1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lamar County household earns $67,062, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Lamar County
- Paychecks and income spread in Lamar County
- What it costs to live in Lamar County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lamar County
- The communities that make up Lamar County
- How Lamar County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Lamar County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Lamar County
- Who lives in Lamar County, in numbers
- Checklist for Lamar County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Lamar County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Lamar County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lamar County's population at 19,571; only 94 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 184 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 107 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Lamar County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 3 Census places inside Lamar County, Barnesville leads by population with about 6,121; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Lamar County
At $67,062, the typical Lamar County household income is 2% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 53rd among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Lamar County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.9% | -0.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +6.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -5.2 pts |
Some 22% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 9.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.413 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Lamar County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $878 in Lamar County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 29% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $216,500, about 3.2 times the median household income. 76% of Lamar County households own their home and 24% rent. The median year built is 1988.
| Home costs | Lamar County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $878/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $216,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Lamar County
The biggest employer of Lamar County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (18%). Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward manufacturing (18% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Lamar County. 27% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. 4.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Lamar County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.2% | +8.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +2.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lamar County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Lamar County
Here are the 3 most populous of the county's 3 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 37% of Lamar County residents live in one of the 3. No Lamar County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnesville | city | 6,121 | $57,411 | $846 | 2 mi |
| Milner | city | 979 | $67,476 | $1,250 | 4 mi |
| Aldora | town | 82 | $27,708 | $763 | 2 mi |
How Lamar County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Monroe County at 14 miles out to Henry County at 26. Income ranges from $55,429 in Upson County to $86,719 in Pike County; 4 of these neighbors top Lamar County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County | - | $67,062 | $878/mo | 76% |
| Monroe County, GA | 14 mi | $83,183 | $943/mo | 84% |
| Pike County, GA | 14 mi | $86,719 | $993/mo | 85% |
| Spalding County, GA | 15 mi | $62,071 | $1,113/mo | 63% |
| Upson County, GA | 16 mi | $55,429 | $849/mo | 61% |
| Butts County, GA | 18 mi | $69,241 | $941/mo | 74% |
| Henry County, GA | 26 mi | $83,146 | $1,674/mo | 75% |
Debt-to-income at Lamar County's medians
How much room does a median Lamar County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,588 a month: gross income for a household at the Lamar County median
- Less median rent of $878, which is 16% of it
- $1,134: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $878, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Lamar County
A few patterns in the Lamar County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Lamar County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 27% of Lamar County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Lamar County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
Who lives in Lamar County, in numbers
19% of Lamar County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 11% go without health insurance.
| Lamar County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.2% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lamar County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 17.7% |
Checklist for Lamar County applicants
A short checklist for Lamar County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Licensing and complaints for Lamar County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lamar 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Lamar County earn?
The median is $67,062; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Lamar County rent compare with Georgia?
$878 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 37% below.
I own my home in Lamar County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
What are the biggest places in Lamar County?
By population: Barnesville, Milner, Aldora. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Can Lamar 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.