1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Schley County is $816 a month against a median household income of $56,875, about 17% of income (ACS 2020-24). 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
- 4,513 residents: Schley County basics
- How Schley County residents earn a living
- Renting and owning in Schley County
- Schley County income bands
- Schley County at the extremes
- The communities that make up Schley County
- Schley County and the counties next door
- What the numbers mean for Schley County borrowers
- Age, degrees and coverage in Schley County
- $4,740 a month: the Schley County median budget
- Licensing and complaints for Schley County
- Four steps for Schley County borrowers
- More guides for Schley County
- Frequently asked questions
4,513 residents: Schley County basics
Schley County is home to about 4,513 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 152nd most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. It covers 167 square miles of land, or about 27 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Ellaville, with about 1,668 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Schley County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How Schley County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 14%. Schley County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 4% versus 1% in Georgia. The survey's unemployment rate for Schley County averages 7.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 26% of Schley County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 20% need 45 or more. 5.8% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Schley County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.3% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.2% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +1.1 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.
Renting and owning in Schley County
Schley County rent at the median: $816 a month, utilities in ($1,393 in Georgia). Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 52% in Schley County, 52% statewide. Median value $143,900; median income $56,875; ratio 2.5. 80% of Schley County households own their home and 20% rent. Median construction year: 1991. Against the median U.S. county, Schley County rent is 7% below.
| Home costs | Schley County | Georgia | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $816/mo | $1,393/mo | 41% lower |
| Median home value | $143,900 | $303,300 | 53% lower |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | +14.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | -0.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 26% | +6.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 32.8% | 7.8% | +25.0 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Schley 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. With rent burdens at 52%, keep any Schley County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Schley County income bands
Median household income in Schley County: $56,875 (26% below Georgia, $77,353). Only 85 Georgia counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Schley County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.7% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.6% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.9% | -11.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.8% | -4.1 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. Schley County counts about 627 residents below the poverty line, 13.9% of the population. None of these numbers decides a Schley County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Schley County at the extremes
Ranked against the other 158 county-level areas in Georgia, these are the Schley County figures furthest from the middle.
- Schley County ranks 8th lowest of 159 Georgia counties for population: 4,513, against 10,940,407 statewide. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.
- Few Georgia counties match Schley County on the ACS unemployment rate: 7.6% here, 5.1% for the state, ranking 15th highest of 159. If work is uncertain, keep any loan small and the term short.
- Few Georgia counties match Schley County on homeownership: 80% here, 66% for the state, ranking 24th highest of 159. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
The communities that make up Schley County
Just one Census place, Ellaville, lies mainly within Schley County; it holds about 1,668 people. Live in one of these Schley County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellaville | city | 1,668 | $46,964 | $747 | 2 mi |
Schley County and the counties next door
Marion County is closest, 14 miles from center to center; the sixth, Chattahoochee County, is 28 miles off. Chattahoochee County leads the group on income ($61,042), Macon County trails ($41,031), and Schley County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schley County | - | $56,875 | $816/mo | 80% |
| Marion County, GA | 14 mi | $51,667 | $710/mo | 79% |
| Sumter County, GA | 17 mi | $42,653 | $857/mo | 57% |
| Macon County, GA | 17 mi | $41,031 | $655/mo | 65% |
| Webster County, GA | 20 mi | $46,792 | $658/mo | 77% |
| Taylor County, GA | 21 mi | $41,788 | $630/mo | 63% |
| Chattahoochee County, GA | 28 mi | $61,042 | $1,348/mo | 39% |
What the numbers mean for Schley County borrowers
Where the Schley County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- 10% uninsured. In Schley County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured housing (33%). Schley County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- Rent squeeze. 52% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Age, degrees and coverage in Schley County
In Schley County, 22% of adults have at least a four-year degree (35% in Georgia). About 10% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Schley County | +/- Georgia | +/- U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | +3.9 yrs | +0.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.2% | -12.8 pts | 0.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 13.6% | +2.8 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | -2.2 pts | +2.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | -0.1 pts | +0.4 pts |
| Work from home | 11.5% | -4.5 pts | +2.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | +0.5 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.6% | +2.5 pts | +3.2 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 14.5% |
$4,740 a month: the Schley County median budget
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Schley County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,740 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($816)
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,222 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Schley County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Schley County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Schley County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Nationally, Schley County residents can file with the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Four steps for Schley County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Schley County
No city in Schley County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Schley County rank on income in Georgia?
86th of 159, with a median of $56,875. The state median is $77,353.
What do renters pay in Schley County?
$816 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Should Schley County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 80% of Schley County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Schley County?
By population: Ellaville. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Schley County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.