Banks County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Banks County, Georgia had an estimated 20,318 residents on July 1, 2024, up 12.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 18,092, across 232 square miles. County output reached $690.0 m in 2024, 334 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 17 7(a) approvals worth $21.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Banks County
How many people live in Banks County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,264
- Households6,856
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$77,063
- Median age42.1
- Median gross rent$827 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$278,100
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher18.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over13,644
- Population under 184,117
- Share under 1821.4 percent
- Population 65 and over3,351
- Share 65 and over17.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6411,796
- Civilian labor force9,497
- Unemployment rate2.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.7 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties96th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1927th of 3,222
Banks County is the 96th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.4 percent against 17.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Banks County
Is Banks County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202420,318
- Census 2020 base population18,092
- Population change since the 2020 census base12.30 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024455
- Births, 2024244
- Deaths, 2024219
- Natural change, 202425
- Net domestic migration, 2024430
- Net international migration, 20240
- Total net migration, 2024430
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,155
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents103rd of 3,144
The county has grown 12.30 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Banks County
Where are people moving to Banks County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving786
- People arriving, from those returns1,606
- Tax returns filed by households leaving557
- Net household movement229
- Adjusted gross income arriving$42.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$15.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$54,333
- Average income of a leaving household$48,709
- Largest single originJackson County (169 households)
- Largest single destinationJackson County (125 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 169 | 339 | $8.3 m |
| Hall County | 146 | 337 | $7.7 m |
| Habersham County | 89 | 190 | $3.9 m |
| Gwinnett County | 62 | 123 | $4.7 m |
| Clarke County | 29 | 47 | $1.0 m |
| Franklin County | 27 | 65 | $1.0 m |
| Madison County | 20 | 46 | $1.2 m |
| Stephens County | 20 | 41 | $717,000 |
Households arriving report $5,624 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Jackson County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Banks County
What is the Banks County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$690.0 m
- County GDP, 2023$626.8 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 202410.1 percent
- GDP change over five years69.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes97th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2155th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$35,816
Output grew 10.1 percent in the latest year and 69.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Banks County
Employment by industry in Banks County
- Covered employment, annual average4,876
- Establishments reporting383
- Average annual pay$44,856
- Average weekly wage$863
- Retail trade, employment862
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,711
- Manufacturing, employment498
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$50,583
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment270
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$50,561
- Construction, employment262
- Construction, average annual pay$58,215
- Wholesale trade, employment175
- Transportation and warehousing, employment84
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 862 | 64 | $31,711 |
| Manufacturing | 498 | 14 | $50,583 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 270 | 26 | $50,561 |
| Construction | 262 | 50 | $58,215 |
| Wholesale trade | 175 | 18 | $78,743 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 84 | 17 | $58,650 |
| Other services, except public administration | 78 | 23 | $47,197 |
| Finance and insurance | 24 | 8 | $71,043 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 862 jobs, 17.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Banks County
How many businesses are in Banks County?
- Establishments, all industries334
- Employment at those establishments3,980
- Annual payroll$144.3 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Banks County
Building permits in Banks County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024102
- Declared construction value permitted$35.7 m
- Single family units authorized102
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$349,921
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.9
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Banks County
SBA loans in Banks County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded17
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,260,082
- Median 7(a) approval$1,380,000
- Largest single approval$3,130,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)164
- Jobs per approval9.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals12
- Median 7(a) term240 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer58.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter5
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals11.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countChicken Egg Production (4)
- Most active lenderMetro City Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.9 m
- Average 504 approval$1,212,750
- Median 504 approval$943,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval6.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved4.9
- Most active CDCSmall Business Access Partners, Inc. (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$26.3 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Banks County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Banks County
Do SBA loans in Banks County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure9
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 5 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Banks County
SBA lending by place in Banks County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Commerce, approvals6
- Baldwin, approvals5
- Homer, approvals3
- Maysville, approvals2
- Alto, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce | 6 | $8,717,800 |
| Baldwin | 5 | $5,590,600 |
| Homer | 3 | $3,005,000 |
| Maysville | 2 | $4,003,000 |
| Alto | 1 | $105,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Banks County
How large is Banks County?
- Land area232 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties127th of 159
- Width, east to west17.9 mi
- Height, north to south20.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land83
- Establishments per square mile1.44
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Banks County
Flood risk in Banks County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Banks County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130560
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Banks County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Banks County (community 130560), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Banks County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Banks County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Banks County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202419,264
- Households6,856
- Average household size2.81
- Median household income$77,063
- Median age42.1
Common questions
Banks County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Banks County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 20,318 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 19,264, in 6,856 households, ranking 96th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Banks County's population growing?
The population has grown 12.30 percent since the 2020 census base of 18,092, to 20,318 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 244 births against 219 deaths, with net migration of 430. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Banks County?
$77,063. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $278,100, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $827 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Banks County?
334 establishments, employing 3,980 people with an annual payroll of $144.3 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Banks County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 862 jobs, 17.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,876 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,856, or $863 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Banks County?
17 7(a) approvals totaling $21.4 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $1,380,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $4.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Banks County?
102 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $35.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Banks County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Banks County come from?
The largest single origin is Jackson County, with 169 households. Arriving households report an average income of $54,333 against $48,709 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Banks County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Banks County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Banks County
Cities and places in Banks.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Banks County. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | city | 4,000 | 5 | 37.7 percent here, 62.3 percent Habersham County |
| Lula | city | 2,964 | None recorded | 11.7 percent here, 88.3 percent Hall County |
| Maysville | town | 2,086 | 2 | 47.9 percent here, 52.1 percent Jackson County |
| Homer | town | 1,892 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Alto | town | 1,055 | 1 | 55.7 percent here, 44.3 percent Habersham County |
| Gillsville | city | 454 | None recorded | 47.2 percent here, 52.7 percent Hall County |
A further 6 of the county's 17 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Banks County, the largest being Commerce (6). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby