1st Advantage MortgageThe median Morgan County household earns $78,111, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Morgan County
- Household income in Morgan County
- Morgan County housing compared with Georgia
- How Morgan County residents earn a living
- Morgan County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Morgan County
- People and households in Morgan County
- Local borrowing considerations for Morgan County
- Room for a loan payment in Morgan County
- Lender oversight for Morgan County
- Four steps for Morgan County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Morgan County
With an estimated 21,078 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Morgan County ranks 84th of 159 in Georgia for population. Land area is 347 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 61 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (4 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Madison, with about 4,864 residents, or 23% of the county.
Household income in Morgan County
The median household income in Morgan County is $78,111, close to the statewide $77,353. In the state ranking that is 29th of 159.
| Household income | Morgan County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.5% | -1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.8% | +1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.1% | +2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.7% | -2.2 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 39% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.8% of Morgan County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Morgan County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Morgan County housing compared with Georgia
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,108 in Morgan County versus $1,393 statewide. 44% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. Home values center on $342,300, or 4.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1994.
| Home costs | Morgan County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,108/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $342,300 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 10% | n/a |
Because most Morgan 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.
How Morgan County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Morgan County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. Construction stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 22% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Morgan County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.8% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.5% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.3% | +0.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Morgan County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 22 miles). Income ranges from $60,134 in Jasper County to $121,217 in Oconee County; 3 of these neighbors top Morgan County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan County | - | $78,111 | $1,108/mo | 78% |
| Oconee County, GA | 17 mi | $121,217 | $1,462/mo | 81% |
| Walton County, GA | 19 mi | $84,945 | $1,175/mo | 79% |
| Greene County, GA | 19 mi | $86,272 | $924/mo | 78% |
| Newton County, GA | 21 mi | $77,179 | $1,439/mo | 74% |
| Putnam County, GA | 21 mi | $72,096 | $1,002/mo | 81% |
| Jasper County, GA | 22 mi | $60,134 | $970/mo | 86% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Morgan County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Morgan County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 6,762 residents, leaving about 68% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | city | 4,864 | $61,510 | $1,165 | 2 mi |
| Rutledge | city | 1,271 | $56,944 | $1,393 | 7 mi |
| Buckhead | town | 331 | $80,238 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Bostwick | city | 269 | $66,250 | $1,694 | 10 mi |
| Godfrey | CDP | 27 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
People and households in Morgan County
30% of Morgan County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 11.1%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Residents | Morgan County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 29.7% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.4% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 12.6% |
Local borrowing considerations for Morgan County
Where the Morgan County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Long drives. With 22% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Morgan County budgets.
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
Room for a loan payment in Morgan County
How much room does a median Morgan County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Morgan County: $6,509
- Rent at the median, $1,108, takes 17% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,235 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,691 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Morgan County's.
Lender oversight for Morgan County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Morgan County resident can confirm its license with 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.
Four steps for Morgan County borrowers
A short checklist for Morgan County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Morgan County a high-income county?
Its $78,111 median ranks 29th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Morgan County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,108 against $1,393 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Morgan County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Morgan County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Morgan County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Madison, Rutledge, Buckhead, Bostwick, Godfrey.
Is the fit check different in Morgan County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.