White County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
White County, Georgia had an estimated 29,668 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 28,004, across 241 square miles. County output reached $1.29 bn in 2024, 733 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 23 7(a) approvals worth $35.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
White County
How many people live in White County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202428,810
- Households10,729
- Average household size2.69
- Median household income$70,666
- Median age45.6
- Median gross rent$1,032 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$278,900
- Home value to household income3.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher24.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over20,542
- Population under 185,573
- Share under 1819.3 percent
- Population 65 and over6,695
- Share 65 and over23.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6416,542
- Civilian labor force13,188
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.8 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties66th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1512th of 3,222
White County is the 66th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.9 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.2 percent against 19.3 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.
White County
Is White County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202429,668
- Census 2020 base population28,004
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.94 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024612
- Births, 2024282
- Deaths, 2024386
- Natural change, 2024-104
- Net domestic migration, 2024674
- Net international migration, 202442
- Total net migration, 2024716
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,010
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents420th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.94 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.
White County
Where are people moving to White County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,036
- People arriving, from those returns1,936
- Tax returns filed by households leaving837
- Net household movement199
- Adjusted gross income arriving$67.5 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-8.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$65,195
- Average income of a leaving household$90,297
- Largest single originHall County (197 households)
- Largest single destinationHall County (135 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hall County | 197 | 383 | $11.0 m |
| Habersham County | 91 | 180 | $3.5 m |
| Gwinnett County | 73 | 136 | $7.0 m |
| Lumpkin County | 69 | 116 | $3.4 m |
| Forsyth County | 40 | 82 | $4.2 m |
| Cobb County | 30 | 51 | $2.2 m |
| Fulton County | 25 | 41 | $2.7 m |
| DeKalb County | 24 | 34 | $1.4 m |
Households arriving report $25,102 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Hall 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.
White County
What is the White County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.29 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.21 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.8 percent
- GDP change over five years48.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes73rd of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1638th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$44,799
Output grew 6.8 percent in the latest year and 48.6 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.
White County
Employment by industry in White County
- Covered employment, annual average9,487
- Establishments reporting846
- Average annual pay$40,185
- Average weekly wage$773
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,805
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,601
- Retail trade, employment1,481
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,666
- Manufacturing, employment737
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$60,232
- Construction, employment734
- Construction, average annual pay$62,850
- Other services, except public administration, employment272
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment236
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 1,805 | 122 | $26,601 |
| Retail trade | 1,481 | 144 | $32,666 |
| Manufacturing | 737 | 40 | $60,232 |
| Construction | 734 | 98 | $62,850 |
| Other services, except public administration | 272 | 59 | $36,484 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 236 | 49 | $35,698 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 217 | 16 | $56,610 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 178 | 18 | $20,822 |
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,805 jobs, 19.0 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
White County
How many businesses are in White County?
- Establishments, all industries733
- Employment at those establishments7,240
- Annual payroll$286.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.4
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.
White County
Building permits in White County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024180
- Declared construction value permitted$48.7 m
- Single family units authorized180
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$270,784
- Units authorized per 1,000 households16.8
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.
White County
SBA loans in White County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded23
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$35.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,536,457
- Median 7(a) approval$1,409,900
- 10th percentile approval$88,800
- 90th percentile approval$2,614,000
- Largest single approval$4,240,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)295
- Jobs per approval12.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active16
- Distinct industries receiving approvals18
- Median 7(a) term240 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer56.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms13
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter9
- Franchise loans10
- Franchise share of approvals43.5 percent
- 504 approvals recorded14
- 504 gross approval dollars$8.3 m
- Average 504 approval$595,071
- Median 504 approval$353,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval5.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved8.9
- Most active CDCSmall Business Access Partners, Inc. (11)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$43.7 m
The average approval of $1,536,457 sits close to the median of $1,409,900, so lending here is fairly evenly sized rather than driven by a few large deals. 56.5 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.
White County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in White County
Do SBA loans in White County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure18
- Status: Cancelled1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 3 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.
White County
SBA lending by place in White County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Cleveland, approvals15
- Helen, approvals5
- Sautee Nachochee, approvals1
- Sugar Hill, approvals1
- Clevelandcleveland, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | 15 | $15,711,500 |
| Helen | 5 | $15,576,000 |
| Sautee Nachochee | 1 | $2,630,000 |
| Sugar Hill | 1 | $775,000 |
| Clevelandcleveland | 1 | $646,000 |
Cleveland accounts for 15 approvals against 5 in Helen. 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.
White County
How large is White County?
- Land area241 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties123rd of 159
- Width, east to west14.9 mi
- Height, north to south20.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land120
- Establishments per square mile3.04
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.
White County
Flood risk in White County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community White County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130191
- 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 White 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 White County (community 130191), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places White 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 White 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 White County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202428,810
- Households10,729
- Average household size2.69
- Median household income$70,666
- Median age45.6
Common questions
White County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in White County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 29,668 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 28,810, in 10,729 households, ranking 66th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is White County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.94 percent since the 2020 census base of 28,004, to 29,668 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 282 births against 386 deaths, with net migration of 716. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in White County?
$70,666. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $278,900, which is 3.9 times income, and median gross rent is $1,032 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in White County?
733 establishments, employing 7,240 people with an annual payroll of $286.1 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 White County?
Accommodation and food services is the largest private sector at 1,805 jobs, 19.0 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,487 jobs at an average annual pay of $40,185, or $773 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in White County?
23 7(a) approvals totaling $35.3 m since FY2020, across 16 lenders, with a median approval of $1,409,900, plus 14 504 approvals worth $8.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in White County?
180 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $48.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for White 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 White County come from?
The largest single origin is Hall County, with 197 households. Arriving households report an average income of $65,195 against $90,297 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for White 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 White 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.
White County
Cities and places in White.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in White 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | city | 3,534 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Sautee-Nacoochee | CDP | 605 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Yonah | CDP | 543 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Helen | city | 415 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
A further 3 of the county's 23 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in White County, the largest being Sautee Nachochee (1), Sugar Hill (1), Clevelandcleveland (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