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Pickens
Georgia

33K

Population

$73K

Median Income

$391K

Median Home

R+66

Politics

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What stands out

If you had to describe Pickens County in numbers, start here: population growth is in the top 2% of American counties (+3.3% a year), the share working from home is in the top 12% of American counties (13%), and the median home price is in the top 15% of American counties ($395K). Within Georgia it ranks 10th of 159 counties for population growth.

Where you are

You live in Pickens County, Georgia. 33,439 people live here with you. The population grew 3.3% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +1,287).

Georgia moved to a flat income tax in 2024 with a rate scheduled to fall each year, and it exempts up to $65,000 of retirement income per person for residents 65 and over. Metro Atlanta holds more than half the state's population and its airport is the busiest in the world by passengers. Property taxes vary widely by county because school districts set most of the rate.

Money

The typical household here brings in $72,558 a year, higher than 79% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $55,748. Unemployment runs 2.6%, lower than 81% of American counties. 13% of workers work from home.

Georgia takes 5.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,621 a year.

Home

The median home costs $395K, pricier than 85% of American counties, about 3.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $910 a month. Property tax is 0.70% of home value, roughly $1,855 a year on that median home, lower than 65% of American counties. 79% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.8 per 1,000 residents, lower than 55% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 15 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 76.5 years, longer than 59% of American counties. There are 41 active physicians in the county, about 12.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.0 of 5 stars. 14.9% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.06 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 63% of American counties. 90% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 66 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 68% of eligible voters turned out. Under Georgia law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 60°F, highs near 71 and lows near 49, warmer than 66% of American counties. About 51 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 36 out of 100, safer than 64% of American counties; the county has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 189 Mbps down, slower than 55% of American counties. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$73K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate10.7%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate2.6%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$39,827
Federal Spending per Capita$95
Median Individual Earnings$41K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers32.0%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$85K
Avg Credit Score654
Work From Home %12.6%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1819.2%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households23.6%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms25
Income (20th Percentile)$31K
Income (80th Percentile)$128K
Income (95th Percentile)$236K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher24.3%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School9.9%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Knowledge Economy GDP %6.3%
Dependency Ratio0.71
Medicare Spending / Person$4,047
SS Benefits / Person$5,768
Education Wage Premium1.91x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$74K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$67K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$35K
Public Assistance Recipients1.5%
Average Annual Wage$56K
Professional Services Concentration0.51x national
This county
1.0 = national average share
Federal Government Jobs Located Here64
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here0.7%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government1.9%
Federal Civilian Share of Earnings0.7%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$391K
This county
$340K state avg
$303K national
Median Sale Price$382K
This county
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$2400/mo
This county
$1600/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.70%
This county
0.81% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $1,855

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$1,820/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+0.7%−+4.3% since 2024
Home Value to Income Ratio3.1x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households8.5%
Homeownership Rate78.9%
This county
national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Sources: Zillow Research monthly · Redfin

Sale-to-List Ratio— Buyers market — homes selling below list
97.1%
Listings with Price Cuts— Low — market moving fast
23.1%
Sold Above List Price
10.2%
Median Days to Close
19 days
Active Listings
290
New Listings / Month
69

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Days on Market (Redfin)— Average pace
35 days
Months of Supply (Redfin)— Balanced market
5.2 mo
Sold Above List (Redfin)
10.9%

Sale-to-List Cross-Reference

Zillow 97.1%  ·  Redfin 97.8%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy76.5 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Hospital Rating4.0 / 5
This county
national avg 3.0 stars
Food Insecurity11.7%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index7.8 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score19
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score20
Dental Care Shortage Score25
Healthcare Shortage Score21.3
Healthcare Offices60
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)34.7%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)15.4%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)18.3%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)24.6%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)33.5%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians41
Nursing Home Rating3.0 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients574 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$12,300
Uninsured (under 65)14.9%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression23.3%

Education

Math Test Scores3.09 grade level
Reading Test Scores3.04 grade level
HS Diploma Holders7,035
Bachelor's Degree Holders3,942
HS Completion Rate90.1%
This county
national avg ~85%
Private Schools7

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.8 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Firearm Fatality Rate19.0 / 100K
This county
national avg ~13.6/100K
Drug Overdose Rate17.0 / 100K
This county
national avg ~21/100K
Traffic Fatalities7
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)34th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)15.1 / 100K
Suicide Rate25.7 / 100K
This county
national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale1.6
January Sunshine0.14
January Temperature0.71
Average Temp60°F+1.0% since 2022
Avg High Temp71°F+1.0% since 2022
Avg Low Temp49°F+1.3% since 2022
Median AQIAQI 57
Good Air Days97 days/yr
Unhealthy Air Days21 days/yr
Annual Precipitation51.4 in/yr+4.3% since 2022
Avg Storm Events7.2 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$124K
Drought Index (2022)-0.84
Heating Degree Days3,225 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,325 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)3,660 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,295 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.4
Avg Flood Events / Year1.0
Avg Hail Events / Year0.8
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)36 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)42 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations22 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)7.9 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)7 properties
FAA-Registered Airports1 total
Airports (excl. heliports)1 airports

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed189 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed59 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)246 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)275 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)20 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)41 ms
Households with 100Mbps+91.2%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet12.4%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)99 Mbps

EV Infrastructure

EV Charging Stations6 stations
DC Fast Chargers2 chargers
Level 2 EV Chargers13

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers1,929 workers
Public Transit Commuters7 workers
Walk to Work (workers)77 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)749 workers
Walk to Work0.5%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden16.3%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers8.2 per 10K residents

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout67.9%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)4.205
Nonprofit Organizations186
Veterans Share9.1%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults59.7%
Never-Married Adults21.6%
Divorced Adults11.4%
Religious Organizations28
Asian Population0.3%
Native American Population0.2%
Membership Associations8.5 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants0.72 per 1K residents
Nursing & Care Facilities10
Grocery Stores7
Hotels & Lodging5
Recreation Businesses5
Professional Services Firms80
Veterinary Practices8
Real Estate Firms34
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$54K
Avg Student Loan Balance$7K
Avg Credit Card Balance$4K
Loan Delinquency Rate52.0%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.16%

Politics

R+66

2024 Presidential · Georgia was R+2 statewide

vs Georgia State

Income tax
5.49%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.70%0.81% state avg
Politics
R+66R+2
COL Index
91state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↑ +1K

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Wealthier people moving in (IRS: 1.20x avg income)

Economic Mobility

38%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Pickens County

Median home value: $395K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Full Georgia profile

Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable