County · Georgia
Ben Hill County, Georgia
Ben Hill County, Georgia. Ben Hill County had 17,099 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020, while Georgia grew 5.5%. It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 6 census tracts. GEOID 13017.
Ben Hill County is the county of the Fitzgerald, GA micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,099
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,194 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,089
Median household income
$41,758
±$3,419 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$112,700
±$11,010 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$688
±$50 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
How many people live in Ben Hill County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 17,194 residents in Ben Hill County. The Census Bureau estimates 17,099 for July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, while Georgia grew 5.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 17,089 over 250 square miles of land.
| Measure | Ben Hill County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,089 | 10,940,407 | +56 |
| Households | 7,082±267 | 4,074,366 | +639 |
| Average household size | 2.37±0.09 | 2.62 | −0.22 |
| Housing units | 8,141±19 | 4,541,835 | +140 |
Ben Hill County's population since 2000
From 17,484 in 2000 to 17,099 in 2025: down 2.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Ben Hill County?
Ben Hill County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Fitzgerald with 8,882 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Fitzgerald | 9,006 | $37,323 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ben Hill County?
The median resident of Ben Hill County is 38.7 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 18.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 53.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 37.9%. 2.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ben Hill County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7±1.1 | 37.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.5%±0.2 pts | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.0%±0.1 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.8% | 11.0% | +0.7 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 53.3%±0.5 pts | 49.1% | −2.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 37.9%±0.6 pts | 30.7% | +1.3 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 4.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.7%±1.0 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.1%±1.4 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6%±1.8 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 11.2%±1.9 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 19.0%±3.1 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.9%±2.8 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.0%±2.4 pts | 34.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.9%±1.2 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7%±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Ben Hill County earn?
Half of Ben Hill County's 7,082 households earn less than $41,758 a year (±$3,419), against $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $39,664 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ben Hill County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $41,758±$3,419 | $77,353 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $56,193±$3,725 | $106,944 | – |
| Per capita income | $23,130±$1,470 | $40,924 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.2%±4.8 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 30.3%±10.6 pts | 18.3% | −19.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 21.3%±3.3 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.1%±3.6 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Ben Hill County?
Owners occupy 63.3% of Ben Hill County's occupied homes and renters 36.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $112,700 by its owner (±$11,010). The median renter pays $688 a month including utilities, and 31.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ben Hill County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $112,700±$11,010 | $303,300 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $688±$50 | $1,393 | −$119 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.6%±9.7 pts | 43.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,166±$121 | $1,783 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.3%±4.3 pts | 65.7% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,141±19 | 4,541,835 | +140 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.5%±2.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.1%±4.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 64.7%±4.5 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 20.9%±3.6 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.2%±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.4%±4.1 pts | 3.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Ben Hill County building?
Builders took permits for 17 new housing units across Ben Hill County in 2025 (13 single-family), 1.0 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ben Hill County get to work?
82.5% of Ben Hill County's workers drive alone and 5.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.
| Measure | Ben Hill County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.1%±3.4 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.1%±1.7 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.5%±4.2 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.4%±2.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.9%±0.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.3%±1.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.7%±2.3 pts | 15.9% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.8 min±1.9 | 28.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Ben Hill County's census tracts?
Ben Hill County is divided into 6 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $35,293 (Tract 9604) to $70,313 (Tract 9602).
| Tract 960113017960100 | 2,740±414 | $54,375 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 960213017960200 | 1,666±296 | $70,313 |
| Tract 960313017960300 | 3,638±529 | $49,281 |
| Tract 960413017960400 | 4,078±659 | $35,293 |
| Tract 9605.0113017960501 | 1,117±311 | $37,609 |
| Tract 9605.0213017960502 | 3,850±671 | $41,125 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Ben Hill County compare with Georgia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 103rd of 159 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 131st of 159 |
| Residents per square mile | 80th of 159 |
| Median household income | 150th of 159 |
| Median home value | 126th of 159 |
| Median gross rent | 139th of 157 |
| Poverty rate | 13th of 159 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 134th of 159 |
| Median age | 98th of 159 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ben Hill County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.