1st Advantage MortgageThe median Seminole County household earns $49,495, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Seminole County
- How much Seminole County households make
- Work, industries and travel time in Seminole County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Seminole County
- The communities that make up Seminole County
- Seminole County and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Seminole County median
- Before borrowing in Seminole County
- Seminole County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Four steps for Seminole County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Seminole County
- More guides for Seminole County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Seminole County
Roughly 9,156 residents live in Seminole County, Georgia, 129th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 238 square miles, that works out to roughly 38.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Seminole County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (2 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Donalsonville, with about 2,831 residents, or 31% of the county. With so few households sampled, Seminole County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How much Seminole County households make
Seminole County households have a median income of $49,495 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 128th of 159 in Georgia.
| Household income | Seminole County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.1% | +15.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.8% | -3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | -2.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -9.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Seminole County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 20.1%, 7 points higher than the state's 13.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.483 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $49,495 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Work, industries and travel time in Seminole County
Education and health care employs 35% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 10%. Education and health care stands out: 35% of workers here, versus 21% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 2% work from home. Only 10.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Seminole County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 34.9% | +13.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -4.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.6% | -2.7 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.1% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Seminole County
A typical Seminole County rental runs $879 a month including utilities, which is 37% below Georgia. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 28% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $121,900, about 2.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1981.
| Cost | Seminole County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $879/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $121,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 30.1% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 26% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Seminole 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.
The communities that make up Seminole County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 35% of Seminole County residents live in one of the 2. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donalsonville | city | 2,831 | $43,477 | $914 | 7 mi |
| Iron City | town | 371 | $44,097 | $728 | 6 mi |
Seminole County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Seminole County's, from 17 to 30 miles away. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Seminole County; Houston County is highest at $58,626 and Gadsden County lowest at $48,801. The list crosses into Alabama, Florida, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminole County | - | $49,495 | $879/mo | 80% |
| Decatur County, GA | 17 mi | $53,317 | $838/mo | 62% |
| Miller County, GA | 18 mi | $51,425 | $810/mo | 70% |
| Jackson County, FL | 23 mi | $49,149 | $865/mo | 76% |
| Early County, GA | 27 mi | $54,083 | $791/mo | 67% |
| Gadsden County, FL | 29 mi | $48,801 | $851/mo | 71% |
| Houston County, AL | 30 mi | $58,626 | $945/mo | 64% |
Budget math at the Seminole County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Seminole County's medians:
- $49,495 a year is $4,125 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $879, takes 21% of that
- $565: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $1,856 total minus rent leaves $977
If your rent is above $879, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before borrowing in Seminole County
What the Seminole County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Seminole County. For the 15% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Seminole County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 30% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Seminole County's median age is 46.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Seminole County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 13% of adults over 25. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Seminole County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.8% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.1% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Seminole County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 13.2% |
| 60+ min | 7.0% |
Four steps for Seminole County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Seminole County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Georgia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Lender oversight for Seminole County
Consumer lenders serving Seminole County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
More guides for Seminole County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Seminole County household make?
About $49,495 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 36% below the Georgia median.
How much is rent in Seminole County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $879 a month; 28% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Seminole County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Donalsonville, Iron City.
Does living in Seminole 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 Seminole County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Seminole 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.