1st Advantage MortgageStephens County households have a median income of $54,754 and median rent of $820 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
- Stephens County, GA: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Stephens County
- Jobs and commutes in Stephens County
- What it costs to live in Stephens County
- Counties near Stephens County
- Places inside Stephens County
- A Stephens County household budget, worked through
- Stephens County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Stephens County
- Licensing and complaints for Stephens County
- Steps before you apply in Stephens County
- More guides for Stephens County
- Frequently asked questions
Stephens County, GA: the basics
Stephens County is home to about 27,012 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 71st most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Packed into 179 square miles, that is close to 151 residents for every square mile of land. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 3 places in the county (3 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Toccoa, with about 9,238 residents, or 34% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Stephens County
The median household income in Stephens County is $54,754; statewide it is $77,353, so Stephens County runs 29% below Georgia as a whole.
| Households earning | Stephens County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.1% | +11.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.3% | +5.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.2% | -9.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -8.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 21% of Stephens County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.8%, 2 points higher than the state's 13.4%. For a borrower in Stephens County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Stephens County
The biggest employer of Stephens County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 22% of workers, followed by education and health care (19%). Manufacturing stands out: 22% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Stephens County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.3% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Stephens County workers | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 21.8% | +11.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.3% | -1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.1% | +2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -6.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -0.8 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.
What it costs to live in Stephens County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $820 in Stephens County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. Home values center on $175,300, or 3.2 years of median income. 74% of Stephens County households own their home and 26% rent. Median construction year: 1983.
| Cost | Stephens County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $820/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $175,300 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Stephens 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.
Counties near Stephens County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Stephens County's, from 13 to 24 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Stephens County; Banks County is highest at $77,063 and Franklin County lowest at $53,046. The list crosses into South Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephens County | - | $54,754 | $820/mo | 74% |
| Franklin County, GA | 13 mi | $53,046 | $844/mo | 77% |
| Habersham County, GA | 15 mi | $67,309 | $974/mo | 73% |
| Banks County, GA | 18 mi | $77,063 | $827/mo | 79% |
| Oconee County, SC | 19 mi | $62,388 | $881/mo | 76% |
| Hart County, GA | 23 mi | $59,385 | $844/mo | 78% |
| Rabun County, GA | 24 mi | $67,493 | $1,047/mo | 77% |
Places inside Stephens County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Stephens County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 9,974 people, so roughly 63% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Stephens County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toccoa | city | 9,238 | $48,438 | $711 | 3 mi |
| Martin | town | 422 | $45,313 | $869 | 7 mi |
| Avalon | town | 314 | $51,375 | $916 | 7 mi |
A Stephens County household budget, worked through
Stephens County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,563 gross per month ($54,754 / 12)
- Median rent: $820, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $823: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,142: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Stephens County's.
Stephens County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. 14.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Stephens County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.1% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.9% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.0% |
Borrowing situations common in Stephens County
Where the Stephens County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Mobile home upkeep. 20% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Licensing and complaints for Stephens County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Stephens County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Stephens County
A short checklist for Stephens County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Georgia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Stephens County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Stephens County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Stephens County household make?
About $54,754 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the Georgia median.
How much is rent in Stephens County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $820 a month; 44% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Stephens County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Toccoa?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Stephens County, such as Martin, Avalon.
Does living in Stephens 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 Stephens County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.