Oconee County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Oconee County, Georgia had an estimated 44,751 residents on July 1, 2024, up 7.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 41,804, across 184 square miles. County output reached $2.56 bn in 2024, 1,458 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 51 7(a) approvals worth $27.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Oconee County
How many people live in Oconee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,551
- Households14,994
- Average household size2.90
- Median household income$121,217
- Median age41.1
- Median gross rent$1,462 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$461,600
- Home value to household income3.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income14.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher55.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree28.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,501
- Population under 1811,299
- Share under 1825.9 percent
- Population 65 and over7,306
- Share 65 and over16.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6424,946
- Civilian labor force22,066
- Unemployment rate3.0 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over68.4 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties49th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1136th of 3,222
Oconee County is the 49th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.8 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.9 percent against 16.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Oconee County
Is Oconee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202444,751
- Census 2020 base population41,804
- Population change since the 2020 census base7.05 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024495
- Births, 2024357
- Deaths, 2024356
- Natural change, 20241
- Net domestic migration, 2024392
- Net international migration, 2024110
- Total net migration, 2024502
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,472
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents307th of 3,144
The county has grown 7.05 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.
Oconee County
Where are people moving to Oconee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,452
- People arriving, from those returns3,125
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,285
- Net household movement167
- Adjusted gross income arriving$215.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$74.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$148,093
- Average income of a leaving household$109,410
- Largest single originClarke County (448 households)
- Largest single destinationClarke County (344 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County | 448 | 918 | $48.3 m |
| Gwinnett County | 70 | 222 | $17.6 m |
| Barrow County | 67 | 151 | $5.8 m |
| Walton County | 67 | 168 | $11.0 m |
| Fulton County | 46 | 98 | $11.4 m |
| DeKalb County | 38 | 97 | $6.1 m |
| Morgan County | 35 | 63 | $3.1 m |
| Jackson County | 33 | 67 | $2.2 m |
Households arriving report $38,683 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 Clarke 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.
Oconee County
What is the Oconee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.56 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.30 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202411.5 percent
- GDP change over five years53.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes45th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1090th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$58,884
Output grew 11.5 percent in the latest year and 53.8 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.
Oconee County
Employment by industry in Oconee County
- Covered employment, annual average16,112
- Establishments reporting1,615
- Average annual pay$51,898
- Average weekly wage$998
- Retail trade, employment2,645
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,586
- Health care and social assistance, employment2,316
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$53,355
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,922
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,022
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment992
- Professional, scientific and technical services, average annual pay$79,465
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment937
- Construction, employment896
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,645 | 121 | $38,586 |
| Health care and social assistance | 2,316 | 224 | $53,355 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,922 | 94 | $20,022 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 992 | 230 | $79,465 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 937 | 114 | $57,983 |
| Construction | 896 | 158 | $70,502 |
| Educational services | 790 | 31 | $36,061 |
| Manufacturing | 756 | 43 | $61,253 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,645 jobs, 16.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Oconee County
How many businesses are in Oconee County?
- Establishments, all industries1,458
- Employment at those establishments16,843
- Annual payroll$784.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents33.5
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.
Oconee County
Building permits in Oconee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024334
- Declared construction value permitted$173.6 m
- Single family units authorized334
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$519,748
- Units authorized per 1,000 households22.3
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.
Oconee County
SBA loans in Oconee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded51
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$27.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$529,951
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$80,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,135,000
- Largest single approval$3,557,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)482
- Jobs per approval9.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active24
- Distinct industries receiving approvals35
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer21.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter35
- Franchise loans18
- Franchise share of approvals35.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFitness and Recreational Sports Centers (7)
- Most active lenderOconee State Bank (6)
- 504 approvals recorded18
- 504 gross approval dollars$16.7 m
- Average 504 approval$927,333
- Median 504 approval$480,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval6.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved7.0
- Most active CDCCSRA Local Development Corporation (11)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$43.7 m
The average approval of $529,951 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 21.6 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.
Oconee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Oconee County
Do SBA loans in Oconee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure41
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed3
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.
Oconee County
SBA lending by place in Oconee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Watkinsville, approvals27
- Bogart, approvals8
- Athens, approvals7
- Winder, approvals4
- Bishop, approvals3
- Statham, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Watkinsville | 27 | $13,788,300 |
| Bogart | 8 | $4,305,700 |
| Athens | 7 | $5,289,400 |
| Winder | 4 | $3,191,300 |
| Bishop | 3 | $287,800 |
| Statham | 2 | $165,000 |
Watkinsville accounts for 27 approvals against 8 in Bogart. 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.
Oconee County
How large is Oconee County?
- Land area184 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties146th of 159
- Width, east to west21.3 mi
- Height, north to south18.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land237
- Establishments per square mile7.92
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.
Oconee County
Flood risk in Oconee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Oconee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130453
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Oconee 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 Oconee County (community 130453), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Oconee 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 Oconee 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 Oconee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,551
- Households14,994
- Average household size2.90
- Median household income$121,217
- Median age41.1
Common questions
Oconee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Oconee County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 44,751 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 43,551, in 14,994 households, ranking 49th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Oconee County's population growing?
The population has grown 7.05 percent since the 2020 census base of 41,804, to 44,751 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 357 births against 356 deaths, with net migration of 502. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Oconee County?
$121,217. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $461,600, which is 3.8 times income, and median gross rent is $1,462 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Oconee County?
1,458 establishments, employing 16,843 people with an annual payroll of $784.2 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 Oconee County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,645 jobs, 16.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 16,112 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,898, or $998 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Oconee County?
51 7(a) approvals totaling $27.0 m since FY2020, across 24 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 18 504 approvals worth $16.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Oconee County?
334 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $173.6 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Oconee 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 Oconee County come from?
The largest single origin is Clarke County, with 448 households. Arriving households report an average income of $148,093 against $109,410 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Oconee 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 Oconee 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.
Oconee County
Cities and places in Oconee.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Oconee County. All 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watkinsville | city | 3,350 | 27 | Wholly in this county |
| Bogart | town | 1,403 | 8 | 90.5 percent here, 9.5 percent Clarke County |
| North High Shoals | town | 698 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bishop | town | 427 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
A further 13 of the county's 51 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Oconee County, the largest being Athens (7), Winder (4), Statham (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