Ben Hill County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Name: Ben Hill County, Georgia Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Ben Hill County, Georgia has a population of 17,089, the 103rd most populous county in Georgia. The median household income is $41,758 and the median home value is $112,700. The poverty rate is 25.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Ben Hill County Quick Facts

Population 17,089

Median Household Income $41,758

Median Home Value $112,700

Poverty Rate 25.1%

Unemployment Rate 3.1%

Median Age 38.7 years

Homeownership Rate 63.3%

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 13.0%

High School Graduation 83.9%

Cities/Places 1

Population 17,089 103rd of 159

Median Income $41,758 46% lower than state

Poverty Rate 25.1%

Unemployment 3.1%

How Ben Hill County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	17,138	17,089	-0.3%
Median household income	$39,081	$41,758	+6.8%
Median home value	$114,600	$112,700	-1.7%

Median Household Income

Ben Hill

$41,758

$77,353

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Ben Hill

$112,700

$303,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 27.0%

$25K-$50K 30.3%

$50K-$100K 28.8%

$100K+ 13.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

9.9%

$10K-$15K

6.9%

$15K-$20K

5.8%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

6.7%

$30K-$35K

5.6%

$35K-$40K

7.8%

$40K-$45K

6.4%

$45K-$50K

3.9%

$50K-$60K

6.8%

$60K-$75K

9.9%

$75K-$100K

12.1%

$100K-$125K

5.7%

$125K-$150K

2.2%

$150K-$200K

4.6%

$200K+

1.4%

Employment

3.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%

55.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.3%

Renter 36.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $688/mo 19.8% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.4%

18-34

19.8%

35-54

24.9%

55-74

24.1%

75+

6.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Ben Hill County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Fitzgerald	8,918	$37,323	27.9%	$99,000

Explore Georgia Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Ben Hill County is located in Georgia with a total population of 17,089. It is the 103rd most populous county out of 159 in Georgia. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ben Hill County is 38.7 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ben Hill County is $41,758. This is 46% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 25.1%. This is 88% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $112,700. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $303,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Ben Hill County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ben Hill County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 38.0%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 4.5%.

Education

13.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 34.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Ben Hill County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Georgia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Ben Hill County, Georgia?

Ben Hill County has a population of 17,089, making it the 103rd most populous county in Georgia.

What is the median income in Ben Hill County?

The median household income in Ben Hill County is $41,758 with a poverty rate of 25.1%.

How many cities are in Ben Hill County, Georgia?

Ben Hill County contains 1 Census-designated place.