1st Advantage MortgageMacon County households have a median income of $41,031 and median rent of $655 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 Macon County
- Paychecks and income spread in Macon County
- Renting and owning in Macon County
- Work, industries and travel time in Macon County
- Towns and communities in Macon County
- Macon County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Macon County median
- Reading the Macon County data as a borrower
- Macon County households compared
- Georgia rules that apply in Macon County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Macon County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Macon County's population at 11,864; only 114 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 401 square miles, that works out to roughly 29.6 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Macon County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Montezuma, with about 2,966 residents, or 25% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Macon County
Half of Macon County households take in less than $41,031 a year and half take in more, 47% below the Georgia median of $77,353. In the state ranking that is 152nd of 159.
| Band | Macon County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 45.7% | +23.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.7% | -3.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.8% | -10.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -9.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 19% of Macon County households make $100,000 or more, and 46% make less than $35,000. Census counts 25.1% of Macon County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.551 here. A household earning below the $41,031 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Macon County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $655 in Macon County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 55% of Macon County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $97,300, a typical Macon County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 65% of Macon County households own their home and 35% rent. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Macon County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $655/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $97,300 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.7% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 10% | n/a |
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?
Work, industries and travel time in Macon County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Macon County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 8% locally and 1% for Georgia. The survey's unemployment rate for Macon County averages 7.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home.
| Where residents work | Macon County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.9% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.7% | +6.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.5% | +0.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Macon County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Macon County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 5,599 people, so roughly 53% of residents live outside any named place. Montezuma has the highest median household income on the list ($46,875) and Marshallville the lowest ($23,068), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Marshallville ($425) and steepest in Ideal ($800). No Macon County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma | city | 2,966 | $46,875 | $673 | 5 mi |
| Marshallville | city | 1,046 | $23,068 | $425 | 9 mi |
| Oglethorpe | city | 869 | $28,523 | $659 | 5 mi |
| Ideal | city | 718 | $26,500 | $800 | 8 mi |
Macon County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Schley County at 17 miles out to Sumter County at 24. Income ranges from $41,788 in Taylor County to $80,698 in Houston County; all six of these neighbors top Macon County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County | - | $41,031 | $655/mo | 65% |
| Schley County, GA | 17 mi | $56,875 | $816/mo | 80% |
| Taylor County, GA | 18 mi | $41,788 | $630/mo | 63% |
| Peach County, GA | 19 mi | $71,293 | $940/mo | 70% |
| Dooly County, GA | 20 mi | $60,987 | $758/mo | 65% |
| Houston County, GA | 24 mi | $80,698 | $1,208/mo | 67% |
| Sumter County, GA | 24 mi | $42,653 | $857/mo | 57% |
Budget math at the Macon County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Macon County's medians:
- Start: $3,419 gross per month ($41,031 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $655 uses 19%
- $542: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $884 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Macon County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Macon County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Macon County. For the 25% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Mobile home upkeep. 25% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 25% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of Macon County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Macon County households compared
College graduates make up 11% of the adult population. 24.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Macon County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.0% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 22.6% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 24.7% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 13.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 25.1% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Macon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.4% |
Georgia rules that apply in Macon County
Macon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by 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
Quick steps for Macon County:
- Price the Macon County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Ask a Macon County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Macon County a high-income county?
Its $41,031 median ranks 152nd of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Macon County rent compare with Georgia?
$655 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 53% below.
Which towns does the Macon County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Montezuma, Marshallville, Oglethorpe, Ideal.
Does living in Macon County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Macon County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Macon County?
Start with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.