Ben Hill County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Ben Hill County, Georgia had an estimated 16,945 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,191, across 250 square miles. County output reached $820.8 m in 2024, 300 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 11 7(a) approvals worth $6.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ben Hill County
How many people live in Ben Hill County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,089
- Households7,082
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$41,758
- Median age38.7
- Median gross rent$688 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$112,700
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher13.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree3.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over11,647
- Population under 184,179
- Share under 1824.5 percent
- Population 65 and over3,076
- Share 65 and over18.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 649,834
- Civilian labor force7,398
- Unemployment rate3.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.3 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties103rd of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2030th of 3,222
Ben Hill County is the 103rd largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.5 percent against 18.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ben Hill County
Is Ben Hill County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202416,945
- Census 2020 base population17,191
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.43 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-205
- Births, 2024219
- Deaths, 2024287
- Natural change, 2024-68
- Net domestic migration, 2024-160
- Net international migration, 202427
- Total net migration, 2024-133
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202447
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2336th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.43 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ben Hill County
Where are people moving to Ben Hill County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving325
- People arriving, from those returns620
- Tax returns filed by households leaving340
- Net household movement-15
- Adjusted gross income arriving$14.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$44,677
- Average income of a leaving household$34,606
- Largest single originIrwin County (65 households)
- Largest single destinationIrwin County (85 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irwin County | 65 | 132 | $2.2 m |
| Tift County | 22 | 45 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $10,071 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 Irwin 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.
Ben Hill County
What is the Ben Hill County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$820.8 m
- County GDP, 2023$792.3 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.6 percent
- GDP change over five years42.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes93rd of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2011th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$48,030
Output grew 3.6 percent in the latest year and 42.7 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.
Ben Hill County
Employment by industry in Ben Hill County
- Covered employment, annual average5,736
- Establishments reporting372
- Average annual pay$45,500
- Average weekly wage$875
- Manufacturing, employment1,425
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$56,665
- Retail trade, employment677
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,331
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment432
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$49,073
- Other services, except public administration, employment352
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$48,058
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment334
- Transportation and warehousing, employment215
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,425 | 33 | $56,665 |
| Retail trade | 677 | 77 | $30,331 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 432 | 20 | $49,073 |
| Other services, except public administration | 352 | 22 | $48,058 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 334 | 14 | $47,465 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 215 | 10 | $49,182 |
| Wholesale trade | 154 | 20 | $66,729 |
| Finance and insurance | 106 | 19 | $55,908 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,425 jobs, 24.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ben Hill County
How many businesses are in Ben Hill County?
- Establishments, all industries300
- Employment at those establishments4,552
- Annual payroll$204.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.6
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.
Ben Hill County
Building permits in Ben Hill County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20246
- Declared construction value permitted$1.1 m
- Single family units authorized6
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$180,669
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.8
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.
Ben Hill County
SBA loans in Ben Hill County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded11
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$6.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$579,382
- Median 7(a) approval$154,000
- Largest single approval$1,560,200
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)103
- Jobs per approval9.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals10
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer45.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms5
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter6
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals9.1 percent
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$5.6 m
- Average 504 approval$1,110,200
- Median 504 approval$1,145,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval29.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved26.8
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$11.9 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.
Ben Hill County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ben Hill County
Do SBA loans in Ben Hill County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure5
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 2 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.
Ben Hill County
SBA lending by place in Ben Hill County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Fitzgerald, approvals10
- Rebecca, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald | 10 | $5,979,200 |
| Rebecca | 1 | $394,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ben Hill County
How large is Ben Hill County?
- Land area250 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties119th of 159
- Width, east to west28.5 mi
- Height, north to south13.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land68
- Establishments per square mile1.20
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.
Ben Hill County
Flood risk in Ben Hill County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ben Hill County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130496
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Ben Hill County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Ben Hill County (community 130496), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Ben Hill County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 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 Ben Hill 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 Ben Hill County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202417,089
- Households7,082
- Average household size2.41
- Median household income$41,758
- Median age38.7
Common questions
Ben Hill County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ben Hill County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 16,945 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 17,089, in 7,082 households, ranking 103rd of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ben Hill County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.43 percent since the 2020 census base of 17,191, to 16,945 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 219 births against 287 deaths, with net migration of -133. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ben Hill County?
$41,758. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $112,700, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $688 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ben Hill County?
300 establishments, employing 4,552 people with an annual payroll of $204.2 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 Ben Hill County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,425 jobs, 24.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 5,736 jobs at an average annual pay of $45,500, or $875 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ben Hill County?
11 7(a) approvals totaling $6.4 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $154,000, plus 5 504 approvals worth $5.6 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Ben Hill County?
6 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.1 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ben Hill County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Ben Hill County come from?
The largest single origin is Irwin County, with 65 households. Arriving households report an average income of $44,677 against $34,606 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ben Hill 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 Ben Hill 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.
Ben Hill County
Cities and places in Ben Hill.
1 Census place lies wholly or partly in Ben Hill County. It carries enough published place level data for a page of its own and is linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitzgerald | city | 8,918 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 11 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Ben Hill County, the largest being Rebecca (1). 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