1st Advantage MortgageLincoln County households have a median income of $56,907 and median rent of $786 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Georgia license first.
On this page
- Who lives in Lincoln County
- Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
- What Lincoln County households earn
- Housing costs in Lincoln County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Lincoln County
- What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
- People and households in Lincoln County
- Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
- Lender oversight for Lincoln County
- Four steps for Lincoln County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Lincoln County
With an estimated 7,854 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lincoln County ranks 139th of 159 in Georgia for population. Spread over 210 square miles, that works out to roughly 37.3 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 1 place in the county (1 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Lincolnton, with about 1,768 residents, or 23% of the county. With so few households sampled, Lincoln County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Work, industries and travel time in Lincoln County
By the Census industry count, 32% of employed Lincoln County residents work in education and health care and 15% in manufacturing. Education and health care stands out: 32% of workers here, versus 21% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 30% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Where residents work | Lincoln County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.7% | +10.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.5% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -4.5 pts |
| Other services | 8.7% | +4.2 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | +0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lincoln County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Lincoln County households earn
Half of Lincoln County households take in less than $56,907 a year and half take in more, 26% below the Georgia median of $77,353. That places it 85th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Lincoln County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.5% | -1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -8.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Lincoln County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. 17.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.405 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lincoln County median.
Housing costs in Lincoln County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $786 in Lincoln County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 58% of Lincoln County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $165,900, a typical Lincoln County house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 77%. The median year built is 1984.
| Housing | Lincoln County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $786/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $165,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 34% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Lincoln 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (11 to 29 miles). Income ranges from $52,043 in Wilkes County to $95,592 in Columbia County; 2 of these neighbors top Lincoln County's median. The list crosses into South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | - | $56,907 | $786/mo | 77% |
| McCormick County, SC | 11 mi | $55,798 | $696/mo | 88% |
| Wilkes County, GA | 17 mi | $52,043 | $786/mo | 66% |
| Columbia County, GA | 20 mi | $95,592 | $1,409/mo | 78% |
| McDuffie County, GA | 22 mi | $56,733 | $792/mo | 65% |
| Edgefield County, SC | 28 mi | $73,029 | $720/mo | 80% |
| Taliaferro County, GA | 29 mi | $52,500 | $638/mo | 82% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Lincoln County
Lincolnton is the only Census place mainly inside Lincoln County, with about 1,768 of the county's 7,854 residents. Live in one of these Lincoln County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincolnton | city | 1,768 | $43,935 | $734 | 2 mi |
What a median Lincoln County budget can carry
How much room does a median Lincoln County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,742 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $786, takes 17% of that
- $1,253: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Lincoln County
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 12.3%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Lincoln County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.5% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.3% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lincoln County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.1% |
| 60+ min | 13.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lincoln County
Based on the Lincoln County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Lincoln County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Vehicle repairs. 30% of Lincoln County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 31% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 48, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Lender oversight for Lincoln County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Lincoln County borrowers
A short checklist for Lincoln County borrowers:
- Price the Lincoln County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Lincoln County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lincoln County household make?
About $56,907 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 26% below the Georgia median.
Is Lincoln County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $786 against $1,393 statewide, and 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Lincoln County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Lincoln County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Lincoln County?
By population: Lincolnton. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Lincoln County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.