In 2022, government transfers made up 21.9% of total income in Whitfield County, Georgia—an alarming 15.2% surge from 6.7% in 1970 and a 0.1% decrease from 2012’s 22%. This marks the 29th smallest increase among all Georgia counties over the past decade, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.
On a per capita basis, this translates to $9,918 per resident in 2022, up from $7,789 in 2012 and $1,345 in 1970, ranking Whitfield County as the 126th fastest-growing in per capita government transfers among Georgia counties over the past 10 years.
Meanwhile, Whitfield County had the 34th smallest share of income derived from government transfers, making it one of the smallest dependent counties in the state.
Among Georgia’s counties, Quitman County saw the largest increase in transfer dependency over the past 10 years, surging 6.2% from 40.5% in 2012 to 46.7% in 2022, and up 21.5 percentage points from just 25.2% in 1970. In dollar terms, government transfers per capita in Quitman County jumped from $12,092 in 2012 to $17,098 in 2022, contrasting to the $2,729 recorded in 1970.
For comparison, the statewide average was 17.6% in 2022, showing a lower dependency than the national average of 17.6%. On a per capita level, this translates to $9,964 per resident, compared to $11,542 nationwide.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
In Whitfield County, reliance on government transfers was just 6.7% (or $1,345 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970. This has since increased to a total of 15.2% since 1970. This shift is largely influenced by increased healthcare costs, and economic transformations that have reshaped income sources across the U.S.
In 2022, the primary government transfer programs in Whitfield County included:
- Social Security: $3,377 per capita (34% of total transfers)
- Medicare: $2,502 per capita (25.2% of total transfers)
- Medicaid: $1,582 per capita (16% of total transfers)
- Income Maintenance Programs: $1,526 per capita (15.4% of total transfers)
With 14.9% of the population aged 65 and older, Whitfield County has a significant demand for Social Security and Medicare. However, counties with higher poverty rates also show elevated Medicaid and income maintenance participation.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans’ income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Dependency on Transfers (%) | Change Since 2012 | Change Since 1970 | Per Capita Amount (2022) | Per Capita Since 2012 | Per Capita Since 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quitman County | 46.7% | +6.2% | +21.5% | $17,098 | $5,006 | $14,369 |
| Calhoun County | 43.6% | +13.6% | +27.4% | $14,772 | $5,997 | $12,760 |
| Clay County | 43.1% | +4.7% | +25.1% | $15,863 | $3,229 | $13,811 |
