Jefferson County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Jefferson County is located in Georgia with a total population of 15,468. It is the 106th most populous county out of 159 in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Jefferson County is 40.7 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Jefferson County is $46,561. This is 38% lower than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 41% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.8%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $93,100. Housing costs are 66% lower than the state median of $272,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Jefferson County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 67.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 65.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Jefferson County is Black or African American, making up 52.3% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 42.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (52.3% vs 31.0%). The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 10.7%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.3%.

Education

11.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.4%.