1st Advantage MortgageThe median Washington County household earns $46,023, and 17% 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
- Washington County, GA: the basics
- Rent, home values and ownership in Washington County
- How much Washington County households make
- The Washington County job picture
- Washington County and the counties next door
- Washington County towns compared
- Budget math at the Washington County median
- Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
- Steps before you apply in Washington County
- Who licenses lenders for Washington County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Washington County, GA: the basics
Washington County is home to about 19,849 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 92nd most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. It covers 679 square miles of land, or about 29 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Sandersville is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 5,601 people (28% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Washington County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $858 in Washington County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 56% of renter households here. Home values center on $112,500, or 2.4 years of median income. 65% of Washington County households own their home and 35% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Washington County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $858/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $112,500 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 10% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
How much Washington County households make
Washington County households have a median income of $46,023 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 139th of 159 in Georgia.
| Income band | Share in Washington County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.0% | +17.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.6% | -2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.4% | -8.5 pts |
About 40% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 17.2%, 4 points higher than the state's 13.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.466 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Washington County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Washington County job picture
The biggest employer of Washington County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 11% locally and 7% for Georgia. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.0% in Washington County. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Washington County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.5% | +4.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.6% | +1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +2.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Washington County and the counties next door
Distances run center to center, from Johnson County at 21 miles out to Baldwin County at 27. Income ranges from $40,082 in Hancock County to $54,934 in Glascock County; 4 of these neighbors top Washington County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | - | $46,023 | $858/mo | 65% |
| Johnson County, GA | 21 mi | $51,028 | $647/mo | 76% |
| Glascock County, GA | 21 mi | $54,934 | $642/mo | 68% |
| Jefferson County, GA | 23 mi | $53,014 | $731/mo | 68% |
| Hancock County, GA | 24 mi | $40,082 | $938/mo | 79% |
| Wilkinson County, GA | 25 mi | $45,465 | $825/mo | 81% |
| Baldwin County, GA | 27 mi | $54,403 | $923/mo | 61% |
Washington County towns compared
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 53% of Washington County residents live in one of the 8. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $29,250 in Tennille to $49,833 in Sandersville. Median rent ranges from $811 in Sandersville to $833 in Davisboro. None of the 8 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandersville | city | 5,601 | $49,833 | $811 | 1 mi |
| Davisboro | city | 2,231 | $49,214 | $833 | 11 mi |
| Tennille | city | 1,650 | $29,250 | $818 | 3 mi |
| Harrison | town | 458 | $34,323 | $835 | 11 mi |
| Oconee | city | 315 | $59,135 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Deepstep | town | 124 | $65,000 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Riddleville | town | 110 | $82,788 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Warthen | CDP | 78 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Budget math at the Washington County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Washington County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,835 before taxes
- 22% goes to median rent ($858)
- $676: what a 40% 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.
Who lives in Washington County, in numbers
17% of Washington County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 14% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Washington County | Georgia | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.8% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.5% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Washington County
A few patterns in the Washington County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Health costs. With 14% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 33% of Washington County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Steps before you apply in Washington County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Washington County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Who licenses lenders for Washington County residents
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Washington County a high-income county?
Its $46,023 median ranks 139th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Washington County?
$858 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Washington County?
By population: Sandersville, Davisboro, Tennille, Harrison, Oconee. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Are Washington 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Washington County?
Start with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.