Americans on the whole were doing well financially heading into 2020, with major markers like unemployment reaching 50-year lows. The pandemic changed all that: During the second quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, our nation's real GDP fell by a whopping 31.4%, a number that hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. Since then the GDP has recovered, the first quarter of 2022 was 11% above the fourth quarter of 2019.
While GDP has recovered since the height of the pandemic, wage growth has not kept pace with inflation. In 2021 average hourly wages increased 4.7% while there was 7% inflation, meaning the worker's purchasing power dropped by 2.4%.
Where you live can make a big impact on your financial situation. The highest earning county in the U.S. earns $147,111, while the lowest earns $22,292. Stacker compiled a list of the lowest-earning counties in Georgia using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the Census' 2020 5-year estimate median household income.
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#50. Meriwether County
- Median household income: $40,769
--- 33.4% below state average, 37.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.1%
--- #2,846 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.3%
--- #400 highest among all counties nationwide
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#49. Decatur County
- Median household income: $40,567
--- 33.7% below state average, 37.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.1%
--- #2,632 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.1%
--- #387 highest among all counties nationwide
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#48. Dade County
- Median household income: $40,384
--- 34.0% below state average, 37.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.4%
--- #2,457 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 9.4%
--- #377 highest among all counties nationwide
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#47. Clarke County
- Median household income: $40,363
--- 34.1% below state average, 37.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.7%
--- #1,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.6%
--- #376 highest among all counties nationwide
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#46. Talbot County
- Median household income: $40,020
--- 34.6% below state average, 38.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.8%
--- #2,680 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 14.3%
--- #354 highest among all counties nationwide
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#45. Screven County
- Median household income: $39,852
--- 34.9% below state average, 38.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.7%
--- #2,196 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 17.0%
--- #344 highest among all counties nationwide
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#44. Laurens County
- Median household income: $39,476
--- 35.5% below state average, 39.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.6%
--- #2,419 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.3%
--- #322 highest among all counties nationwide
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#43. Mitchell County
- Median household income: $39,404
--- 35.6% below state average, 39.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.9%
--- #2,882 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.1%
--- #320 highest among all counties nationwide
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#42. Elbert County
- Median household income: $39,323
--- 35.8% below state average, 39.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.6%
--- #2,565 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.3%
--- #318 highest among all counties nationwide
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#41. Upson County
- Median household income: $39,221
--- 35.9% below state average, 39.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.4%
--- #2,591 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.3%
--- #314 highest among all counties nationwide
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#40. Wilcox County
- Median household income: $39,216
--- 35.9% below state average, 39.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.2%
--- #2,839 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.6%
--- #312 highest among all counties nationwide
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#39. Clinch County
- Median household income: $38,844
--- 36.6% below state average, 40.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.1%
--- #2,852 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 25.8%
--- #293 highest among all counties nationwide
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#38. Emanuel County
- Median household income: $38,423
--- 37.2% below state average, 40.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.4%
--- #2,993 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.3%
--- #279 highest among all counties nationwide
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#37. Crisp County
- Median household income: $38,272
--- 37.5% below state average, 41.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 17.1%
--- #2,120 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.7%
--- #270 highest among all counties nationwide
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#36. Warren County
- Median household income: $38,250
--- 37.5% below state average, 41.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.9%
--- #2,770 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.8%
--- #268 highest among all counties nationwide
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#35. Appling County
- Median household income: $37,924
--- 38.1% below state average, 41.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.8%
--- #2,532 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.3%
--- #252 highest among all counties nationwide
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#34. Taliaferro County
- Median household income: $37,717
--- 38.4% below state average, 42.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 6.6%
--- #3,122 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.7%
--- #243 highest among all counties nationwide
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#33. Brooks County
- Median household income: $37,516
--- 38.7% below state average, 42.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.4%
--- #2,591 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 23.4%
--- #235 highest among all counties nationwide
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#32. Chattooga County
- Median household income: $37,351
--- 39.0% below state average, 42.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.3%
--- #3,003 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.7%
--- #229 highest among all counties nationwide
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#31. Sumter County
- Median household income: $37,174
--- 39.3% below state average, 42.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
--- #2,579 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.7%
--- #223 highest among all counties nationwide
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#30. Ware County
- Median household income: $37,041
--- 39.5% below state average, 43.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.8%
--- #2,894 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.8%
--- #216 highest among all counties nationwide
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#29. Jefferson County
- Median household income: $37,009
--- 39.6% below state average, 43.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 16.2%
--- #2,289 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.4%
--- #215 highest among all counties nationwide
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#28. Jeff Davis County
- Median household income: $36,987
--- 39.6% below state average, 43.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.8%
--- #2,891 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.9%
--- #214 highest among all counties nationwide
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#27. Candler County
- Median household income: $36,955
--- 39.6% below state average, 43.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.0%
--- #2,657 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 18.8%
--- #210 highest among all counties nationwide
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#26. Wilkinson County
- Median household income: $36,896
--- 39.7% below state average, 43.2% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.0%
--- #2,753 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.4%
--- #206 highest among all counties nationwide
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#25. Colquitt County
- Median household income: $36,799
--- 39.9% below state average, 43.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 15.5%
--- #2,430 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.6%
--- #203 highest among all counties nationwide
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#24. Bacon County
- Median household income: $36,692
--- 40.1% below state average, 43.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.2%
--- #2,615 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.5%
--- #198 highest among all counties nationwide
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#23. Wilkes County
- Median household income: $36,486
--- 40.4% below state average, 43.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.2%
--- #2,949 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.0%
--- #191 highest among all counties nationwide
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#22. Washington County
- Median household income: $36,402
--- 40.5% below state average, 44.0% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.0%
--- #2,865 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.5%
--- #187 highest among all counties nationwide
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#21. Atkinson County
- Median household income: $35,703
--- 41.7% below state average, 45.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.8%
--- #2,783 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 13.1%
--- #167 highest among all counties nationwide
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#20. Terrell County
- Median household income: $35,335
--- 42.3% below state average, 45.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.5%
--- #2,579 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.0%
--- #155 highest among all counties nationwide
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#19. Seminole County
- Median household income: $35,286
--- 42.4% below state average, 45.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 14.1%
--- #2,634 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 24.5%
--- #154 highest among all counties nationwide
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#18. Early County
- Median household income: $34,811
--- 43.1% below state average, 46.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.8%
--- #2,891 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 19.3%
--- #136 highest among all counties nationwide
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#17. Brantley County
- Median household income: $34,679
--- 43.4% below state average, 46.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.7%
--- #2,791 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 22.4%
--- #130 highest among all counties nationwide
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#16. Turner County
- Median household income: $34,514
--- 43.6% below state average, 46.9% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.2%
--- #3,009 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 20.3%
--- #127 highest among all counties nationwide
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#15. Quitman County
- Median household income: $34,394
--- 43.8% below state average, 47.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 8.9%
--- #3,072 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.1%
--- #125 highest among all counties nationwide
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#14. Baker County
- Median household income: $34,034
--- 44.4% below state average, 47.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 18.5%
--- #1,874 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.6%
--- #120 highest among all counties nationwide
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#13. Stewart County
- Median household income: $34,028
--- 44.4% below state average, 47.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.7%
--- #2,983 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.1%
--- #119 highest among all counties nationwide
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#12. Hancock County
- Median household income: $32,914
--- 46.2% below state average, 49.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 13.7%
--- #2,686 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 16.0%
--- #92 highest among all counties nationwide
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#11. Telfair County
- Median household income: $32,764
--- 46.5% below state average, 49.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.6%
--- #3,046 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 24.3%
--- #87 highest among all counties nationwide
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#10. Clay County
- Median household income: $32,434
--- 47.0% below state average, 50.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 7.2%
--- #3,112 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 27.8%
--- #81 highest among all counties nationwide
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#9. Lanier County
- Median household income: $32,158
--- 47.5% below state average, 50.5% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.9%
--- #2,770 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 23.3%
--- #75 highest among all counties nationwide
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#8. Ben Hill County
- Median household income: $32,077
--- 47.6% below state average, 50.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 10.2%
--- #3,009 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 27.8%
--- #74 highest among all counties nationwide
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#7. Treutlen County
- Median household income: $32,072
--- 47.6% below state average, 50.7% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 11.2%
--- #2,956 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 26.8%
--- #73 highest among all counties nationwide
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#5. Webster County
- Median household income: $31,629
--- 48.3% below state average, 51.3% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 12.5%
--- #2,809 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 24.3%
--- #66 highest among all counties nationwide
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#4. Randolph County
- Median household income: $29,400
--- 52.0% below state average, 54.8% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 4.2%
--- #3,139 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 21.9%
--- #30 highest among all counties nationwide
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#3. Wheeler County
- Median household income: $28,864
--- 52.9% below state average, 55.6% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 6.5%
--- #3,126 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 27.3%
--- #28 highest among all counties nationwide
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#2. Taylor County
- Median household income: $28,550
--- 53.4% below state average, 56.1% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 9.6%
--- #3,043 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 28.8%
--- #26 highest among all counties nationwide
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#1. Jenkins County
- Median household income: $25,712
--- 58.0% below state average, 60.4% below national average
- Households earning over $100k: 5.2%
--- #3,137 highest among all counties nationwide
- Households earning less than $15k: 32.6%
--- #11 highest among all counties nationwide
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