In Barrow County, Georgia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Barrow County, 23.8% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 76% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 57% of U.S. counties.
What drives Barrow County's score
In Barrow County, collections and bankruptcy weighs most: the score for collections and bankruptcy is 81.0. Bankruptcy filings ran at 288.8 per 100,000 people (2025), higher than in 89% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 76.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Barrow County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Barrow County does better than most counties on two measures: unemployment rate, average over the latest year (2.8%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026) and median household income ($89,040, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 81.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector29.5% · August 202572nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people288.8 · 202589th percentile
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- 76.6 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.7% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.8% · fiscal year 202776th percentile
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- 62.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.6% · August 202580th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.9% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score43.1% · second quarter of 202660th percentile
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- 31.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.6% · 202412th percentile
- Children below the poverty line12.0% · 202422nd percentile
- People with a disability12.7% · 2020 to 202420th percentile
- People without health insurance15.4% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$89,040 · 202411th percentile
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- 22.4 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20268th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.5% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Barrow County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Barrow County, 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Barrow County
Georgia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Barrow County had its largest rise, from 14.2% in 2004 to 19.1% in 2009.
In Barrow County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 20.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Barrow County, Georgia, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 20.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Barrow County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.0% in 2009 to 13.4% in 2010.
The share of households in Barrow County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen to 8.7%
Biggest drop: 2021 to 2022, reaching 10.1%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Barrow County, Georgia.
How Barrow County has changed
Barrow County's population had its largest rise in the last span, from 82,054 in 2019 to 96,294 in 2024.
Barrow County's population grew to about six times its 1969 size in 2024, reaching 96,294, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1974 to 1979, reaching 20,862. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Barrow County, Georgia.
The number of jobs located in Barrow County had its largest rise in the last span, from 20,391 in 2020 to 24,813 in 2025.
The number of jobs located in Barrow County tripled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 24,813, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2005 to 2010, reaching 14,708. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Barrow County, Georgia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.6% | 2025 2.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.6% | 2024 8.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,288 | 2024 $89,040 |
The table uses 2.9% for 2025; the score uses 2.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Barrow County's history
1914
Created from portions of Gwinnett, Jackson, and Walton counties when Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment on November 3, 1914, making Barrow County the 149th Georgia county. Wikipedia
2005
Hail in February 2005 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2012
Lightning in July 2012 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 83,505, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1977
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Barrow County, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
Barrow County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border Barrow County, two score higher. Of the group, Barrow County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (20.0%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walton County, GA | 68 | 9.8% | 19.3% |
| Gwinnett County, GA | 61 | 10.4% | 16.1% |
| Barrow County, GA | 57 | 8.6% | 20.0% |
| Jackson County, GA | 33 | 8.3% | 19.9% |
| Oconee County, GA | 1 | 5.7% | 10.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Barrow County the poorest county in Georgia?
No, Barrow County's poverty rate was 8.6% in 2024, 146th highest of 159 in Georgia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Calhoun County, at 36.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Barrow County ranks 126th of 159 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Barrow County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Georgia Legal Services Program
Legal aid
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Georgia Legal Aid
Legal help website
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Barrow County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Barrow County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.