Thomas County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Thomas County, Georgia had an estimated 46,054 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 45,800, across 545 square miles. County output reached $3.17 bn in 2024, 1,220 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 25 7(a) approvals worth $17.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Thomas County
How many people live in Thomas County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,777
- Households18,684
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$60,736
- Median age39.8
- Median gross rent$1,018 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$196,700
- Home value to household income3.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over31,271
- Population under 1810,796
- Share under 1823.6 percent
- Population 65 and over8,720
- Share 65 and over19.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6426,261
- Civilian labor force22,501
- Unemployment rate5.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over64.3 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties46th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1086th of 3,222
Thomas County is the 46th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.2 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.6 percent against 19.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Thomas County
Is Thomas County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202446,054
- Census 2020 base population45,800
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.55 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024388
- Births, 2024572
- Deaths, 2024605
- Natural change, 2024-33
- Net domestic migration, 2024382
- Net international migration, 202443
- Total net migration, 2024425
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024595
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1631st of 3,144
The county has grown 0.55 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.
Thomas County
Where are people moving to Thomas County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,069
- People arriving, from those returns2,033
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,023
- Net household movement46
- Adjusted gross income arriving$70.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$18.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$66,060
- Average income of a leaving household$51,416
- Largest single originGrady County (135 households)
- Largest single destinationGrady County (150 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grady County | 135 | 284 | $5.5 m |
| Leon County | 91 | 168 | $4.9 m |
| Colquitt County | 60 | 139 | $2.4 m |
| Brooks County | 42 | 80 | $1.6 m |
| Lowndes County | 41 | 90 | $1.9 m |
| Mitchell County | 39 | 79 | $1.5 m |
| Decatur County | 25 | 58 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $14,644 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 Grady 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.
Thomas County
What is the Thomas County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.17 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.02 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.8 percent
- GDP change over five years38.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes39th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes940th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$69,155
Output grew 4.8 percent in the latest year and 38.1 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.
Thomas County
Employment by industry in Thomas County
- Covered employment, annual average20,952
- Establishments reporting1,737
- Average annual pay$55,040
- Average weekly wage$1,058
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,046
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$65,635
- Manufacturing, employment2,799
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$85,571
- Retail trade, employment2,493
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,775
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,967
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,901
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,469
- Finance and insurance, employment986
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 4,046 | 186 | $65,635 |
| Manufacturing | 2,799 | 96 | $85,571 |
| Retail trade | 2,493 | 254 | $34,775 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,967 | 128 | $20,901 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,469 | 114 | $45,128 |
| Finance and insurance | 986 | 103 | $76,833 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 543 | 122 | $72,213 |
| Other services, except public administration | 539 | 120 | $33,193 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,046 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Thomas County
How many businesses are in Thomas County?
- Establishments, all industries1,220
- Employment at those establishments19,189
- Annual payroll$1.04 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.7
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.
Thomas County
Building permits in Thomas County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024213
- Declared construction value permitted$42.1 m
- Single family units authorized141
- Multifamily units authorized72
- Multifamily share of units33.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$197,546
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.4
Single-family homes are 66.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Thomas County
SBA loans in Thomas County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded25
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$17.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$700,196
- Median 7(a) approval$400,000
- 10th percentile approval$100,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,966,400
- Largest single approval$3,194,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)296
- Jobs per approval11.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active12
- Distinct industries receiving approvals18
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer32.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter15
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals28.0 percent
- Most active lenderCeltic Bank Corporation (7)
- 504 approvals recorded12
- 504 gross approval dollars$11.5 m
- Average 504 approval$955,000
- Median 504 approval$595,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval12.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.2
- Most active CDCCSRA Local Development Corporation (5)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$29.0 m
The average approval of $700,196 sits well above the median of $400,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 32.0 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.
Thomas County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Thomas County
Do SBA loans in Thomas County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Exempt from disclosure11
- Status: Cancelled6
- 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.
Thomas County
SBA lending by place in Thomas County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Thomasville, approvals23
- Meigs, approvals1
- Boston, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Thomasville | 23 | $14,915,900 |
| Meigs | 1 | $2,255,000 |
| Boston | 1 | $334,000 |
Thomasville accounts for 23 approvals against 1 in Meigs. 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.
Thomas County
How large is Thomas County?
- Land area545 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties15th of 159
- Width, east to west22.8 mi
- Height, north to south29 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land84
- Establishments per square mile2.24
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.
Thomas County
Flood risk in Thomas County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Thomas County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130401
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Thomas 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 Thomas County (community 130401), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Thomas 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 Thomas 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 Thomas County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202445,777
- Households18,684
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$60,736
- Median age39.8
Common questions
Thomas County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Thomas County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 46,054 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 45,777, in 18,684 households, ranking 46th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Thomas County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.55 percent since the 2020 census base of 45,800, to 46,054 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 572 births against 605 deaths, with net migration of 425. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Thomas County?
$60,736. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $196,700, which is 3.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,018 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Thomas County?
1,220 establishments, employing 19,189 people with an annual payroll of $1.04 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Thomas County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,046 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 20,952 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,040, or $1,058 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Thomas County?
25 7(a) approvals totaling $17.5 m since FY2020, across 12 lenders, with a median approval of $400,000, plus 12 504 approvals worth $11.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Thomas County?
213 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $42.1 m. Multifamily was 33.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Thomas 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 Thomas County come from?
The largest single origin is Grady County, with 135 households. Arriving households report an average income of $66,060 against $51,416 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Thomas 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 Thomas 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.
Thomas County
Cities and places in Thomas.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Thomas County. All 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomasville | city | 18,666 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Boston | city | 1,520 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Meigs | city | 924 | 1 | 82.2 percent here, 17.8 percent Mitchell County |
| Coolidge | city | 923 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pavo | city | 901 | None recorded | 50.1 percent here, 49.9 percent Brooks County |
| Ochlocknee | town | 628 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Barwick | city | 369 | None recorded | 44.2 percent here, 55.8 percent Brooks County |