1st Advantage MortgageAbout 66% of Wilkes County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $52,043. 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
- A quick profile of Wilkes County
- Income in Wilkes County compared with Georgia
- What it costs to live in Wilkes County
- Jobs and commutes in Wilkes County
- Wilkes County next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in Wilkes County
- What a median Wilkes County budget can carry
- Before borrowing in Wilkes County
- Wilkes County households compared
- Checklist for Wilkes County applicants
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- More guides for Wilkes County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Wilkes County
Roughly 9,549 residents live in Wilkes County, Georgia, 126th by population among the state's 159 counties and county equivalents. It covers 470 square miles of land, or about 20 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Washington is the biggest of its 3 Census places, at roughly 3,680 people (39% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Wilkes County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Wilkes County compared with Georgia
At $52,043, the typical Wilkes County household income is 21% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Yearly household income | Wilkes County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.9% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.3% | +7.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.4% | -9.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -9.4 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 17.8%, 4 points higher than the state's 13.4%. None of these numbers decides a Wilkes County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Wilkes County
Renters in Wilkes County pay a median of $786 a month, 44% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. With a median value of $122,700, a typical Wilkes County house costs 2.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 66% of homes.
| Home costs | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $786/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $122,700 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.4% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 10% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Wilkes County
The biggest employer of Wilkes County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 19% of workers, followed by retail trade (17%). Manufacturing stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 10% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 29% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.2% of the total (5.9% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wilkes County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.1% | -1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 17.4% | +6.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.4% | +6.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Other services | 8.3% | +3.8 pts |
| Public administration | 6.8% | +2.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Wilkes County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 26 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Wilkes County; Oglethorpe County is highest at $75,034 and Warren County lowest at $44,289.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | - | $52,043 | $786/mo | 66% |
| Taliaferro County, GA | 17 mi | $52,500 | $638/mo | 82% |
| Lincoln County, GA | 17 mi | $56,907 | $786/mo | 77% |
| Oglethorpe County, GA | 20 mi | $75,034 | $913/mo | 84% |
| Elbert County, GA | 24 mi | $58,450 | $844/mo | 71% |
| McDuffie County, GA | 26 mi | $56,733 | $792/mo | 65% |
| Warren County, GA | 26 mi | $44,289 | $690/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Wilkes County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Wilkes County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 4,617 residents, leaving about 52% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | city | 3,680 | $54,219 | $842 | 3 mi |
| Tignall | town | 763 | $53,438 | $928 | 6 mi |
| Rayle | town | 174 | $52,944 | n/a | 9 mi |
What a median Wilkes County budget can carry
How much room does a median Wilkes County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $52,043 a year is $4,337 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $786, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $732: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,166 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Wilkes County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Wilkes County
Where the Wilkes County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 15% of Wilkes County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Vehicle repairs. 29% of Wilkes County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Wilkes County's median age is 46.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
Wilkes County households compared
College graduates make up 17% of the adult population. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.9% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.6% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.3% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.8% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 21.2% |
Checklist for Wilkes County applicants
Steps that save money for Wilkes County residents:
- Price the Wilkes County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Wilkes 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. See the Georgia state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Wilkes County
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wilkes County earn?
The median is $52,043; 20% earn $100,000 or more and 33% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Wilkes County rent compare with Georgia?
$786 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 44% below.
Does this page cover Washington?
Yes, along with the other 2 Census places in Wilkes County, such as Tignall, Rayle.
Will a Wilkes County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Wilkes 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.