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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Wilkes County

Georgia · 9,565 residents · 470 sq mi
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The short version

With 9,565 people, Wilkes County is a county in Georgia. At a median age of 47.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Median home value sits at $79,000. That trails the Georgia median by roughly 40%. 22.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 47.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

9,565
−10%since 2000
from 10,687 in 2000
1990 – 2025
47.9
+23%since 2000
from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
470 sq mi
Population, 19902024
9K10K10K10K11K19902000201020202024Wilkes County
202410K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.1%(486)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.3%(508)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.2%(590)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.7%(548)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(458)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.4%(895)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.3%(984)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.7%(1,218)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6416.5%(1,574)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413.7%(1,310)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.9%(751)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.5%(243)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$36,486
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,644 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$23,265
+55%since 2000
from $15,020 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
19.8%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
22.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.1%
US avg: 10%
Information12.2%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction4%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$79,000
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$694
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $359 in 2000
US average: $1,124
69.0%
−6.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
31.0% rent
2.35 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.49 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.2
−16%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic53.9%(5,758)
Black43%(4,591)
Hispanic / Latino2%(212)
Asian0.2%(25)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic51.8%(4,952)
Black40.1%(3,838)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(399)
Asian0.6%(59)
Other1.7%(161)
14
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.6%(449)
Peruvian0.2%(20)
Puerto Rican0.1%(14)
Ecuadorian0.1%(12)
Cuban0.1%(7)
Ancestry
American10%(975)
English6.5%(635)
Irish3.2%(316)
German3.1%(306)
French1.2%(117)
Dutch1%(98)
Scottish1%(96)
Italian0.5%(46)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(46)
Russian0.3%(31)
Welsh0.3%(31)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Austrian0.2%(18)
Swiss0.1%(13)
British0.1%(12)
Greek0.1%(8)
Norwegian0.1%(8)
Swedish0.1%(5)
Section 05

Education

11.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
81.2%
+16.2 ptssince 2000
from 65.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

27.5 min
+81%since 2000
from 15.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
82.8%
+11.9 ptssince 2009
from 71.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
10.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

2.3%
−11.1 ptssince 2011
from 13.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
50.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 50.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
64.0%
US average: 73.3%
22.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 47.2% in 2009
50.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 52.8% in 2009
3.0%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
13.2%
−4.5 ptssince 2013
from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
64.8%
US average: 91.9%
90.1%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married37.3%(1,410)
Married46.3%(1,751)
Widowed4.1%(154)
Divorced12.3%(467)
Women 15+
Never married23.2%(949)
Married46.6%(1,911)
Widowed16.9%(694)
Divorced13.3%(543)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

13.2%
−4.5 ptssince 2013
from 17.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
44.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
12.1%
US average: 13.7%
29.0%
US average: 17.6%
21.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.1%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
56.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
45.0%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)13.9%(77)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)11.5%(64)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era36.8%(204)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War11.9%(66)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.5%(14)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 555 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Wilkes County, Georgia?

Wilkes County, Georgia has about 9,565 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wilkes County, Georgia?

The typical household in Wilkes County, Georgia earns about $36,486 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wilkes County, Georgia expensive?

In Wilkes County, Georgia, the median home is worth about $79,000, and the typical rent is about $694 a month.

How educated are people in Wilkes County, Georgia?

About 11.4% of adults age 25 and over in Wilkes County, Georgia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wilkes County, Georgia?

About 22.4% of people in Wilkes County, Georgia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wilkes County, Georgia grown since 1990?

Yes, Wilkes County, Georgia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,032 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →