1st Advantage MortgageIn Rabun County, Georgia, the typical household earns $67,493 a year and the typical rent is $1,047. 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 Rabun County
- Work, industries and travel time in Rabun County
- Household income in Rabun County
- Renting and owning in Rabun County
- Towns and communities in Rabun County
- The counties around Rabun County
- Room for a loan payment in Rabun County
- People and households in Rabun County
- Before borrowing in Rabun County
- Licensing and complaints for Rabun County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Rabun County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Rabun County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Rabun County's population at 17,312; only 101 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 370 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 47 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Rabun County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Clayton is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 2,018 people (12% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Rabun County
Education and health care employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 13%. The sharpest difference from the state is in finance, insurance and real estate, at 10% locally and 6% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.3% in Rabun County. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. 4.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Rabun County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.6% | -2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.4% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 10.1% | +3.7 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Household income in Rabun County
The median household income in Rabun County is $67,493; statewide it is $77,353, so Rabun County runs 13% below Georgia as a whole. In the state ranking that is 49th of 159.
| Yearly household income | Rabun County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.3% | +6.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.6% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.2% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.9% | -1.9 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 13.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.505 here. A household earning below the $67,493 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Rabun County
A typical Rabun County rental runs $1,047 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Georgia. By the Census definition, 48% of Rabun County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $295,200, or 4.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median year built is 1988.
| Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,047/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $295,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 38% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Rabun 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.
Towns and communities in Rabun County
5 Census places fall mainly inside Rabun County; the 5 biggest are below. They account for 4,357 residents, leaving about 75% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Median rent ranges from $814 in Clayton to $1,377 in Sky Valley. Live in one of these Rabun County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton | city | 2,018 | $57,083 | $814 | 1 mi |
| Mountain City | town | 1,004 | $46,250 | $1,102 | 3 mi |
| Sky Valley | city | 647 | n/a | $1,377 | 8 mi |
| Tiger | town | 362 | $68,523 | $3,501 | 3 mi |
| Dillard | city | 326 | $44,643 | $950 | 6 mi |
The counties around Rabun County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 24 miles). Habersham County leads the group on income ($67,309), Stephens County trails ($54,754), and Rabun County out-earns 6 of the six. The list crosses into North Carolina, South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun County | - | $67,493 | $1,047/mo | 77% |
| Habersham County, GA | 19 mi | $67,309 | $974/mo | 73% |
| Towns County, GA | 19 mi | $59,135 | $808/mo | 82% |
| Macon County, NC | 19 mi | $59,061 | $803/mo | 78% |
| Oconee County, SC | 22 mi | $62,388 | $881/mo | 76% |
| Clay County, NC | 23 mi | $56,971 | $804/mo | 81% |
| Stephens County, GA | 24 mi | $54,754 | $820/mo | 74% |
Room for a loan payment in Rabun County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Rabun County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $67,493 a year is $5,624 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,047, which is 19% of it
- $978: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,371: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Rabun County
Degree holders: 31% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 13.9%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| People and households | Rabun County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.1 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.3% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.7% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.9% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Rabun County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Before borrowing in Rabun County
Based on the Rabun County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Rabun County. For the 14% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Fixed incomes. Rabun County's median age is 50.1. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Licensing and complaints for Rabun County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Rabun County:
- Price the Rabun County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Rabun County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Rabun County?
$67,493 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 49th of 159 in the state.
What do renters pay in Rabun County?
$1,047 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
I own my home in Rabun County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 77% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Rabun County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Clayton, Mountain City, Sky Valley, Tiger, Dillard.
Can Rabun 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.