Berrien County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Berrien County is located in Georgia with a total population of 18,352. It is the 99th most populous county out of 159 in Georgia. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Berrien County is 40.5 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Berrien County is $52,876. This is 32% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.6%. This is 54% 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 3.7%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $131,600. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $303,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Berrien County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Berrien County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 11.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (79.1% vs 49.1%). The Black or African American population (11.2%) is well below the state average of 30.7%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 4.5%.

Education

15.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 83.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Berrien 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.