1st Advantage MortgageThe median Terrell County household earns $46,171, and 33% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Terrell County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Terrell County
- How Terrell County residents earn a living
- Terrell County housing compared with Georgia
- The communities that make up Terrell County
- Regional comparison for Terrell County
- Budget math at the Terrell County median
- Terrell County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Terrell County
- A Terrell County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Terrell County
- More guides for Terrell County
- Frequently asked questions
Terrell County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Terrell County's population at 8,850; only 131 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 336 square miles, that works out to roughly 26.4 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Albany, GA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 4 Census places inside Terrell County, Dawson leads by population with about 4,247; 4 of the 4 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Terrell County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Terrell County
Terrell County households have a median income of $46,171 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 138th of 159 in Georgia.
| Household income | Terrell County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.1% | +17.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.4% | -3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.7% | -6.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -8.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Terrell County households make $100,000 or more, and 40% make less than $35,000. Census counts 33.3% of Terrell County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.480 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Terrell 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.
How Terrell County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (5% against 1%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Terrell County. About 68% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Terrell County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.0% | -4.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +2.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Terrell County housing compared with Georgia
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $745 in Terrell County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 53% of Terrell County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $118,400, a typical Terrell County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 62%.
| Terrell County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $745/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $118,400 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.2% | 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.
The communities that make up Terrell County
4 Census places fall mainly inside Terrell County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 4,991 residents, leaving about 44% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson | city | 4,247 | $28,533 | $745 | 0 mi |
| Bronwood | town | 338 | $45,625 | $708 | 6 mi |
| Sasser | town | 327 | $29,290 | $617 | 7 mi |
| Parrott | town | 79 | $78,929 | n/a | 9 mi |
Regional comparison for Terrell County
Six nearby counties, 17 to 23 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Terrell County; Lee County is highest at $89,168 and Randolph County lowest at $28,380.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrell County | - | $46,171 | $745/mo | 62% |
| Lee County, GA | 17 mi | $89,168 | $1,184/mo | 74% |
| Randolph County, GA | 18 mi | $28,380 | $606/mo | 52% |
| Webster County, GA | 20 mi | $46,792 | $658/mo | 77% |
| Calhoun County, GA | 21 mi | $46,940 | $546/mo | 59% |
| Dougherty County, GA | 22 mi | $49,044 | $935/mo | 45% |
| Sumter County, GA | 23 mi | $42,653 | $857/mo | 57% |
Budget math at the Terrell County median
How much room does a median Terrell County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,848 a month: gross income for a household at the Terrell County median
- 19% goes to median rent ($745)
- At 36%, room after rent is $640 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $1,654 total minus rent leaves $909
If your rent is above $745, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Terrell County residents: age, schooling, coverage
13% of Terrell County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Terrell County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.1% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.0% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 33.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Terrell County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Terrell County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Terrell County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 15% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 16% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Free help first. 33% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Terrell County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Terrell County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Terrell County credit union about member loans.
Lender oversight for Terrell County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Terrell County resident can confirm its license with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
More guides for Terrell County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Terrell County a high-income county?
Its $46,171 median ranks 138th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Terrell County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $745 against $1,393 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Dawson?
Yes, along with the other 3 Census places in Terrell County, such as Bronwood, Sasser, Parrott.
Will a Terrell County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Terrell County residents?
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance licenses consumer lenders in Georgia; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.