Laurens County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Laurens County, Georgia had an estimated 50,287 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 49,573, across 807 square miles. County output reached $2.70 bn in 2024, 1,106 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 26 7(a) approvals worth $17.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Laurens County
How many people live in Laurens County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202449,798
- Households18,592
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$55,010
- Median age39.2
- Median gross rent$863 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$154,500
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over33,532
- Population under 1812,231
- Share under 1824.6 percent
- Population 65 and over9,144
- Share 65 and over18.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6428,423
- Civilian labor force22,206
- Unemployment rate5.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.1 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties42nd of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1016th of 3,222
Laurens County is the 42nd largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.6 percent against 18.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Laurens County
Is Laurens County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202450,287
- Census 2020 base population49,573
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.44 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024355
- Births, 2024602
- Deaths, 2024630
- Natural change, 2024-28
- Net domestic migration, 2024301
- Net international migration, 202484
- Total net migration, 2024385
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024942
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1354th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.44 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.
Laurens County
Where are people moving to Laurens County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving979
- People arriving, from those returns1,863
- Tax returns filed by households leaving837
- Net household movement142
- Adjusted gross income arriving$48.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$7.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$49,774
- Average income of a leaving household$48,924
- Largest single originJohnson County (54 households)
- Largest single destinationHouston County (64 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | 54 | 111 | $2.1 m |
| Dodge County | 43 | 87 | $1.1 m |
| Houston County | 43 | 79 | $1.8 m |
| Bibb County | 42 | 68 | $4.6 m |
| Bleckley County | 29 | 58 | $1.3 m |
| Washington County | 24 | 48 | $706,000 |
| Emanuel County | 23 | 38 | $707,000 |
| Treutlen County | 22 | 45 | $861,000 |
Households arriving report $850 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 Johnson 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.
Laurens County
What is the Laurens County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.70 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.54 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.6 percent
- GDP change over five years41.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes44th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1053rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$54,296
Output grew 6.6 percent in the latest year and 41.2 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.
Laurens County
Employment by industry in Laurens County
- Covered employment, annual average19,708
- Establishments reporting1,224
- Average annual pay$52,584
- Average weekly wage$1,011
- Retail trade, employment2,814
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,967
- Manufacturing, employment2,279
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,183
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,787
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,104
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,011
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$46,772
- Construction, employment882
- Finance and insurance, employment357
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,814 | 228 | $34,967 |
| Manufacturing | 2,279 | 54 | $66,183 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,787 | 109 | $20,104 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,011 | 61 | $46,772 |
| Construction | 882 | 89 | $60,729 |
| Finance and insurance | 357 | 60 | $74,130 |
| Other services, except public administration | 354 | 82 | $36,166 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 352 | 32 | $45,995 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,814 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Laurens County
How many businesses are in Laurens County?
- Establishments, all industries1,106
- Employment at those establishments15,684
- Annual payroll$768.5 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents22.2
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.
Laurens County
Building permits in Laurens County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202453
- Declared construction value permitted$8.6 m
- Single family units authorized29
- Multifamily units authorized24
- Multifamily share of units45.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$161,380
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.9
Multifamily is 45.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Laurens County
SBA loans in Laurens County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded26
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$17.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$660,142
- Median 7(a) approval$419,000
- 10th percentile approval$91,450
- 90th percentile approval$1,750,000
- Largest single approval$2,358,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)243
- Jobs per approval9.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals19
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer34.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms9
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter14
- Franchise loans4
- Franchise share of approvals15.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countBed-and-Breakfast Inns (3)
- Most active lenderBank of Dudley (8)
- 504 approvals recorded9
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.5 m
- Average 504 approval$498,111
- Median 504 approval$418,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval10.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved21.9
- Most active CDCFlorida Business Development Corporation (4)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$21.6 m
The average approval of $660,142 sits well above the median of $419,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 34.6 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.
Laurens County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Laurens County
Do SBA loans in Laurens County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded11
- Paid in full11
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full11
- Status: Exempt from disclosure12
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 11 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.
Laurens County
SBA lending by place in Laurens County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Dublin, approvals21
- East Dublin, approvals4
- Rockledge, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin | 21 | $13,313,700 |
| East Dublin | 4 | $3,700,000 |
| Rockledge | 1 | $150,000 |
Dublin accounts for 21 approvals against 4 in East Dublin. 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.
Laurens County
How large is Laurens County?
- Land area807 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties3rd of 159
- Width, east to west33.8 mi
- Height, north to south39.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land62
- Establishments per square mile1.37
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.
Laurens County
Flood risk in Laurens County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Laurens County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130462
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate55.6 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Laurens 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 Laurens County (community 130462), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Laurens 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. 55.6 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 Laurens 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 Laurens County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202449,798
- Households18,592
- Average household size2.68
- Median household income$55,010
- Median age39.2
Common questions
Laurens County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Laurens County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 50,287 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 49,798, in 18,592 households, ranking 42nd of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Laurens County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.44 percent since the 2020 census base of 49,573, to 50,287 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 602 births against 630 deaths, with net migration of 385. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Laurens County?
$55,010. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $154,500, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $863 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Laurens County?
1,106 establishments, employing 15,684 people with an annual payroll of $768.5 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 Laurens County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,814 jobs, 14.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 19,708 jobs at an average annual pay of $52,584, or $1,011 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Laurens County?
26 7(a) approvals totaling $17.2 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $419,000, plus 9 504 approvals worth $4.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Laurens County?
53 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $8.6 m. Multifamily was 45.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Laurens 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 Laurens County come from?
The largest single origin is Johnson County, with 54 households. Arriving households report an average income of $49,774 against $48,924 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Laurens 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 Laurens 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.
Laurens County
Cities and places in Laurens.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Laurens County. All 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | city | 16,136 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| East Dublin | city | 2,489 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Dexter | town | 1,054 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Dudley | city | 718 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cadwell | town | 470 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rentz | city | 395 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Allentown | city | 341 | None recorded | 12.1 percent here, 34.4 percent Wilkinson County, 32.1 percent Bleckley County, 21.4 percent Twiggs County |
| Montrose | town | 311 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 26 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Laurens County, the largest being Rockledge (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