In McIntosh County, Georgia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In McIntosh County, 28.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 95% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 89% of U.S. counties.
What drives McIntosh County's score
In McIntosh County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 90.7. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 81.6.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in McIntosh 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.
McIntosh County does better than most counties on one measure: unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.5%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 90.7 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent24.9% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income28.9% · fiscal year 2027top 5%
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- 81.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector34.9% · August 202586th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people208.7 · 202576th percentile
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- 78.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line16.5% · 202473rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line27.6% · 202487th percentile
- People with a disability23.5% · 2020 to 202493rd percentile
- People without health insurance9.3% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$57,307 · 202477th percentile
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- 64.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.6% · August 202553rd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.1% · August 202562nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score49.5% · second quarter of 202678th percentile
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- 56.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202630th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working27.2% · 2020 to 202482nd 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 McIntosh 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 McIntosh County, 29.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
McIntosh County
Georgia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In McIntosh County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 34.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about a third more than benefit checks
In McIntosh County, Georgia, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 34.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in McIntosh County getting SNAP food aid fell most sharply after its 2017 high, from 23.2% in 2017 to 18.0% in 2018.
The share of households in McIntosh County getting SNAP food aid tripled from 2009 to 2023, reaching 22.7%, then turned down in 2024
High on the chart: 23.2% in 2017. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, McIntosh County, Georgia.
How McIntosh County has changed
McIntosh County's population had its largest rise, from 12,182 in 2004 to 14,268 in 2009.
McIntosh County's population was at its highest on the chart in 2009 and is down 17% since
High on the chart: 14,268 in 2009. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, McIntosh County, Georgia.
The number of jobs located in McIntosh County had its largest rise, from 1,824 in 1995 to 2,206 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in McIntosh County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 17% since
High on the chart: 2,222 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, McIntosh County, Georgia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.3% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 25.4% | 2024 16.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $16,531 | 2024 $57,307 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in McIntosh County's history
2008
A tornado in May 2008 did $12.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 14,333. The 2020 Census counted 10,975, 77% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1977
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered McIntosh County, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
McIntosh County beside its neighbors
Of the four counties that border McIntosh County, one scores higher. Of the group, McIntosh County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (34.3%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty County, GA | 91 | 16.0% | 28.4% |
| McIntosh County, GA | 89 | 16.5% | 34.3% |
| Wayne County, GA | 88 | 18.6% | 32.0% |
| Glynn County, GA | 71 | 13.9% | 22.1% |
| Long County, GA | 70 | 13.8% | 26.9% |
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 McIntosh County the poorest county in Georgia?
No, McIntosh County's poverty rate was 16.5% in 2024, 86th 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, McIntosh County ranks 51st of 159 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in McIntosh 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 McIntosh 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 McIntosh County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.