1st Advantage MortgageIn Upson County, Georgia, the typical household earns $55,429 a year and the typical rent is $849. 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
- Upson County, GA: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Upson County
- What it costs to live in Upson County
- The Upson County job picture
- Upson County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Upson County
- Budget math at the Upson County median
- Before borrowing in Upson County
- Who lives in Upson County, in numbers
- A Upson County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Upson County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Upson County, GA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Upson County's population at 28,029; only 68 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. It covers 323 square miles of land, or about 87 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Thomaston is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 9,831 people (35% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Upson County
At $55,429, the typical Upson County household income is 16% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Upson County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.6% | +12.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | +1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.5% | -8.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -6.2 pts |
Some 35% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 19.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Upson County median.
What it costs to live in Upson County
A typical Upson County rental runs $849 a month including utilities, which is 39% below Georgia. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 34% spend half or more. Home values center on $168,700, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 61%. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Upson County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $849/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,700 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The Upson County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 17% locally and 10% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.9% in Upson County. Long commutes are common here: 19% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 11.7% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Upson County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.0% | +7.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -2.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.2% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.9% | +0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Upson County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Upson County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Upson County's, from 15 to 23 miles away. Income ranges from $41,597 in Talbot County to $86,719 in Pike County; 4 of these neighbors top Upson County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upson County | - | $55,429 | $849/mo | 61% |
| Pike County, GA | 15 mi | $86,719 | $993/mo | 85% |
| Lamar County, GA | 16 mi | $67,062 | $878/mo | 76% |
| Talbot County, GA | 18 mi | $41,597 | $816/mo | 80% |
| Crawford County, GA | 22 mi | $67,116 | $914/mo | 81% |
| Taylor County, GA | 23 mi | $41,788 | $630/mo | 63% |
| Monroe County, GA | 23 mi | $83,183 | $943/mo | 84% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Upson County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Upson County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 15,503 people, so roughly 45% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $38,917 in Thomaston to $71,574 in Sunset Village. Rent is cheapest in Lincoln Park ($808) and steepest in Hannahs Mill ($851). No Upson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomaston | city | 9,831 | $38,917 | $811 | 2 mi |
| Hannahs Mill | CDP | 3,230 | $69,850 | $851 | 5 mi |
| Sunset Village | CDP | 825 | $71,574 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Lincoln Park | CDP | 688 | $48,179 | $808 | 3 mi |
| Yatesville | town | 435 | $64,783 | $868 | 9 mi |
| Salem | CDP | 385 | n/a | $460 | 10 mi |
| The Rock | CDP | 109 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Budget math at the Upson County median
Upson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,619 a month: gross income for a household at the Upson County median
- Median rent: $849, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,617 total minus rent leaves $768
- $1,230: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Before borrowing in Upson County
What the Upson County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Upson County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Commuter costs. 19% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 12% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 19% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Who lives in Upson County, in numbers
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. 12.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Upson County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.5% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.3% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.4% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Upson County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 40.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.6% |
| 60+ min | 13.7% |
A Upson County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Upson County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Upson County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Upson County
Consumer lenders serving Upson 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. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Upson County?
$55,429 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 92nd of 159 in the state.
Is Upson County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $849 against $1,393 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Upson County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Thomaston, Hannahs Mill, Sunset Village, Lincoln Park, Yatesville.
Does living in Upson 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 Upson County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Upson 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.