1st Advantage MortgageIn Telfair County, Georgia, the typical household earns $50,929 a year and the typical rent is $712. 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
- Telfair County at a glance
- Work, industries and travel time in Telfair County
- Household income in Telfair County
- Housing costs in Telfair County
- Places inside Telfair County
- How Telfair County compares with nearby counties
- Who lives in Telfair County, in numbers
- Reading the Telfair County data as a borrower
- A Telfair County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- Four steps for Telfair County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Telfair County at a glance
Roughly 11,831 residents live in Telfair County, Georgia, 116th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. It covers 437 square miles of land, or about 27 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Lumber City is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 1,004 people (8% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Telfair County
The biggest employer of Telfair County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 20% of workers, followed by retail trade (15%). The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 12% locally and 7% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.2% in Telfair County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 14.1% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Top industries | Telfair County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.1% | -0.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 15.0% | +3.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.2% | +4.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 8.0% | +3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | -2.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Household income in Telfair County
Half of Telfair County households take in less than $50,929 a year and half take in more, 34% below the Georgia median of $77,353. In the state ranking that is 121st of 159.
| Households earning | Telfair County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.7% | +18.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +5.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.9% | -13.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.7% | -10.2 pts |
Some 41% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 15% have six-figure incomes. 24.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.507 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Telfair County median.
Housing costs in Telfair County
Renters in Telfair County pay a median of $712 a month, 49% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. By the Census definition, 48% of Telfair County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $113,300, a typical Telfair County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 65% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Cost | Telfair County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $712/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $113,300 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 44% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 25.5% | 7.8% | n/a |
Places inside Telfair County
The table lists the 3 largest of 3 Census places in Telfair County, by population. Together all 3 hold about 1,967 people, so roughly 83% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 3 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumber City | city | 1,004 | $32,841 | $700 | 15 mi |
| Milan | city | 842 | $29,583 | $844 | 11 mi |
| Jacksonville | city | 121 | $49,375 | $975 | 7 mi |
How Telfair County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Telfair County's, from 17 to 29 miles away. Income ranges from $40,283 in Jeff Davis County to $51,941 in Montgomery County; 2 of these neighbors top Telfair County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Telfair County | - | $50,929 | $712/mo | 65% |
| Ben Hill County, GA | 17 mi | $41,758 | $688/mo | 63% |
| Wheeler County, GA | 18 mi | $40,539 | $581/mo | 66% |
| Jeff Davis County, GA | 19 mi | $40,283 | $650/mo | 71% |
| Dodge County, GA | 22 mi | $51,587 | $723/mo | 71% |
| Coffee County, GA | 26 mi | $50,683 | $710/mo | 65% |
| Montgomery County, GA | 29 mi | $51,941 | $760/mo | 76% |
Who lives in Telfair County, in numbers
10% of Telfair County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 20.7%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Measure | Telfair County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.1% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 22.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 20.7% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 14.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.1% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Reading the Telfair County data as a borrower
Where the Telfair County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 21% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Telfair County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 25% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 24% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Telfair County loan.
A Telfair County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Telfair County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,244 before taxes
- 17% goes to median rent ($712)
- At 36%, room after rent is $816 a month
- $1,113: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $712, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Telfair County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Telfair County borrowers
Steps that save money for Telfair County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Telfair County?
$50,929 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 121st of 159 in the state.
How much is rent in Telfair County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $712 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Telfair County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Lumber City, Milan, Jacksonville.
Will a Telfair County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Telfair County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.