| Johnson County | 43% | +6.9% | +29.6% | $13,642 | $4,009 | $11,798 |
| Telfair County | 42.8% | +6.5% | +28.1% | $12,155 | $3,592 | $10,042 |
| Hancock County | 42.6% | +2.6% | +25.4% | $15,132 | $4,050 | $13,222 |
| Stewart County | 40.1% | +3% | +27.6% | $14,317 | $4,726 | $12,405 |
| Randolph County | 39.2% | +7.2% | +25.9% | $16,475 | $5,226 | $14,673 |
| Warren County | 39.2% | +3.9% | +28% | $15,740 | $3,977 | $13,671 |
| Ware County | 39.1% | +3.6% | +26.1% | $15,017 | $2,980 | $12,692 |
| Wheeler County | 39% | +6.9% | +22.8% | $9,191 | $2,397 | $6,866 |
| Talbot County | 38.9% | +6.5% | +25.1% | $18,010 | $6,863 | $16,351 |
| Turner County | 38.8% | +5.9% | +28.2% | $14,314 | $2,761 | $12,692 |
| Towns County | 38.7% | +1.7% | +20.8% | $18,412 | $4,136 | $16,241 |
| Wilcox County | 37.8% | +6.1% | +22.5% | $12,583 | $3,164 | $10,142 |
| Twiggs County | 37.5% | +4.4% | +25.6% | $16,681 | $4,146 | $15,127 |
| Taylor County | 37.1% | +2.3% | +24% | $14,136 | $3,410 | $12,119 |
| Chattooga County | 37% | +3.5% | +26.1% | $13,707 | $3,505 | $11,958 |
| Jefferson County | 37% | +3.5% | +22.6% | $15,369 | $3,900 | $13,308 |
| Dodge County | 36.4% | +7.6% | +23.3% | $13,189 | $3,881 | $11,054 |
| Jenkins County | 36.3% | +3.6% | +21.8% | $13,358 | $3,421 | $11,364 |
| Union County | 36.3% | +2.9% | +20.9% | $16,165 | $3,497 | $14,282 |
| Treutlen County | 36.1% | +3.6% | +21.1% | $13,140 | $3,062 | $11,312 |
| Ben Hill County | 36% | +2.5% | +22.2% | $13,895 | $3,005 | $11,684 |
| Screven County | 35.6% | +5.8% | +21.7% | $14,203 | $3,559 | $12,295 |
| Emanuel County | 35% | +0.4% | +22.8% | $13,658 | $2,089 | $11,961 |
| Early County | 34.9% | +6.4% | +19.1% | $14,699 | $2,948 | $12,469 |
| Wilkinson County | 34.8% | +2.8% | +24.9% | $15,016 | $3,467 | $13,361 |
| Marion County | 34.6% | +4.1% | +21% | $13,175 | $4,521 | $11,235 |
| Clinch County | 34.5% | +2.1% | +22.3% | $14,388 | $2,802 | $12,797 |
| Candler County | 34.3% | +0.4% | +24.6% | $13,918 | $3,154 | $12,277 |
| Terrell County | 34.1% | +7.3% | +20.8% | $15,455 | $3,931 | $13,588 |
| Elbert County | 34% | +2.9% | +22.8% | $14,440 | $3,248 | $12,559 |
| Washington County | 34% | +7% | +22.5% | $13,690 | $3,478 | $11,916 |
| Dougherty County | 33.9% | +5.4% | +26.1% | $15,135 | $4,384 | $13,683 |
| Berrien County | 33.4% | +4.8% | +24.2% | $13,313 | $3,562 | $11,792 |
| Brooks County | 33.2% | +4.2% | +20.5% | $13,124 | $2,526 | $11,161 |
| Sumter County | 33.2% | +4.6% | +21.4% | $14,200 | $3,696 | $12,216 |
| Brantley County | 33% | +1.2% | +21.6% | $11,523 | $2,607 | $9,709 |
| Charlton County | 33% | +2.7% | +14.8% | $10,364 | $2,521 | $7,945 |
| Crisp County | 33% | +1.5% | +19% | $14,709 | $4,494 | $12,548 |
