1st Advantage MortgageThe median Mitchell County household earns $57,613, and 23% of residents live below the poverty line. 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 Mitchell County
- What Mitchell County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Mitchell County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Mitchell County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mitchell County
- Mitchell County next to its neighbors
- Who lives in Mitchell County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Mitchell County
- A Mitchell County household budget, worked through
- Before you sign
- Georgia rules that apply in Mitchell County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Mitchell County
Mitchell County is home to about 21,058 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 85th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. It covers 512 square miles of land, or about 41 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Mitchell County is not part of any metropolitan area. Camilla is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 5,124 people (24% of the county total).
What Mitchell County households earn
At $57,613, the typical Mitchell County household income is 12% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Mitchell County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.1% | +12.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.6% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -10.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -9.0 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 18% clear $100,000. Census counts 23.4% of Mitchell County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. A household earning below the $57,613 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Mitchell County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 8% locally and 1% for Georgia. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 3% work from home. Only 12.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Mitchell County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.5% | +5.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 8.7% | +3.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -5.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.3% | +7.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Mitchell County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $797 in Mitchell County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 51% of Mitchell County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $106,000, or 1.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 65%.
| Home costs | Mitchell County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $797/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $106,000 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mitchell County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 50% of Mitchell County residents live in one of the 5. Baconton has the highest median household income on the list ($56,667) and Meigs the lowest ($36,458), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $595 in Meigs to $794 in Camilla. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camilla | city | 5,124 | $38,137 | $794 | 1 mi |
| Pelham | city | 3,433 | $39,023 | $773 | 7 mi |
| Meigs | city | 924 | $36,458 | $595 | 12 mi |
| Baconton | city | 790 | $56,667 | $731 | 11 mi |
| Sale City | city | 318 | $36,000 | $725 | 10 mi |
Mitchell County next to its neighbors
Baker County is closest, 17 miles from center to center; the sixth, Worth County, is 30 miles off. Thomas County leads the group on income ($60,736), Baker County trails ($46,012), and Mitchell County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell County | - | $57,613 | $797/mo | 65% |
| Baker County, GA | 17 mi | $46,012 | $631/mo | 77% |
| Dougherty County, GA | 21 mi | $49,044 | $935/mo | 45% |
| Grady County, GA | 25 mi | $58,980 | $779/mo | 66% |
| Colquitt County, GA | 25 mi | $49,341 | $818/mo | 64% |
| Thomas County, GA | 30 mi | $60,736 | $1,018/mo | 64% |
| Worth County, GA | 30 mi | $58,694 | $864/mo | 74% |
Who lives in Mitchell County, in numbers
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. 17.9% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Mitchell County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 17.9% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.4% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Mitchell County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Mitchell County
Where the Mitchell County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Hospital bills in Mitchell County. For the 18% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 21% of Mitchell County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 23% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Mitchell County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Mitchell County's medians:
- $4,801 a month: gross income for a household at the Mitchell County median
- Housing at the median rent of $797 uses 17%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,123 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $797, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Mitchell County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mitchell County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Georgia borrowers.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Georgia rules that apply in Mitchell County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Mitchell County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mitchell County a high-income county?
Its $57,613 median ranks 82nd of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Mitchell County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $797 against $1,393 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Camilla?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Mitchell County, such as Pelham, Meigs, Baconton.
Are Mitchell County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Mitchell County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.