Gilmer County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Gilmer County, Georgia had an estimated 33,327 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 31,342, across 427 square miles. County output reached $1.44 bn in 2024, 707 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 36 7(a) approvals worth $27.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Gilmer County
How many people live in Gilmer County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202432,426
- Households13,015
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$74,499
- Median age50.0
- Median gross rent$998 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$314,000
- Home value to household income4.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over24,384
- Population under 185,936
- Share under 1818.3 percent
- Population 65 and over8,766
- Share 65 and over27.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6417,724
- Civilian labor force14,240
- Unemployment rate2.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over53.8 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties58th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1411th of 3,222
Gilmer County is the 58th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 4.2 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 27.0 percent against 18.3 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Gilmer County
Is Gilmer County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202433,327
- Census 2020 base population31,342
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.33 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024459
- Births, 2024300
- Deaths, 2024424
- Natural change, 2024-124
- Net domestic migration, 2024562
- Net international migration, 202421
- Total net migration, 2024583
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,419
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents367th of 3,144
The county has grown 6.33 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Gilmer County
Where are people moving to Gilmer County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,050
- People arriving, from those returns1,880
- Tax returns filed by households leaving838
- Net household movement212
- Adjusted gross income arriving$93.2 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$32.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$88,722
- Average income of a leaving household$72,464
- Largest single originCherokee County (103 households)
- Largest single destinationCherokee County (75 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | 103 | 194 | $9.2 m |
| Pickens County | 84 | 175 | $4.8 m |
| Cobb County | 77 | 120 | $6.1 m |
| Fannin County | 47 | 89 | $4.1 m |
| Fulton County | 40 | 73 | $6.5 m |
| Gwinnett County | 29 | 52 | $3.0 m |
| Forsyth County | 22 | 41 | $2.4 m |
| DeKalb County | 20 | 31 | $3.5 m |
Households arriving report $16,258 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 Cherokee 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.
Gilmer County
What is the Gilmer County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.44 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.28 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202412.6 percent
- GDP change over five years71.3 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes66th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1552nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,390
Output grew 12.6 percent in the latest year and 71.3 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.
Gilmer County
Employment by industry in Gilmer County
- Covered employment, annual average8,067
- Establishments reporting825
- Average annual pay$44,051
- Average weekly wage$847
- Manufacturing, employment1,505
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$45,503
- Retail trade, employment1,421
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,408
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,247
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,115
- Health care and social assistance, employment529
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$51,544
- Construction, employment400
- Other services, except public administration, employment236
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,505 | 52 | $45,503 |
| Retail trade | 1,421 | 114 | $32,408 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,247 | 92 | $26,115 |
| Health care and social assistance | 529 | 72 | $51,544 |
| Construction | 400 | 102 | $71,220 |
| Other services, except public administration | 236 | 45 | $35,647 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 235 | 69 | $58,218 |
| Information | 189 | 9 | $75,536 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,505 jobs, 18.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Gilmer County
How many businesses are in Gilmer County?
- Establishments, all industries707
- Employment at those establishments6,742
- Annual payroll$271.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.8
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.
Gilmer County
Building permits in Gilmer County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202498
- Declared construction value permitted$13.2 m
- Single family units authorized24
- Multifamily units authorized74
- Multifamily share of units75.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$134,330
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.5
Multifamily is 75.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Gilmer County
SBA loans in Gilmer County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded36
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$27.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$750,811
- Median 7(a) approval$591,500
- 10th percentile approval$58,750
- 90th percentile approval$1,738,500
- Largest single approval$3,750,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)182
- Jobs per approval5.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals23
- Median 7(a) term184 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer47.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms17
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals13.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countBroilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production (7)
- Most active lenderMetro City Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded7
- 504 gross approval dollars$7.0 m
- Average 504 approval$995,714
- Median 504 approval$747,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval9.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.2
- Most active CDCCapital Partners Certified Development Company (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$34.0 m
The average approval of $750,811 sits well above the median of $591,500, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 47.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Gilmer County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Gilmer County
Do SBA loans in Gilmer County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded9
- Paid in full9
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full9
- Status: Exempt from disclosure24
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 9 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.
Gilmer County
SBA lending by place in Gilmer County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Ellijay, approvals29
- East Ellijay, approvals5
- Crandall, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ellijay | 29 | $25,432,200 |
| East Ellijay | 5 | $1,424,000 |
| Crandall | 2 | $173,000 |
Ellijay accounts for 29 approvals against 5 in East Ellijay. 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.
Gilmer County
How large is Gilmer County?
- Land area427 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties48th of 159
- Width, east to west26.2 mi
- Height, north to south21.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land76
- Establishments per square mile1.66
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.
Gilmer County
Flood risk in Gilmer County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Gilmer County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130317
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Gilmer 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 Gilmer County (community 130317), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Gilmer 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 Gilmer 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 Gilmer County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202432,426
- Households13,015
- Average household size2.49
- Median household income$74,499
- Median age50.0
Common questions
Gilmer County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Gilmer County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 33,327 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 32,426, in 13,015 households, ranking 58th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Gilmer County's population growing?
The population has grown 6.33 percent since the 2020 census base of 31,342, to 33,327 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 300 births against 424 deaths, with net migration of 583. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Gilmer County?
$74,499. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $314,000, which is 4.2 times income, and median gross rent is $998 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Gilmer County?
707 establishments, employing 6,742 people with an annual payroll of $271.0 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 Gilmer County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,505 jobs, 18.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,067 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,051, or $847 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Gilmer County?
36 7(a) approvals totaling $27.0 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $591,500, plus 7 504 approvals worth $7.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Gilmer County?
98 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $13.2 m. Multifamily was 75.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Gilmer 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 Gilmer County come from?
The largest single origin is Cherokee County, with 103 households. Arriving households report an average income of $88,722 against $72,464 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Gilmer 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 Gilmer 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.
Gilmer County
Cities and places in Gilmer.
3 Census places lie wholly or partly in Gilmer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellijay | city | 1,927 | 29 | Wholly in this county |
| East Ellijay | city | 488 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Cherry Log | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 36 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Gilmer County, the largest being Crandall (2). 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