and half take in more, 2% below the Georgia median of $77,353.
| Band | Jones County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.7% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.0% | +1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.4% | +3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.8% | -6.0 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. 12.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). For a borrower in Jones County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Jones County
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Jones County residents work in education and health care and 13% in finance, insurance and real estate. The sharpest difference from the state is in finance, insurance and real estate, at 13% locally and 6% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Jones County. About 79% drive to work alone and 19% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.5% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Sector | Jones County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.3% | +4.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 12.7% | +6.4 pts |
| Public administration | 9.7% | +4.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -5.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -3.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.4 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.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Bibb County at 17 miles out to Twiggs County at 26. Income ranges from $51,234 in Bibb County to $83,183 in Monroe County; 1 of these neighbors top Jones County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County | - | $75,500 | $964/mo | 84% |
| Bibb County, GA | 17 mi | $51,234 | $1,066/mo | 51% |
| Baldwin County, GA | 18 mi | $54,403 | $923/mo | 61% |
| Monroe County, GA | 21 mi | $83,183 | $943/mo | 84% |
| Jasper County, GA | 22 mi | $60,134 | $970/mo | 86% |
| Putnam County, GA | 23 mi | $72,096 | $1,002/mo | 81% |
| Twiggs County, GA | 26 mi | $56,324 | $808/mo | 88% |
The communities that make up Jones County
Gray is the only Census place mainly inside Jones County, with about 3,512 of the county's 28,673 residents. Live in one of these Jones County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray | city | 3,512 | $73,114 | $921 | 2 mi |
A Jones County household budget, worked through
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jones County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Jones County: $6,292
- Housing at the median rent of $964 uses 15%
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,553 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Jones County's.
People and households in Jones County
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 8.6%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Measure | Jones County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.8% |
| 60+ min | 12.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Jones County
What the Jones County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 19% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Jones County budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 25% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
A Jones County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Jones County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Georgia rules that apply in Jones County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jones County a high-income county?
Its $75,500 median ranks 34th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Jones County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $964 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Jones County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 84% of Jones County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Jones County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 1 Census places: Gray.
Are Jones County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.