1st Advantage MortgageLowndes County households have a median income of $58,541 and median rent of $1,052 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Lowndes County, GA: the basics
- Income in Lowndes County compared with Georgia
- How Lowndes County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Lowndes County
- Towns and communities in Lowndes County
- How Lowndes County compares with nearby counties
- Room for a loan payment in Lowndes County
- Borrowing situations common in Lowndes County
- More Lowndes County figures
- Lender oversight for Lowndes County
- Checklist for Lowndes County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Lowndes County, GA: the basics
Lowndes County is home to about 119,965 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 22nd most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Land area is 497 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 241 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Valdosta, GA metropolitan area. Valdosta is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 55,252 people (46% of the county total).
Income in Lowndes County compared with Georgia
Lowndes County households have a median income of $58,541 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 77th of 159 in Georgia.
| Household income | Lowndes County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.2% | +10.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.5% | -6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.3% | -6.6 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 26% have six-figure incomes. 19.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.492 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lowndes County median.
How Lowndes County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 15%. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 15% locally and 11% for Georgia. The survey's unemployment rate for Lowndes County averages 5.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.5% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Lowndes County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.1% | +3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.8% | +3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -3.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.8% | -2.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.1% | +2.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Lowndes County
A typical Lowndes County rental runs $1,052 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Georgia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $215,600, about 3.7 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 57%. The median year built is 1993.
| Lowndes County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,052/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $215,600 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% | 7.8% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Towns and communities in Lowndes County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Lowndes County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 73,432 residents, leaving about 39% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $92,842 at the median in Bemiss, $26,824 in Remerton. Median rent ranges from $797 in Lake Park to $1,417 in Bemiss. No Lowndes County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta | city | 55,252 | $45,925 | $1,054 | 1 mi |
| Bemiss | CDP | 9,201 | $92,842 | $1,417 | 7 mi |
| Hahira | city | 3,451 | $70,966 | $903 | 13 mi |
| Moody AFB | CDP | 1,630 | n/a | $1,201 | 10 mi |
| Remerton | city | 1,280 | $26,824 | $932 | 2 mi |
| Lake Park | city | 1,234 | $51,813 | $797 | 11 mi |
| Dasher | town | 944 | $65,703 | $1,008 | 7 mi |
| Naylor | CDP | 293 | $80,811 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Clyattville | CDP | 147 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Lowndes County compares with nearby counties
Brooks County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Hamilton County, is 30 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Lowndes County; Echols County is highest at $59,489 and Brooks County lowest at $46,807. The list crosses into Florida, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowndes County | - | $58,541 | $1,052/mo | 57% |
| Brooks County, GA | 19 mi | $46,807 | $809/mo | 72% |
| Lanier County, GA | 19 mi | $47,186 | $913/mo | 73% |
| Echols County, GA | 24 mi | $59,489 | $1,017/mo | 76% |
| Cook County, GA | 24 mi | $53,651 | $956/mo | 66% |
| Madison County, FL | 29 mi | $48,485 | $874/mo | 73% |
| Hamilton County, FL | 30 mi | $50,144 | $724/mo | 80% |
Room for a loan payment in Lowndes County
Lowndes County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,878 a month: gross income for a household at the Lowndes County median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,052 uses 22%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $704 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Lowndes County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Lowndes County
What the Lowndes County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 14% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Free help first. 19% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 54% of Lowndes County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
More Lowndes County figures
College graduates make up 28% of the adult population. 14.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Lowndes County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.9% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.3% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.2% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Lowndes County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 2.8% |
Lender oversight for Lowndes County
Consumer lenders serving Lowndes County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Checklist for Lowndes County applicants
A short checklist for Lowndes County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lowndes County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lowndes County a high-income county?
Its $58,541 median ranks 77th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Lowndes County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,052 against $1,393 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Valdosta?
Yes, along with the other 8 Census places in Lowndes County, such as Bemiss, Hahira, Moody AFB.
Can Lowndes 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.
Where can someone in Lowndes County check a lender's license?
With the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.