| Baldwin County | 32.8% | +1.7% | +23.6% | $13,879 | $3,428 | $12,604 |
| Lanier County | 32.8% | +4.6% | +23.5% | $11,097 | $3,016 | $9,437 |
| McDuffie County | 32.5% | +4.9% | +25.9% | $13,816 | $3,862 | $12,501 |
| Glascock County | 32.4% | +3.9% | +17.5% | $12,732 | $3,259 | $10,276 |
| Toombs County | 32.4% | +4.4% | +20.2% | $13,482 | $2,941 | $11,640 |
| Cook County | 32.3% | +3.3% | +22.6% | $12,586 | $2,705 | $11,033 |
| Seminole County | 32.3% | +7.7% | +18.3% | $14,914 | $3,088 | $12,660 |
| Dooly County | 32.2% | +4% | +19.2% | $14,414 | $6,112 | $12,220 |
| Taliaferro County | 32.2% | -2.5% | +8.9% | $14,032 | $2,530 | $10,997 |
| Fannin County | 32.1% | -2.6% | +18.9% | $15,903 | $3,951 | $14,164 |
| Meriwether County | 32.1% | +1% | +19.1% | $14,114 | $3,156 | $12,148 |
| Jeff Davis County | 32% | +2.8% | +23.7% | $11,727 | $2,076 | $10,349 |
| Polk County | 32% | +1.1% | +19.5% | $12,700 | $2,557 | $10,687 |
| Stephens County | 32% | +2.3% | +22.2% | $14,358 | $3,360 | $12,790 |
| Wayne County | 31.9% | +2.6% | +20.9% | $12,063 | $2,179 | $10,258 |
| Upson County | 31.7% | +1% | +21.8% | $13,001 | $1,944 | $11,222 |
| McIntosh County | 31.6% | +3.3% | +18.8% | $15,059 | $5,737 | $13,541 |
| Colquitt County | 31.3% | +2.9% | +20.2% | $12,898 | $3,245 | $11,033 |
| Peach County | 31.2% | +5.1% | +23.2% | $13,690 | $3,942 | $12,014 |
| Pulaski County | 31.2% | +4.8% | +20.3% | $12,795 | $4,195 | $10,569 |
| Pierce County | 31% | +1.6% | +19.3% | $12,932 | $2,412 | $10,888 |
| Miller County | 30.9% | +5.8% | +17.2% | $15,804 | $5,393 | $13,776 |
| Mitchell County | 30.9% | +3.7% | +18.4% | $13,634 | $4,080 | $11,667 |
| Spalding County | 30.9% | +1.6% | +21% | $12,955 | $2,412 | $11,069 |
| Laurens County | 30.8% | +3% | +20.7% | $13,166 | $2,933 | $11,500 |
| Lincoln County | 30.7% | +2.6% | +20% | $14,264 | $3,575 | $12,541 |
| Irwin County | 30.5% | +0.9% | +19.5% | $12,925 | $2,937 | $11,205 |
| Burke County | 30.3% | +1.3% | +16.1% | $12,298 | $2,205 | $10,138 |
| Gilmer County | 30.3% | +1.5% | +18.6% | $13,738 | $3,549 | $11,914 |
| Atkinson County | 30.2% | +1% | +13.2% | $11,058 | $2,421 | $8,931 |
| Bacon County | 30.2% | -0.3% | +18.9% | $12,052 | $2,117 | $10,257 |
| Evans County | 30.2% | +3.4% | +18.5% | $12,255 | $2,848 | $10,436 |
| Webster County | 30.2% | +7.4% | +15.4% | $11,925 | $3,725 | $10,083 |
| Richmond County | 30.1% | +3.5% | +22.6% | $12,729 | $2,612 | $11,143 |
| Bibb County | 30% | +4.8% | +21.9% | $13,879 | $3,365 | $12,042 |
| Decatur County | 30% | +2.7% | +16.9% | $12,345 | $2,071 | $10,515 |
| Walker County | 29.5% | +1.8% | +21.2% | $12,497 | $2,891 | $10,928 |
| Wilkes County | 29.5% | -1.1% | +16.5% | $15,591 | $3,801 | $13,567 |
| Baker County | 29.4% | +6.4% | +18.3% | $14,612 | $3,804 | $13,142 |
