Population 17,312 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rabun County
Household size in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.70 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Rabun County is a place of small households, averaging 2.24 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the north. Few Georgia counties have smaller households: only seven of 159.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.0 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.7 | 36.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.2 | 38.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.6 | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Rabun County skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.0, as it has nationally. Only ten of Georgia's 159 counties are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.5% of households in Rabun County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of Georgia's 159 counties, only 15 have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Rabun County
Renters in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0% | 32.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.3% | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 36.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.9% | 34.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.9% of households in Rabun County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 57.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the south. The renter share has fallen 4.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.4% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 41.3% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.4% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 33.4% of the housing in Rabun County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Only six of Georgia's 159 counties have a higher vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1985 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1987 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Rabun County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1988, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $682 | $910 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $748 | $977 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $766 | $1,112 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,039 | $1,520 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$357 | +$609 | +$606 |
Rent in Rabun County runs $1,039 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $357 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.3% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Rabun County
Bachelor's degrees in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.5% | 28.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.8% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.9% | 31.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.6% | 35.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Rabun County than nationally: 30.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.6% | 84.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 84.6% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.7% | 89.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.1 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Rabun County have finished high school as nationally: 89.7%, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 9.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Rabun County
| Period | Rabun County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.2 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rabun County has been low: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Few Georgia counties have lower unemployment: only three of 159. Unemployment is down 7.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Rabun County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rabun County | 2.24 | 48.6 | 8.5% | 22.9% | 33.4% | 1988 | $1,039 | 30.6% | 89.7% | 1.9% |
| Towns County | 2.05 | 54.7 | 8.0% | 17.7% | 30.4% | 1996 | $883 | 32.6% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
| Oconee County | 2.34 | 45.9 | 9.7% | 23.8% | 18.0% | 1988 | $913 | 28.4% | 87.2% | 5.5% |
| Union County | 2.27 | 54.9 | 5.4% | 15.6% | 21.8% | 1995 | $945 | 26.6% | 87.8% | 2.4% |
| Pickens County | 2.48 | 38.8 | 8.8% | 29.1% | 12.1% | 1986 | $1,017 | 33.9% | 89.0% | 4.0% |
| Fannin County | 2.21 | 51.1 | 12.2% | 21.4% | 34.5% | 1993 | $989 | 23.8% | 88.1% | 3.6% |
| Greenville County | 2.50 | 39.2 | 10.5% | 31.1% | 8.3% | 1991 | $1,363 | 41.3% | 90.9% | 4.5% |
| Murray County | 2.73 | 39.2 | 15.0% | 26.2% | 7.5% | 1993 | $892 | 15.8% | 78.6% | 4.3% |
| Spartanburg County | 2.65 | 38.8 | 12.8% | 27.0% | 9.1% | 1990 | $1,176 | 24.9% | 88.5% | 4.4% |
| Whitfield County | 2.88 | 36.9 | 14.4% | 33.0% | 8.4% | 1985 | $1,025 | 20.5% | 74.5% | 4.7% |
| Catoosa County | 2.60 | 41.6 | 13.3% | 25.8% | 8.3% | 1991 | $1,004 | 25.0% | 89.6% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Walthall County, MS · Carroll County, IN · Carroll County, OH · Carter County, KY · Cass County, IA · Cass County, IL · Cass County, NE · Cassia County, ID · Castro County, TX · Clarke County, AL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Rabun County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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