City · Georgia
Harlem, Georgia
Harlem, city, in Columbia County, Georgia. Harlem had 4,239 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 18.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,571 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,885 (±29). GEOID 1336696.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
4,239
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,571 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,885 ±29
Median household income
$46,197
±$12,858 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$274,500
±$32,674 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
not published
Georgia: $1,393
Where is Harlem and what county is it in?
Harlem is a city in Columbia County, Georgia. It covers 6.6 square miles of land, 542 residents per square mile in 2020.
Harlem is in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Harlem, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 4,239 people lived in Harlem on July 1, 2025, up 18.8% since 2020, faster than Georgia (+5.5%). The 2020 Census counted 3,571 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,885 (±29).
| Measure | Harlem | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,885 ±29 | 162,434 | +748 |
| Households | 1,466 ±217 | 55,149 | +445 |
| Average household size | 2.64 ±0.40 | 2.93 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,533 ±220 | 61,668 | no clear change |
Harlem's population since 2000
From 1,814 in 2000 to 4,239 in 2025: up 133.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Harlem as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. 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); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Harlem?
The median resident of Harlem is 34.4 years old; 27.3% are under 18 and 15.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 30.8%.
| Measure | Harlem | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 ±4.8 | 37.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.3% ±6.8 pts | 24.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.6% ±6.9 pts | 15.1% | – |
| Male | 41.1% ±7.3 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.9% ±5.1 pts | 8.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.0% ±11.4 pts | 63.2% | −20.6 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 30.8% ±10.9 pts | 18.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 4.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.2% ±3.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.5% ±3.2 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 6.0% ±3.8 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 15.5% ±6.7 pts | 14.0% | – |
| With a disability | 26.2% ±7.9 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.7% ±5.4 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.5% ±8.1 pts | 92.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.7% ±6.6 pts | 38.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.1% ±2.8 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.1% ±8.4 pts | 86.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 11.6% ±8.7 pts | 4.9% | – |
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 Harlem earn?
Half of Harlem's 1,466 households earn less than $46,197 a year (±$12,858), against $95,592 in Columbia County and $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 the median was $69,666 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $23,469 after inflation. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Harlem | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,197 ±$12,858 | $95,592 | −$23,469 |
| Mean household income | $76,158 ±$17,850 | $119,651 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,517 ±$8,101 | $43,717 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.8% ±6.4 pts | 7.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.6% ±6.4 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.9% ±13.8 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 85.6% ±11.8 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 77.0% ±12.8 pts | 91.6% | – |
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 Harlem?
Owners occupy 57.6% of Harlem's occupied homes and renters 42.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $274,500 by its owner (±$32,674).
| Measure | Harlem | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $274,500 ±$32,674 | $305,300 | +$116,233 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 58.8% ±25.4 pts | 37.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,641 ±$306 | $1,859 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 57.6% ±13.1 pts | 78.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 42.4% ±13.1 pts | 21.9% | – |
| Housing units | 1,533 ±220 | 61,668 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.5 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3% ±6.2 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.4% ±13.9 pts | 79.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.3% ±4.2 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 25.1% ±11.4 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.8% ±2.9 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 23.1% ±13.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
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 Harlem building?
Builders took permits for 73 new housing units in Harlem in 2025 (73 in single-family houses), 17.2 per 1,000 residents against 5.4 across Georgia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Harlem work and get to work?
81.6% of Harlem's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 28.0 minutes.
| Measure | Harlem | Columbia County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.7% ±10.7 pts | 64.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.3% ±2.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 81.6% ±9.9 pts | 79.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.4% ±4.5 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±2.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±1.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.7% ±8.6 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.0 min ±3.8 | 24.9 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 census tracts are in Harlem?
1 census tract lies mostly in Harlem, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 305.04Columbia County | 4,997 | $83,933 |
| Tract 305.03Columbia County | 12,906 | $81,777 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Harlem) · Census block assignment files
How does Harlem compare with other places in Georgia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Harlem is the 5,364th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 162nd-most populous of 537 in Georgia.
Harlem ranks 258th of 348 places in Georgia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 162nd | 537 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 43rd | 297 |
| Residents per square mile | 269th | 360 |
| Median household income | 258th | 348 |
| Per capita income | 143rd | 357 |
| Median home value | 119th | 346 |
| Poverty rate | 234th | 302 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 203rd | 343 |
| Median age | 247th | 360 |
| Owner-occupied share | 198th | 354 |
| Travel time to work | 141st | 359 |
Harlem's figures with every place in Georgia (CSV)
Every place in Georgia, sortable · Compare Harlem with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed 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 reliable are the figures for Harlem?
18 of the 56 figures for Harlem on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
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 Harlem 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' public schools in Harlem.