1st Advantage MortgageThe median Wheeler County household earns $40,539, and 33% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Wheeler County
- How Wheeler County residents earn a living
- How much Wheeler County households make
- Housing costs in Wheeler County
- Regional comparison for Wheeler County
- Towns and communities in Wheeler County
- Room for a loan payment in Wheeler County
- What the numbers mean for Wheeler County borrowers
- More Wheeler County figures
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Wheeler County
- More guides for Wheeler County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wheeler County
Wheeler County is home to about 7,335 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 143rd most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. Land area is 295 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 25 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is McRae-Helena, with about 6,030 residents, or 82% of the county. Because Wheeler County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How Wheeler County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Wheeler County residents work in professional and administrative services and 12% in manufacturing. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (21% against 14%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.0% in Wheeler County. About 93% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wheeler County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and administrative services | 21.0% | +7.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.5% | +2.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 11.9% | -9.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.8% | +3.5 pts |
| Other services | 10.1% | +5.5 pts |
| Public administration | 8.8% | +4.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Wheeler County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Wheeler County households make
At $40,539, the typical Wheeler County household income is 38% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 153rd of 159.
| Yearly household income | Wheeler County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 46.6% | +24.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | +1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 11.3% | -15.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.1% | -10.8 pts |
Some 47% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 12% have six-figure incomes. 32.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Housing costs in Wheeler County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $581 in Wheeler County versus $1,393 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $88,200, about 2.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 66%.
| Home costs | Wheeler County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $581/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $88,200 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 34% | 10% | n/a |
Regional comparison for Wheeler County
Montgomery County is closest, 13 miles from center to center; the sixth, Toombs County, is 24 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Wheeler County; Treutlen County is highest at $55,518 and Jeff Davis County lowest at $40,283.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeler County | - | $40,539 | $581/mo | 66% |
| Montgomery County, GA | 13 mi | $51,941 | $760/mo | 76% |
| Telfair County, GA | 18 mi | $50,929 | $712/mo | 65% |
| Jeff Davis County, GA | 21 mi | $40,283 | $650/mo | 71% |
| Laurens County, GA | 23 mi | $55,010 | $863/mo | 64% |
| Treutlen County, GA | 23 mi | $55,518 | $733/mo | 65% |
| Toombs County, GA | 24 mi | $52,621 | $768/mo | 61% |
Towns and communities in Wheeler County
The table lists the 4 largest of 4 Census places in Wheeler County, by population. Together all 4 hold about 10,030 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. McRae-Helena has the highest median household income on the list ($43,618) and Alamo the lowest ($18,451), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $381 in Glenwood to $713 in McRae-Helena. None of the 4 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McRae-Helena | city | 6,030 | $43,618 | $713 | 10 mi |
| Alamo | town | 3,037 | $18,451 | $576 | 4 mi |
| Glenwood | city | 745 | $23,750 | $381 | 6 mi |
| Scotland | city | 218 | $61,964 | n/a | 6 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Wheeler County
Here is the Wheeler County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Wheeler County: $3,378
- Rent at the median, $581, takes 17% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $770 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Wheeler County's.
What the numbers mean for Wheeler County borrowers
Based on the Wheeler County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 24% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Manufactured homes. 34% of Wheeler County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 33% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
More Wheeler County figures
Degree holders: 10% of adults over 25. 23.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Wheeler County | All of Georgia | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.0% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.9% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 23.6% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.3% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.7% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Wheeler County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Wheeler County residents:
- Price the Wheeler County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Georgia license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Wheeler County credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for Wheeler County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wheeler County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
More guides for Wheeler County
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Wheeler County?
$40,539 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 153rd of 159 in the state.
How much is rent in Wheeler County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $581 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Wheeler County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers McRae-Helena, Alamo, Glenwood, Scotland.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Wheeler County or elsewhere in Georgia, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Wheeler 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.