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Gilmer County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Gilmer County, Georgia has a population of 32,426, the 58th most populous county in Georgia. The median household income is $74,499 and the median home value is $314,000. The poverty rate is 16.0%.

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

Gilmer County Quick Facts

Population 32,426
Median Household Income $74,499
Median Home Value $314,000
Poverty Rate 16.0%
Unemployment Rate 2.7%
Median Age 50.0 years
Homeownership Rate 80.7%
Affordability Ratio 4.2x
Bachelor's Degree+ 24.9%
High School Graduation 87.2%
Cities/Places 2
Population 32,426 58th of 159
Median Income $74,499 4% lower than state
Poverty Rate 16.0%
Unemployment 2.7%

How Gilmer County Changed

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

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population31,97632,426+1.4%
Median household income$72,542$74,499+2.7%
Median home value$278,900$314,000+12.6%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.4%
$25K-$50K 20.7%
$50K-$100K 30.6%
$100K+ 33.3%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.3%
$10K-$15K
3.5%
$15K-$20K
4.4%
$20K-$25K
3.2%
$25K-$30K
6.3%
$30K-$35K
4.6%
$35K-$40K
3.1%
$40K-$45K
3.1%
$45K-$50K
3.7%
$50K-$60K
4.8%
$60K-$75K
9.4%
$75K-$100K
16.4%
$100K-$125K
12.0%
$125K-$150K
7.8%
$150K-$200K
7.7%
$200K+
5.8%

Employment

2.7% Unemployment Rate State: 5.1%|National: 5.2%
52.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 80.7%
Renter 19.3%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $998/mo 16.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

28out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 65 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Gilmer County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ellijay1,927$48,13626.2%$349,100
East Ellijay488$29,12526.8%$208,300

Population Overview

Gilmer County is located in Georgia with a total population of 32,426. It is the 58th most populous county out of 159 in Georgia. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Gilmer County is 50.0 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 37.6 years. 10.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Gilmer County is $74,499. This is 4% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 8% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.0%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 47% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $314,000. Housing costs are 4% higher than the state median of $303,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 80.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 65.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Gilmer County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (83.6% vs 49.1%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 30.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.5%.

Education

24.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 87.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Gilmer 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 Gilmer County, Georgia?

Gilmer County has a population of 32,426, making it the 58th most populous county in Georgia.

What is the median income in Gilmer County?

The median household income in Gilmer County is $74,499 with a poverty rate of 16.0%.

How many cities are in Gilmer County, Georgia?

Gilmer County contains 2 Census-designated places.