Wilkes County, GA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Wilkes County | Georgia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,581 | 10,915,984 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 20.2 | 183.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.54% | 1.00% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 47.4 | 38.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 4,108 | 4,007,777 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Wilkes County declined by 7.2% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 9,553 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Wilkes County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Wilkes County | Georgia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,092 | $74,683 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 7.09% | 5.54% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Wilkes County is about 29% lower than in Georgia.
Housing
| Metric | Wilkes County | Georgia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $450,000 | $238,631 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $759 | $1,306 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.7% | 65.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Wilkes County is about 49.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $759 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Wilkes County spend about 46 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 192 hours, about 8.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Wilkes County | Georgia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 23.1 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 46.1 | 47.3 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 192 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,958 | $6,106 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 14.2% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,004 | 11,986 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 395 | 1,447 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Georgia:
Chattahoochee County (8.3 min), Ben Hill County (12.5 min), Jenkins County (13.5 min).
Slowest:
Talbot County (37.2 min), Marion County (36.0 min), Paulding County (36.0 min).
The average commute time in Wilkes County is 23 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in Georgia.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Wilkes County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Wilkes County | Georgia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 30.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.29 | 2.64 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Georgia:
Oconee County (0.4), Fulton County (0.4), Forsyth County (0.4).
Lowest:
Quitman County (0.1), Hancock County (0.1), Taliaferro County (0.1).
Health
Wilkes County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Wilkes County | Georgia Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.6 | 75.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 23.7% | 20.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 22.9% | 22.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Georgia:
Forsyth County (0.8), Oconee County (0.8), Fayette County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clinch County (0.7), Clay County (0.7), Quitman County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Wilkes County, Georgia.
What is the population of Wilkes County, Georgia?
The population of Wilkes County, Georgia is 9,581, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Wilkes County, Georgia?
The population density of Wilkes County, Georgia is 20.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Wilkes County, Georgia?
The median household income in Wilkes County, Georgia is $53,092, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Wilkes County, Georgia?
The median home price in Wilkes County, Georgia is $450,000, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Wilkes County, Georgia?
The unemployment rate in Wilkes County, Georgia is 2.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.