| Tattnall County | 29.3% | +3.2% | +17.1% | $10,755 | $2,614 | $9,093 |
| Bleckley County | 29.2% | +1.6% | +20.8% | $11,986 | $1,674 | $10,442 |
| Worth County | 29.2% | +5% | +18.5% | $11,965 | $3,122 | $10,330 |
| Coffee County | 28.9% | +0.4% | +19% | $11,256 | $2,242 | $9,741 |
| Macon County | 28.7% | +0.7% | +14% | $12,375 | $3,579 | $10,323 |
| Floyd County | 28.6% | +1.5% | +20.4% | $12,615 | $2,130 | $10,997 |
| Grady County | 28.6% | +3.4% | +16.7% | $11,011 | $2,308 | $9,243 |
| Appling County | 28.5% | +0.5% | +16.9% | $12,415 | $2,863 | $10,773 |
| Heard County | 28.5% | +0.4% | +14.8% | $11,939 | $2,793 | $10,101 |
| Murray County | 28.5% | +1.1% | +20.9% | $10,679 | $2,375 | $9,431 |
| Rabun County | 28.4% | -0.4% | +13.4% | $14,896 | $3,520 | $12,732 |
| Hart County | 28% | +0.8% | +17.8% | $12,819 | $2,757 | $11,191 |
| Clayton County | 27.8% | +3.3% | +24.4% | $9,121 | $1,835 | $8,340 |
| Montgomery County | 27.8% | +0.1% | +15.2% | $10,318 | $1,370 | $8,323 |
| Franklin County | 27.7% | -1% | +14.7% | $12,225 | $1,659 | $10,226 |
| Crawford County | 27.6% | +1.7% | +18.3% | $11,093 | $2,054 | $9,653 |
| Dade County | 27.5% | +2.2% | +18.8% | $11,545 | $2,894 | $10,233 |
| Lamar County | 27.4% | -1.4% | +16% | $11,969 | $1,650 | $10,206 |
| Habersham County | 27.2% | +1.3% | +17.8% | $10,924 | $2,198 | $9,497 |
| White County | 27.2% | +0.6% | +16.8% | $13,427 | $3,964 | $11,932 |
| Tift County | 27.1% | +2.2% | +18.7% | $12,061 | $2,718 | $10,638 |
| Haralson County | 27% | -0.8% | +18.6% | $12,173 | $2,073 | $10,505 |
| Liberty County | 26.7% | +8.9% | +21.5% | $10,546 | $3,835 | $9,384 |
| Muscogee County | 26.6% | +5% | +20.1% | $12,794 | $3,130 | $11,230 |
| Troup County | 26.4% | +3.4% | +15.1% | $11,801 | $2,731 | $9,807 |
| Thomas County | 25.6% | +1.4% | +14.4% | $13,712 | $2,997 | $11,750 |
| Long County | 25.4% | +6.4% | +10% | $10,123 | $3,944 | $8,025 |
| Rockdale County | 25.3% | +4.1% | +19.4% | $10,414 | $2,511 | $9,178 |
| Lowndes County | 25.1% | +3.4% | +17.2% | $11,034 | $2,946 | $9,453 |
| Schley County | 24.4% | +2.4% | +12.5% | $10,606 | $3,271 | $8,551 |
| Newton County | 24.3% | +1.8% | +16% | $10,124 | $2,327 | $8,622 |
| Putnam County | 24.3% | -1.7% | +14.5% | $13,236 | $2,551 | $11,638 |
| Echols County | 24.2% | +0.9% | +12.7% | $7,900 | $1,165 | $6,290 |
| Camden County | 24.1% | +4.7% | +15.9% | $10,527 | $3,144 | $9,197 |
| Madison County | 24.1% | -1.3% | +13.6% | $11,179 | $1,820 | $9,618 |
| Jones County | 23.5% | +1% | +17% | $10,133 | $1,350 | $8,983 |
| Lumpkin County | 23.4% | +0.7% | +15% | $10,986 | $2,721 | $9,729 |
| Gordon County | 23.3% | -0.5% | +15.6% | $10,452 | $2,197 | $9,032 |
| Jasper County | 23.3% | -1.3% | +11.4% | $11,056 | $1,954 | $9,025 |
