1st Advantage MortgageRockdale County households have a median income of $77,247 and median rent of $1,525 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Georgia before sharing details.
On this page
- Rockdale County, GA: the basics
- What it costs to live in Rockdale County
- Paychecks and income spread in Rockdale County
- The Rockdale County job picture
- The communities that make up Rockdale County
- Counties near Rockdale County
- People and households in Rockdale County
- What the numbers mean for Rockdale County borrowers
- What a median Rockdale County budget can carry
- Lender oversight for Rockdale County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Rockdale County
- Frequently asked questions
Rockdale County, GA: the basics
With an estimated 95,281 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Rockdale County ranks 28th of 159 in Georgia for population. Packed into 130 square miles, that is close to 734 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Conyers is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 18,512 people (19% of the county total).
What it costs to live in Rockdale County
Renters in Rockdale County pay a median of $1,525 a month, 9% above the Georgia figure of $1,393. 53% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. With a median value of $292,900, a typical Rockdale County house costs 3.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 70% of Rockdale County households own their home and 30% rent.
| Measure | Rockdale County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,525/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $292,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 3.8% | 7.8% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Paychecks and income spread in Rockdale County
Rockdale County households have a median income of $77,247 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 159 in Georgia.
| Yearly household income | Rockdale County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 17.3% | -4.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +7.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.0% | +1.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.1% | -3.8 pts |
About 17% of households earn under $35,000, while 36% clear $100,000. 10.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). None of these numbers decides a Rockdale County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Rockdale County job picture
The biggest employer of Rockdale County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 10% locally and 7% for Georgia. The survey's unemployment rate for Rockdale County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). About 74% drive to work alone and 31% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 3.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Rockdale County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.6% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 13.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.5 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The communities that make up Rockdale County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Rockdale County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 22,797 people, so roughly 76% of residents live outside any named place. Conyers has the highest median household income on the list ($63,140) and Lakeview Estates the lowest ($46,900), counting places with at least 500 residents. Live in one of these Rockdale County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conyers | city | 18,512 | $63,140 | $1,318 | 2 mi |
| Lakeview Estates | CDP | 3,596 | $46,900 | $751 | 4 mi |
| Milstead | CDP | 689 | $54,315 | n/a | 3 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Counties near Rockdale County
Newton County is closest, 12 miles from center to center; the sixth, Clayton County, is 23 miles off. Gwinnett County leads the group on income ($87,890), Clayton County trails ($59,806), and Rockdale County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockdale County | - | $77,247 | $1,525/mo | 70% |
| Newton County, GA | 12 mi | $77,179 | $1,439/mo | 74% |
| DeKalb County, GA | 14 mi | $80,644 | $1,692/mo | 59% |
| Henry County, GA | 16 mi | $83,146 | $1,674/mo | 75% |
| Walton County, GA | 19 mi | $84,945 | $1,175/mo | 79% |
| Gwinnett County, GA | 21 mi | $87,890 | $1,810/mo | 66% |
| Clayton County, GA | 23 mi | $59,806 | $1,433/mo | 55% |
People and households in Rockdale County
College graduates make up 32% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 13.1%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| People and households | Rockdale County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.1% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Rockdale County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.5% |
| 60+ min | 16.1% |
What the numbers mean for Rockdale County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Rockdale County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 13% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Keeping the car running. At 31% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Rockdale County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
What a median Rockdale County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Rockdale County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $77,247 a year is $6,437 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,525 uses 24%
- $792: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Rockdale County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Lender oversight for Rockdale County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Rockdale County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rockdale County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Rockdale County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Rockdale County earn?
The median is $77,247; 36% earn $100,000 or more and 17% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Rockdale County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,525 a month; 53% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Conyers?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Rockdale County, such as Lakeview Estates, Milstead.
Is the fit check different in Rockdale County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Rockdale 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.