1st Advantage MortgageIn McDuffie County, Georgia, the typical household earns $56,733 a year and the typical rent is $792. 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
- McDuffie County, GA: the basics
- Housing costs in McDuffie County
- How much McDuffie County households make
- Jobs and commutes in McDuffie County
- The communities that make up McDuffie County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Who lives in McDuffie County, in numbers
- Reading the McDuffie County data as a borrower
- What a median McDuffie County budget can carry
- Checklist for McDuffie County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for McDuffie County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
McDuffie County, GA: the basics
Roughly 21,718 residents live in McDuffie County, Georgia, 83rd by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. It covers 257 square miles of land, or about 84 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 2 Census places inside McDuffie County, Thomson leads by population with about 6,821; 2 of the 2 are incorporated.
Housing costs in McDuffie County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $792 in McDuffie County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 55% of McDuffie County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $170,200, about 3.0 times the median household income. Owners occupy 65% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| McDuffie County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $792/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $170,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How much McDuffie County households make
At $56,733, the typical McDuffie County household income is 14% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 88th of 159.
| Household income | McDuffie County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.6% | +11.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.0% | -5.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.7% | -6.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of McDuffie County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 20.3%, 7 points higher than the state's 13.4%. None of these numbers decides a McDuffie County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in McDuffie County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Education and health care stands out: 27% of workers here, versus 21% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | McDuffie County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.5% | +6.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.8% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.5% | -6.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The communities that make up McDuffie County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 35% of McDuffie County residents live in one of the 2. This guide covers each of the 2 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomson | city | 6,821 | $42,180 | $848 | 1 mi |
| Dearing | town | 760 | $66,146 | $1,105 | 7 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Warren County at 12 miles out to Richmond County at 25. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than McDuffie County; Columbia County is highest at $95,592 and Warren County lowest at $44,289.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDuffie County | - | $56,733 | $792/mo | 65% |
| Warren County, GA | 12 mi | $44,289 | $690/mo | 72% |
| Columbia County, GA | 14 mi | $95,592 | $1,409/mo | 78% |
| Glascock County, GA | 19 mi | $54,934 | $642/mo | 68% |
| Lincoln County, GA | 22 mi | $56,907 | $786/mo | 77% |
| Taliaferro County, GA | 23 mi | $52,500 | $638/mo | 82% |
| Richmond County, GA | 25 mi | $55,637 | $1,141/mo | 51% |
Who lives in McDuffie County, in numbers
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 9.6%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Measure | McDuffie County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.8% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.9% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | McDuffie County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.7% |
Reading the McDuffie County data as a borrower
Where the McDuffie County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Mobile home upkeep. 24% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any McDuffie County loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of McDuffie County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
What a median McDuffie County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to McDuffie County's medians:
- $4,728 a month: gross income for a household at the McDuffie County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($792)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $910 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $792, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checklist for McDuffie County applicants
A short checklist for McDuffie County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Georgia borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for McDuffie County
Consumer lenders serving McDuffie County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is McDuffie County a high-income county?
Its $56,733 median ranks 88th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in McDuffie County?
$792 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I live in a small McDuffie County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Thomson, Dearing.
Can McDuffie 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 McDuffie 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.