| Catoosa County | 23.1% | +1% | +17.5% | $9,790 | $1,650 | $8,792 |
| Bulloch County | 22.8% | +1.8% | +14.5% | $8,759 | $1,930 | $7,606 |
| Oglethorpe County | 22.5% | +0.8% | +10.8% | $10,584 | $2,165 | $9,080 |
| Pickens County | 22.5% | -0.8% | +12.9% | $13,642 | $2,845 | $12,044 |
| Carroll County | 21.9% | +0.3% | +12.5% | $11,050 | $2,555 | $9,467 |
| Whitfield County | 21.9% | -0.1% | +15.2% | $9,918 | $2,128 | $8,573 |
| Douglas County | 21.8% | +3.3% | +15.7% | $9,531 | $2,538 | $8,323 |
| Houston County | 21.8% | +4.1% | +18.3% | $10,498 | $2,453 | $9,594 |
| Glynn County | 20.9% | +0.9% | +14.2% | $12,563 | $3,329 | $11,127 |
| Walton County | 20.8% | +1% | +11.2% | $10,729 | $2,866 | $8,974 |
| Banks County | 20.5% | -3.2% | +9.8% | $9,232 | $773 | $7,845 |
| Bartow County | 20.4% | -0.7% | +13.4% | $9,915 | $1,802 | $8,601 |
| Greene County | 20.1% | -4.2% | +5.9% | $15,265 | $2,652 | $13,434 |
| Clarke County | 19.9% | -0.3% | +14.3% | $8,151 | $1,448 | $7,080 |
| Henry County | 19.6% | +3.1% | +12.4% | $9,213 | $2,672 | $7,839 |
| Morgan County | 19.5% | -1.6% | +8.5% | $11,759 | $2,039 | $9,939 |
| Pike County | 19.4% | -1.9% | +6.9% | $9,841 | $1,616 | $7,950 |
| Monroe County | 19.1% | -0.8% | +11.3% | $10,334 | $1,427 | $8,889 |
| Chatham County | 19% | +1.4% | +10.4% | $10,781 | $2,130 | $8,915 |
| Barrow County | 18.9% | -0.3% | +9.8% | $8,868 | $1,810 | $7,207 |
| Jackson County | 18.7% | -1.3% | +8.5% | $10,270 | $2,333 | $8,658 |
| Harris County | 18.4% | +2.5% | +8.4% | $10,793 | $3,035 | $8,779 |
| Effingham County | 18% | +2.4% | +9.2% | $8,697 | $1,991 | $7,179 |
| Lee County | 17.9% | +3.8% | +9.2% | $9,330 | $2,650 | $7,904 |
| Columbia County | 17.2% | +4.1% | +11.2% | $10,146 | $3,222 | $8,831 |
| Dawson County | 17% | -0.7% | +7.2% | $10,381 | $2,904 | $8,843 |
| Hall County | 16.6% | -1.9% | +9.5% | $9,503 | $1,825 | $8,146 |
| Bryan County | 16% | +2.9% | +4.5% | $9,203 | $2,179 | $7,292 |
| Chattahoochee County | 15.6% | +6.9% | +14.5% | $5,667 | $2,189 | $5,442 |
| Coweta County | 15.2% | +0.1% | +5.8% | $9,128 | $2,203 | $7,356 |
| Paulding County | 15% | +0.2% | +5.9% | $7,197 | $1,586 | $5,764 |
| DeKalb County | 14.4% | -0.1% | +10.7% | $9,044 | $2,088 | $7,995 |
| Gwinnett County | 14.2% | +2.1% | +9.4% | $7,234 | $2,141 | $6,186 |
| Fayette County | 13.7% | +1.8% | +8.5% | $10,318 | $2,997 | $9,048 |
| Cherokee County | 12.9% | +0.9% | +5.8% | $8,539 | $2,532 | $7,268 |
| Cobb County | 11.5% | +0.5% | +7.3% | $8,013 | $1,991 | $7,015 |
| Oconee County | 10% | -0.2% | +0.4% | $7,954 | $1,650 | $6,389 |
| Fulton County | 8.3% | -0.1% | +2.1% | $8,299 | $1,634 | $6,619 |
| Forsyth County | 7.3% | -0.1% | +1.5% | $5,784 | $1,094 | $4,756 |
