In Walton County, Georgia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in four dollars of the typical household's income
In Walton County, 23.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 77% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 68% of U.S. counties.
What drives Walton County's score
In Walton County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 83.8. About one in four renters (26.1%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 89% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 74.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Walton 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.
Walton County does better than most counties on two measures: median household income ($88,303, 2024) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.2%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 83.8 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 rent26.1% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.9% · fiscal year 202777th percentile
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- 74.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.6% · August 202588th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.0% · August 202574th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score43.1% · second quarter of 202660th percentile
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- 71.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.0% · August 202563rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people215.6 · 202578th percentile
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- 40.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202618th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working22.7% · 2020 to 202461st percentile
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- 33.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.8% · 202420th percentile
- Children below the poverty line13.2% · 202428th percentile
- People with a disability14.4% · 2020 to 202434th percentile
- People without health insurance10.7% · 2020 to 202470th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$88,303 · 202412th 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 Walton 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 Walton County, 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Walton County
Georgia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Walton County had its largest rise, from 13.3% in 2004 to 19.4% in 2009.
In Walton County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 19.3% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than three times as much as benefit checks
In Walton County, Georgia, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 19.3%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Walton County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 9.6% in 2011 to 11.1% in 2012.
The share of households in Walton County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen to 11.5%
Low on the chart: 7.9% 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, Walton County, Georgia.
How Walton County has changed
Walton County's population had its largest rise in the last span, from 95,085 in 2019 to 109,792 in 2024.
Walton County's population grew to about five times its 1969 size in 2024, reaching 109,792, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1979 to 1984, reaching 32,671. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Walton County, Georgia.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Walton County tripled to 26,474, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2000 to 2005, reaching 18,626. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Walton County, Georgia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.7% | 2025 3.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.9% | 2024 9.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $25,194 | 2024 $88,303 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Walton County's history
1818
Created December 15, 1818. Wikipedia
1941
The conversion from agriculture to industry picked up again during World War II (1941-45), and the county recovered its economic strength by embracing a diversified manufacturing base. New Georgia Encyclopedia
1973
A tornado in March 1973 did $250 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1973
A tornado in May 1973 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1993
A thunderstorm in February 1993 did $50 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1994
A tornado in June 1994 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 96,673, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1973
13 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Walton County, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
Walton County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Walton County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Walton County ranks 5th of the seven; Rockdale County is highest, at 26.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County, GA | 90 | 11.9% | 25.2% |
| Rockdale County, GA | 89 | 11.8% | 26.4% |
| Walton County, GA | 68 | 9.8% | 19.3% |
| Gwinnett County, GA | 61 | 10.4% | 16.1% |
| Barrow County, GA | 57 | 8.6% | 20.0% |
| Morgan County, GA | 51 | 10.6% | 20.8% |
| 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 Walton County the poorest county in Georgia?
No, Walton County's poverty rate was 9.8% in 2024, 140th 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, Walton County ranks 108th of 159 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Walton 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 Walton 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 Walton County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.