1st Advantage MortgageAbout 74% of Worth County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $58,694. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Worth County at a glance
- Household income in Worth County
- Employment and commuting in Worth County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Worth County
- The communities that make up Worth County
- Counties near Worth County
- Room for a loan payment in Worth County
- Reading the Worth County data as a borrower
- Who lives in Worth County, in numbers
- Checklist for Worth County applicants
- Georgia rules that apply in Worth County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Worth County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Worth County's population at 20,451; only 86 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. It covers 571 square miles of land, or about 36 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Albany, GA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Sylvester, with about 5,489 residents, or 27% of the county.
Household income in Worth County
At $58,694, the typical Worth County household income is 11% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 76th of 159.
| Households earning | Worth County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.2% | +11.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.2% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -7.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Worth County households make $100,000 or more, and 33% make less than $35,000. Census counts 24.0% of Worth County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Worth County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 17%. Retail trade stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 16% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Worth County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.7% | +5.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.7% | +1.4 pts |
| Public administration | 6.3% | +1.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Rent, home values and ownership in Worth County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $864 in Worth County versus $1,393 statewide. By the Census definition, 50% of Worth County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $104,900, about 1.8 times the median household income. 74% of Worth County households own their home and 26% rent. Median construction year: 1985.
| Cost | Worth County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $864/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $104,900 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 26% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Worth 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The communities that make up Worth County
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 35% of Worth County residents live in one of the 4. Incomes vary by place: $58,417 at the median in Sylvester, $51,098 in Warwick. Rent is cheapest in Warwick ($725) and steepest in Poulan ($906). This guide covers each of the 4 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvester | city | 5,489 | $58,417 | $896 | 2 mi |
| Poulan | city | 681 | $58,333 | $906 | 4 mi |
| Warwick | city | 641 | $51,098 | $725 | 20 mi |
| Sumner | town | 439 | $55,250 | $1,042 | 7 mi |
Counties near Worth County
Distances run center to center, from Turner County at 18 miles out to Crisp County at 26. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Worth County; Lee County is highest at $89,168 and Turner County lowest at $36,799.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worth County | - | $58,694 | $864/mo | 74% |
| Turner County, GA | 18 mi | $36,799 | $679/mo | 64% |
| Tift County, GA | 20 mi | $53,255 | $777/mo | 61% |
| Dougherty County, GA | 21 mi | $49,044 | $935/mo | 45% |
| Lee County, GA | 25 mi | $89,168 | $1,184/mo | 74% |
| Colquitt County, GA | 25 mi | $49,341 | $818/mo | 64% |
| Crisp County, GA | 26 mi | $45,105 | $778/mo | 56% |
Room for a loan payment in Worth County
Here is the Worth County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $58,694 a year is $4,891 of gross monthly income
- 18% goes to median rent ($864)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $848 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,337 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Worth County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Worth County data as a borrower
What the Worth County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Medical bills. 13% of Worth County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Mobile home upkeep. 34% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 24% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Worth County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Who lives in Worth County, in numbers
Degree holders: 12% of adults over 25. About 13% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Worth County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.7% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.5% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.5% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.9% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Worth County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.5% |
Checklist for Worth County applicants
Quick steps for Worth County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Georgia rules that apply in Worth County
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Georgia license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Worth County a high-income county?
Its $58,694 median ranks 76th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Worth County rent compare with Georgia?
$864 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 38% below.
I own my home in Worth County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 74% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Worth County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Sylvester, Poulan, Warwick, Sumner.
Are Worth 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.