Effingham County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Effingham County, Georgia had an estimated 73,148 residents on July 1, 2024, up 12.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,792, across 478 square miles. County output reached $3.03 bn in 2024, 987 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 66 7(a) approvals worth $34.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Effingham County
How many people live in Effingham County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202469,143
- Households24,287
- Average household size2.85
- Median household income$88,438
- Median age37.0
- Median gross rent$1,147 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$276,000
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income15.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher27.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over45,665
- Population under 1818,257
- Share under 1826.4 percent
- Population 65 and over8,631
- Share 65 and over12.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6442,255
- Civilian labor force35,010
- Unemployment rate5.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.8 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties35th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included794th of 3,222
Effingham County is the 35th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 26.4 percent against 12.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Effingham County
Is Effingham County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202473,148
- Census 2020 base population64,792
- Population change since the 2020 census base12.90 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,599
- Births, 2024763
- Deaths, 2024578
- Natural change, 2024185
- Net domestic migration, 20241,363
- Net international migration, 202462
- Total net migration, 20241,425
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20246,931
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents89th of 3,144
The county has grown 12.90 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.
Effingham County
Where are people moving to Effingham County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,776
- People arriving, from those returns5,833
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,893
- Net household movement883
- Adjusted gross income arriving$172.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$61.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,097
- Average income of a leaving household$58,548
- Largest single originChatham County (1,015 households)
- Largest single destinationChatham County (549 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham County | 1,015 | 2,073 | $62.4 m |
| Bryan County | 125 | 248 | $6.5 m |
| Bulloch County | 103 | 191 | $4.5 m |
| Beaufort County | 82 | 178 | $6.2 m |
| Liberty County | 47 | 91 | $2.1 m |
| Jasper County | 38 | 80 | $1.7 m |
| Screven County | 22 | 57 | $1.1 m |
| Duval County | 21 | 36 | $800,000 |
Households arriving report $3,549 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 Chatham 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.
Effingham County
What is the Effingham County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.03 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.02 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.2 percent
- GDP change over five years35.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes41st of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes974th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$43,754
Output grew 0.2 percent in the latest year and 35.9 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.
Effingham County
Employment by industry in Effingham County
- Covered employment, annual average13,926
- Establishments reporting1,189
- Average annual pay$54,201
- Average weekly wage$1,042
- Manufacturing, employment2,612
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$72,409
- Retail trade, employment1,689
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,380
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,135
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,902
- Construction, employment1,022
- Construction, average annual pay$62,253
- Health care and social assistance, employment790
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment606
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,612 | 52 | $72,409 |
| Retail trade | 1,689 | 134 | $32,380 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,135 | 84 | $19,902 |
| Construction | 1,022 | 161 | $62,253 |
| Health care and social assistance | 790 | 84 | $69,132 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 606 | 76 | $36,970 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 551 | 78 | $64,919 |
| Other services, except public administration | 525 | 79 | $44,321 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,612 jobs, 18.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Effingham County
How many businesses are in Effingham County?
- Establishments, all industries987
- Employment at those establishments10,876
- Annual payroll$544.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents14.3
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.
Effingham County
Building permits in Effingham County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024836
- Declared construction value permitted$189.3 m
- Single family units authorized790
- Multifamily units authorized46
- Multifamily share of units5.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$226,473
- Units authorized per 1,000 households34.4
Single-family homes are 94.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Effingham County
SBA loans in Effingham County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded66
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$34.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$517,821
- Median 7(a) approval$225,500
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,095,000
- Largest single approval$3,925,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)422
- Jobs per approval6.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active32
- Distinct industries receiving approvals53
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms10
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter49
- Franchise loans10
- Franchise share of approvals15.2 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFreight Transportation Arrangement (4)
- 504 approvals recorded10
- 504 gross approval dollars$10.5 m
- Average 504 approval$1,051,000
- Median 504 approval$494,000
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval11.8
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.2
- Most active CDCSmall Business Assistance Corporation (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$44.7 m
The average approval of $517,821 sits well above the median of $225,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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.
Effingham County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Effingham County
Do SBA loans in Effingham County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded8
- Paid in full7
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full7
- Status: Cancelled8
- Status: Exempt from disclosure48
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 8 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.
Effingham County
SBA lending by place in Effingham County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Rincon, approvals37
- Guyton, approvals14
- Springfield, approvals11
- Atlanta, approvals2
- Bloomingdale, approvals1
- Eden, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Rincon | 37 | $16,825,400 |
| Guyton | 14 | $7,808,700 |
| Springfield | 11 | $8,308,600 |
| Atlanta | 2 | $740,000 |
| Bloomingdale | 1 | $300,000 |
| Eden | 1 | $193,500 |
Rincon accounts for 37 approvals against 14 in Guyton. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Effingham County
How large is Effingham County?
- Land area478 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties31st of 159
- Width, east to west25 mi
- Height, north to south34.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land145
- Establishments per square mile2.06
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.
Effingham County
Flood risk in Effingham County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Effingham County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130076
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Effingham 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 Effingham County (community 130076), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Effingham 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 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 Effingham 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 Effingham County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202469,143
- Households24,287
- Average household size2.85
- Median household income$88,438
- Median age37.0
Common questions
Effingham County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Effingham County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 73,148 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 69,143, in 24,287 households, ranking 35th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Effingham County's population growing?
The population has grown 12.90 percent since the 2020 census base of 64,792, to 73,148 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 763 births against 578 deaths, with net migration of 1,425. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Effingham County?
$88,438. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $276,000, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,147 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Effingham County?
987 establishments, employing 10,876 people with an annual payroll of $544.6 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 Effingham County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,612 jobs, 18.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 13,926 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,201, or $1,042 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Effingham County?
66 7(a) approvals totaling $34.2 m since FY2020, across 32 lenders, with a median approval of $225,500, plus 10 504 approvals worth $10.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Effingham County?
836 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $189.3 m. Multifamily was 5.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Effingham 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 Effingham County come from?
The largest single origin is Chatham County, with 1,015 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,097 against $58,548 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Effingham 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 Effingham 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.
Effingham County
Cities and places in Effingham.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Effingham County. All 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rincon | city | 11,332 | 37 | Wholly in this county |
| Springfield | city | 2,974 | 11 | Wholly in this county |
| Guyton | city | 2,740 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
A further 4 of the county's 66 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Effingham County, the largest being Atlanta (2), Bloomingdale (1), Eden (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.