1st Advantage MortgageThe median Tift County household earns $53,255, and 21% 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
- Tift County at a glance
- Household income in Tift County
- What it costs to live in Tift County
- Jobs and commutes in Tift County
- The communities that make up Tift County
- Tift County next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the Tift County median
- Borrowing situations common in Tift County
- Tift County households compared
- Four steps for Tift County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Tift County at a glance
Roughly 41,438 residents live in Tift County, Georgia, 51st by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 261 square miles, that is close to 159 residents for every square mile of land. No metropolitan area includes Tift County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (3 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Tifton, with about 17,210 residents, or 42% of the county.
Household income in Tift County
Tift County households have a median income of $53,255 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 104th of 159 in Georgia.
| Household income | Tift County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.7% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.1% | -6.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.9% | -6.9 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 25% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 20.8% of Tift County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. For a borrower in Tift 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.
What it costs to live in Tift County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $777 in Tift County versus $1,393 statewide. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $165,200, a typical Tift County house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 61% of homes.
| Cost | Tift County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $777/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $165,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Tift County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 21%). The survey's unemployment rate for Tift County averages 2.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Only 7.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Tift County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% | +5.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +0.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -6.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
The communities that make up Tift County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Tift County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 21,286 people, so roughly 49% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $53,351 at the median in Unionville, $35,625 in Ty Ty. Median rent ranges from $761 in Unionville to $941 in Ty Ty. This guide covers each of the 5 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tifton | city | 17,210 | $45,298 | $798 | 0 mi |
| Unionville | CDP | 2,000 | $53,351 | $761 | 2 mi |
| Omega | city | 1,194 | $41,563 | $775 | 9 mi |
| Ty Ty | city | 689 | $35,625 | $941 | 7 mi |
| Phillipsburg | CDP | 193 | $22,120 | $643 | 1 mi |
Tift County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Irwin County at 18 miles out to Colquitt County at 23. Worth County leads the group on income ($58,694), Turner County trails ($36,799), and Tift County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tift County | - | $53,255 | $777/mo | 61% |
| Irwin County, GA | 18 mi | $51,384 | $865/mo | 70% |
| Turner County, GA | 19 mi | $36,799 | $679/mo | 64% |
| Worth County, GA | 20 mi | $58,694 | $864/mo | 74% |
| Berrien County, GA | 21 mi | $52,876 | $782/mo | 71% |
| Cook County, GA | 22 mi | $53,651 | $956/mo | 66% |
| Colquitt County, GA | 23 mi | $49,341 | $818/mo | 64% |
Budget math at the Tift County median
Tift County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,438 before taxes
- Less median rent of $777, which is 18% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $998 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Tift County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Tift County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Tift County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 14% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Tift County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 21% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Tift County households compared
21% of Tift County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 14% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Tift County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.0% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.5% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Tift County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 45.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Four steps for Tift County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Consumer lenders serving Tift County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Tift County household make?
About $53,255 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the Georgia median.
How much is rent in Tift County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $777 a month; 43% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Tifton?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Tift County, such as Unionville, Omega, Ty Ty.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Tift County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Is there a Tift County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.