1st Advantage MortgageLanier County households have a median income of $47,186 and median rent of $913 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Lanier County
- What Lanier County households earn
- The Lanier County job picture
- What it costs to live in Lanier County
- Regional comparison for Lanier County
- Lanier County towns compared
- What a median Lanier County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Lanier County
- Who lives in Lanier County, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for Lanier County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Lanier County
With an estimated 10,221 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lanier County ranks 124th of 159 in Georgia for population. It covers 197 square miles of land, or about 52 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Valdosta, GA metropolitan area. Of the 3 Census places inside Lanier County, Lakeland leads by population with about 2,968; 2 of the 3 are incorporated.
What Lanier County households earn
The median household income in Lanier County is $47,186; statewide it is $77,353, so Lanier County runs 39% below Georgia as a whole. Only 132 Georgia counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Lanier County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.4% | +15.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.3% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.3% | -7.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.1% | -7.8 pts |
Some 37% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 26.1%, 13 points higher than the state's 13.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.485 here. None of these numbers decides a Lanier County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Lanier County job picture
The biggest employer of Lanier County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by arts, lodging and food service (10%). Education and health care stands out: 29% of workers here, versus 21% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Lanier County averages 4.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 7.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Lanier County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.8% | +7.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.9% | -2.4 pts |
| Other services | 8.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.7% | -5.8 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What it costs to live in Lanier County
Renters in Lanier County pay a median of $913 a month, 34% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 55% of Lanier County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,300, about 3.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 73%.
| Housing | Lanier County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $913/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,300 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Lanier County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Regional comparison for Lanier County
Distances run center to center, from Lowndes County at 19 miles out to Echols County at 24. Echols County leads the group on income ($59,489), Atkinson County trails ($42,347), and Lanier County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lanier County | - | $47,186 | $913/mo | 73% |
| Lowndes County, GA | 19 mi | $58,541 | $1,052/mo | 57% |
| Berrien County, GA | 20 mi | $52,876 | $782/mo | 71% |
| Atkinson County, GA | 21 mi | $42,347 | $657/mo | 62% |
| Clinch County, GA | 23 mi | $45,847 | $509/mo | 71% |
| Cook County, GA | 23 mi | $53,651 | $956/mo | 66% |
| Echols County, GA | 24 mi | $59,489 | $1,017/mo | 76% |
Lanier County towns compared
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Lanier County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 4,005 people, so roughly 61% of residents live outside any named place. No Lanier County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | city | 2,968 | $31,147 | $879 | 1 mi |
| Ray City | city | 852 | $56,023 | $773 | 8 mi |
| Stockton | CDP | 185 | $92,969 | n/a | 7 mi |
What a median Lanier County budget can carry
How much room does a median Lanier County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,932 a month: gross income for a household at the Lanier County median
- 23% goes to median rent ($913)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $503 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Lanier County
Based on the Lanier County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Medical bills. 17% of Lanier County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile home upkeep. 36% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 26% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 55% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Who lives in Lanier County, in numbers
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 17.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Lanier County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.0% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.1% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 30.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Licensing and complaints for Lanier County
Consumer lenders serving Lanier County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lanier County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lanier County household make?
About $47,186 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 39% below the Georgia median.
How much is rent in Lanier County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $913 a month; 55% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Lanier County?
By population: Lakeland, Ray City, Stockton. The county has 3 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Lanier County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Lanier County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.