1st Advantage MortgageIn Oglethorpe County, Georgia, the typical household earns $75,034 a year and the typical rent is $913. 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
- A quick profile of Oglethorpe County
- Housing costs in Oglethorpe County
- Paychecks and income spread in Oglethorpe County
- The Oglethorpe County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Oglethorpe County
- Oglethorpe County next to its neighbors
- Room for a loan payment in Oglethorpe County
- What the numbers mean for Oglethorpe County borrowers
- Oglethorpe County households compared
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Oglethorpe County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Oglethorpe County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Oglethorpe County's population at 15,509; only 106 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. It covers 439 square miles of land, or about 35 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Crawford, with about 1,016 residents, or 7% of the county.
Housing costs in Oglethorpe County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $913 in Oglethorpe County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 49% of renter households here. Home values center on $231,600, or 3.1 years of median income. 84% of Oglethorpe County households own their home and 16% rent. The median year built is 1990.
| Cost | Oglethorpe County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $913/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,600 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 26% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Oglethorpe County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Paychecks and income spread in Oglethorpe County
The median household income in Oglethorpe County is $75,034; statewide it is $77,353, so Oglethorpe County runs 3% below Georgia as a whole. That places it 35th among Georgia's 159 county-level areas.
| Band | Oglethorpe County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.7% | +4.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.1% | -0.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.9% | -3.0 pts |
About 27% of households earn under $35,000, while 34% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.6%, 2 points lower than the state's 13.4%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.449 here. None of these numbers decides a Oglethorpe County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Oglethorpe County job picture
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Oglethorpe County residents work in education and health care and 11% in professional and administrative services. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward education and health care (27% against 21%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.1% in Oglethorpe County. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 3.3% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Oglethorpe County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.9% | +5.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.5% | -3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Oglethorpe County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Oglethorpe County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 2,396 people, so roughly 85% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $31,250 in Crawford to $73,958 in Lexington. Live in one of these Oglethorpe County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford | city | 1,016 | $31,250 | $818 | 5 mi |
| Lexington | city | 520 | $73,958 | $858 | 2 mi |
| Arnoldsville | city | 500 | $51,250 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Maxeys | town | 360 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
Oglethorpe County next to its neighbors
Clarke County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Elbert County, is 22 miles off. Oconee County leads the group on income ($121,217), Wilkes County trails ($52,043), and Oglethorpe County out-earns 4 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oglethorpe County | - | $75,034 | $913/mo | 84% |
| Clarke County, GA | 18 mi | $53,625 | $1,219/mo | 41% |
| Madison County, GA | 20 mi | $61,963 | $972/mo | 77% |
| Wilkes County, GA | 20 mi | $52,043 | $786/mo | 66% |
| Greene County, GA | 21 mi | $86,272 | $924/mo | 78% |
| Oconee County, GA | 21 mi | $121,217 | $1,462/mo | 81% |
| Elbert County, GA | 22 mi | $58,450 | $844/mo | 71% |
Room for a loan payment in Oglethorpe County
Here is the Oglethorpe County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $6,253 gross per month ($75,034 / 12)
- 15% goes to median rent ($913)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,776 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Oglethorpe County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Oglethorpe County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Oglethorpe County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- 25% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Oglethorpe County households compared
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.8%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Measure | Oglethorpe County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.7% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.6% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 11.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 31.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.1% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Oglethorpe County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Oglethorpe County-area credit union.
- A Georgia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Oglethorpe County
Consumer lenders serving Oglethorpe 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.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Oglethorpe County earn?
The median is $75,034; 34% earn $100,000 or more and 27% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Oglethorpe County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $913 against $1,393 statewide, and 49% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Should Oglethorpe County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 84% of Oglethorpe County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Crawford?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Oglethorpe County, such as Lexington, Arnoldsville, Maxeys.
Does living in Oglethorpe 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 Oglethorpe County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.