1st Advantage MortgageAbout 63% of Ware County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $47,448. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Who lives in Ware County
- How Ware County residents earn a living
- Income in Ware County compared with Georgia
- What it costs to live in Ware County
- Ware County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Ware County
- A Ware County household budget, worked through
- Ware County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Ware County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Ware County
- A Ware County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Ware County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ware County
With an estimated 35,976 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Ware County ranks 54th of 159 in Georgia for population. Spread over 899 square miles, that works out to roughly 40.0 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Waycross is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 13,756 people (38% of the county total).
How Ware County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Ware County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward education and health care (24% against 21%). The survey's unemployment rate for Ware County averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 16.0% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Ware County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | +2.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.2% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -4.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.5% | -0.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Ware County compared with Georgia
The median household income in Ware County is $47,448; statewide it is $77,353, so Ware County runs 39% below Georgia as a whole. Only 131 Georgia counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Ware County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.4% | +15.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.3% | +8.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.9% | -14.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -9.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 14% of Ware County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 21.5%, 8 points higher than the state's 13.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.449 (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 Ware County median.
What it costs to live in Ware County
A typical Ware County rental runs $789 a month including utilities, which is 43% below Georgia. By the Census definition, 52% of Ware County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $109,500, a typical Ware County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 63% of Ware County households own their home and 37% rent. Median construction year: 1978.
| Ware County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $789/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $109,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 10% | 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.
Ware County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Ware County's, from 19 to 35 miles away. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Ware County; Charlton County is highest at $61,276 and Atkinson County lowest at $42,347.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ware County | - | $47,448 | $789/mo | 63% |
| Clinch County, GA | 19 mi | $45,847 | $509/mo | 71% |
| Pierce County, GA | 24 mi | $60,517 | $799/mo | 76% |
| Charlton County, GA | 25 mi | $61,276 | $540/mo | 80% |
| Brantley County, GA | 28 mi | $58,239 | $755/mo | 80% |
| Atkinson County, GA | 32 mi | $42,347 | $657/mo | 62% |
| Bacon County, GA | 35 mi | $44,694 | $743/mo | 69% |
Places inside Ware County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Ware County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 17,538 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Deenwood has the highest median household income on the list ($57,045) and Waycross the lowest ($38,301), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Ware County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waycross | city | 13,756 | $38,301 | $768 | 12 mi |
| Deenwood | CDP | 2,360 | $57,045 | $1,021 | 14 mi |
| Sunnyside | CDP | 1,031 | $44,283 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Manor | CDP | 136 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Waresboro | CDP | 108 | $33,088 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Dixie Union | CDP | 81 | $65,500 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Millwood | CDP | 66 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
A Ware County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Ware County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,954 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $789 uses 20%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $793 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Ware County's.
Ware County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. 16.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Ware County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.1% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 16.0% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.5% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
What the numbers mean for Ware County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Ware County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 17% of Ware County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile home upkeep. 20% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 22% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Ware County loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 52% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Lender oversight for Ware County
Consumer lenders serving Ware County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Georgia that is the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Georgia: Georgia personal loans.
A Ware County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Ware County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Ware County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ware County a high-income county?
Its $47,448 median ranks 132nd of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Ware County?
$789 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
I live in a small Ware County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Waycross, Deenwood, Sunnyside, Manor, Waresboro and 2 more.
Is the fit check different in Ware County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Ware County check a lender's license?
With the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.