Unemployment in Habersham County, Georgia, is lower than in 90% of U.S. counties
In Habersham County, 2.9% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 90% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 55% of U.S. counties.
What drives Habersham County's score
In Habersham County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 61.8. Jobs are the lowest part, at 26.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Habersham 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.
Even so, Habersham County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (14.5%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 61.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.4% · August 202554th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people176.4 · 202568th percentile
-
- 59.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.6% · 202453rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.0% · 202449th percentile
- People with a disability16.8% · 2020 to 202457th percentile
- People without health insurance14.5% · 2020 to 202487th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,701 · 202450th percentile
-
- 51.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.3% · August 202547th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.1% · August 202548th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score42.7% · second quarter of 202658th percentile
-
- 34.7 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 rent17.5% · 2020 to 202446th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.1% · fiscal year 202722nd percentile
-
- 26.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20269th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.5% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
-
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 Habersham 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 Habersham County, 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Habersham County
Georgia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Habersham County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 28.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Habersham County, Georgia, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 28.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Habersham County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 7.1% in 2011 to 10.6% in 2012.
The share of households in Habersham County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen by about a fifth
Low on the chart: 6.4% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Habersham County, Georgia.
How Habersham County has changed
Habersham County's population had its largest rise, from 30,553 in 1994 to 35,196 in 1999.
Habersham County's population more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 49,665, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2009 to 2014, reaching 43,586. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Habersham County, Georgia.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Habersham County rose 29% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 2020 and 2025
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 15,755. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Habersham County, Georgia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.1% | 2025 2.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.5% | 2024 13.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $23,900 | 2024 $66,701 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Habersham County's history
1818
Created on December 15, 1818. Wikipedia
1989
A tornado in April 1989 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1989
A tornado in November 1989 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1994
A tornado in June 1994 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2000
Lightning in August 2000 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 46,031, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
-
Since 1976
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Habersham County, 4 of them for flooding. FEMA
Habersham County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Habersham County, in Georgia and South Carolina, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Habersham County ranks 5th of the eight; Towns County is highest, at 39.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephens County, GA | 87 | 17.7% | 32.9% |
| Oconee County, SC | 52 | 16.1% | 27.3% |
| Hall County, GA | 51 | 10.1% | 17.7% |
| Towns County, GA | 50 | 11.1% | 39.2% |
| White County, GA | 46 | 10.8% | 29.0% |
| Habersham County, GA | 44 | 13.6% | 28.3% |
| Banks County, GA | 41 | 9.5% | 21.8% |
| Rabun County, GA | 37 | 11.7% | 29.9% |
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 Habersham County the poorest county in Georgia?
No, Habersham County's poverty rate was 13.6% in 2024, 108th 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, Habersham County ranks 141st of 159 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Habersham 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.
-
Georgia Legal Services Program
Legal aid
-
Georgia Legal Aid
Legal help website
-
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 Habersham 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 Habersham County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.