1st Advantage MortgageThe median Walton County household earns $84,945, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Georgia license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Walton County
- The Walton County job picture
- How much Walton County households make
- Walton County housing compared with Georgia
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Walton County
- What a median Walton County budget can carry
- Who lives in Walton County, in numbers
- Reading the Walton County data as a borrower
- Checklist for Walton County applicants
- Lender oversight for Walton County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Walton County
Roughly 103,313 residents live in Walton County, Georgia, 26th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 327 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 316 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Walton County, Monroe leads by population with about 15,648; 7 of the 7 are incorporated.
The Walton County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Walton County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward retail trade (13% against 11%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.3% in Walton County. Long commutes are common here: 31% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Walton County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.2% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.1% | +2.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.8% | -2.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Walton County households make
Half of Walton County households take in less than $84,945 a year and half take in more, 10% above the Georgia median of $77,353.
| Household income | Walton County | vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.6% | -3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.5% | +6.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.2% | -2.7 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 42% have six-figure incomes. 11.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). None of these numbers decides a Walton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Walton County housing compared with Georgia
A typical Walton County rental runs $1,175 a month including utilities, which is 16% below Georgia. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. Home values center on $339,500, or 4.0 years of median income. 79% of Walton County households own their home and 21% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1997.
| Measure | Walton County | Georgia | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,175/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $339,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 10% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Walton 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 14 to 21 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Oconee County leads the group on income ($121,217), Newton County trails ($77,179), and Walton County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walton County | - | $84,945 | $1,175/mo | 79% |
| Barrow County, GA | 14 mi | $80,653 | $1,318/mo | 79% |
| Oconee County, GA | 17 mi | $121,217 | $1,462/mo | 81% |
| Newton County, GA | 17 mi | $77,179 | $1,439/mo | 74% |
| Morgan County, GA | 19 mi | $78,111 | $1,108/mo | 78% |
| Rockdale County, GA | 19 mi | $77,247 | $1,525/mo | 70% |
| Gwinnett County, GA | 21 mi | $87,890 | $1,810/mo | 66% |
Towns and communities in Walton County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 38% of Walton County residents live in one of the 7. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $44,656 in Monroe to $95,563 in Good Hope. No Walton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | city | 15,648 | $44,656 | $1,105 | 1 mi |
| Loganville | city | 15,527 | $83,605 | $2,018 | 10 mi |
| Social Circle | city | 5,217 | $88,591 | $1,083 | 10 mi |
| Walnut Grove | city | 1,685 | $83,208 | $1,225 | 7 mi |
| Good Hope | city | 582 | $95,563 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Between | town | 482 | $113,438 | $2,000 | 5 mi |
| Jersey | city | 148 | n/a | $1,052 | 6 mi |
What a median Walton County budget can carry
How much room does a median Walton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $7,079 gross per month ($84,945 / 12)
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,175)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,373 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,869 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Walton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Walton County, in numbers
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 10.7%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Measure | Walton County | Georgia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.5% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.7% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.7% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Walton County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 16.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.9% |
| 60+ min | 17.9% |
Reading the Walton County data as a borrower
What the Walton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 11% of Walton County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Long drives. With 31% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Walton County budgets.
- Higher earners. 42% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Checklist for Walton County applicants
Quick steps for Walton County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Walton County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Walton County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Walton County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Walton 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. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Walton County earn?
The median is $84,945; 42% earn $100,000 or more and 19% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Walton County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,175 against $1,393 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Walton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Monroe, Loganville, Social Circle, Walnut Grove, Good Hope.
Are Walton County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Is there a Walton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Georgia it is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.