Population 9,549 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wilkes County
Household size in Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.59 | 2.70 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.77 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.34 | 2.73 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.24 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Wilkes County is a place of small households, averaging 2.34 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.59, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Georgia counties have smaller households: only 14 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 Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.0 | 36.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.8 | 36.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.3 | 38.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.8 | 38.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Wilkes County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.8, 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 44.0, in line with the national trend.
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 Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 13.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Wilkes County as they are nationally: 11.2%, against 11.6%. Single parents are less common here than in Georgia as a whole (13.4%). The single-parent share has fallen 4.5 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Wilkes County
Renters in Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 32.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.6% | 35.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.5% | 36.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.9% | 34.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Wilkes County rent their homes (33.9%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 68.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the northwest; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share is up 5.5 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 13.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.6% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.3% | 11.6% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.9% | 10.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 20.9% of the housing in Wilkes 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.4 points, as it has nationally.
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 Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1985 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1987 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1975 | 1987 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1991 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Wilkes County are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. Homes here are older than in Georgia as a whole, where the median home dates to 1991. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
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 Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $591 | $910 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $550 | $977 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $688 | $1,112 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $780 | $1,520 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$189 | +$609 | +$606 |
The median renter in Wilkes County pays $780 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $189 a month from 2006–10, a 32% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 22.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the east.
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 Wilkes County
Bachelor's degrees in Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 28.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.6% | 28.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 31.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 35.1% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Wilkes County: 16.8% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the southeast.
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 Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.1% | 84.1% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.0% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.6% | 87.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 82.5% | 89.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.3 pts | +5.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in six adults in Wilkes County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 82.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 9.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Wilkes County
| Period | Wilkes County | Georgia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 10.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −11.3 pts | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Wilkes County has been strong: just 1.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of Georgia's 159 counties, only two have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 11.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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).
Wilkes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | 2.34 | 45.8 | 11.2% | 33.9% | 20.9% | 1980 | $780 | 16.8% | 82.5% | 1.7% |
| Lincoln County | 2.61 | 46.4 | 11.7% | 23.4% | 31.7% | 1983 | $836 | 15.5% | 88.1% | 2.9% |
| McCormick County | 2.09 | 57.8 | 7.7% | 12.1% | 24.7% | 1987 | $1,152 | 25.1% | 86.9% | 5.2% |
| Oconee County | 2.91 | 41.4 | 6.6% | 18.7% | 5.4% | 1999 | $1,568 | 57.1% | 96.5% | 2.7% |
| Morgan County | 2.60 | 43.9 | 9.3% | 21.8% | 8.7% | 1992 | $1,317 | 29.7% | 91.6% | 2.3% |
| Edgefield County | 2.68 | 41.7 | 14.3% | 19.9% | 16.4% | 1988 | $888 | 24.0% | 84.5% | 7.8% |
| Walton County | 2.90 | 39.9 | 10.4% | 20.7% | 5.0% | 1995 | $1,475 | 24.1% | 87.4% | 5.5% |
| Rockdale County | 2.90 | 40.0 | 16.2% | 30.4% | 6.8% | 1992 | $1,578 | 33.5% | 91.0% | 6.2% |
| DeKalb County | 2.81 | 37.4 | 13.3% | 41.2% | 13.0% | 1983 | $1,777 | 46.7% | 90.1% | 6.4% |
| Fulton County | 2.37 | 38.1 | 11.9% | 45.7% | 9.6% | 1991 | $1,882 | 58.9% | 94.0% | 6.1% |
| Calhoun County | 2.30 | 46.4 | 11.0% | 15.0% | 11.3% | 1987 | $1,033 | 24.4% | 87.1% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Union County, FL · Boundary County, ID · Bourbon County, KS · Bowman County, ND · Box Butte County, NE · Boyd County, NE · Bracken County, KY · Bradley County, AR · Torrance County, NM · Trinity County, TX
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 Wilkes 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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