Cost of Living in Wilkes County, Georgia
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Wilkes County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Wilkes County ranks #782 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 25%)
Sourced county brief
Wilkes County Official GRAPI Recorded at 22.1 Percent
The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income in Wilkes County was 22.1% for the 2020-2024 period. This is 6.5 percentage points below the Georgia unweighted county mean of 28.6%. The median gross rent was estimated at $786 per month, which is $179 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $965. For homeowners, the median home value was $122,700, while the state unweighted county mean was $197,933. Selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $686, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $905. The median renter-household income in the county was $32,857. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Wilkes County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 22.1% of renter household income in Wilkes County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $786 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $686. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,440 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Georgia unweighted mean of county median rents is $965 per month. Wilkes County's $786 median is 18.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Wilkes County
Rent Burden
18.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,214
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Wilkes County
Median home value is $122,700. Estimated monthly cost: $980 vs. your max of $1,214.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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