City profile · Georgia · Census ACS 2023

Harlem, GA

Harlem's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

3,793
Residents
$43,571
Median income
$242,700
Median home
$1,203
Median rent (state)
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State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Harlem.

Place dossier plate

Sheet GA-HARLEM-GA · Harlem, GA 3,793 pop · income 11th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-LOW · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-MID · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 3,793
  • INC-LOW $43,571
  • COL-PAR 96.3
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 11th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Round Rock
  • HOME-MID $242,700
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Round Rock, AZ (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Harlem

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Harlem on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Harlem on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 3,793.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $43,571. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Harlem - the verdict

Nationally, Harlem sits in the 11th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

11th
percentile, household income
54th
percentile, home value
51st
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Harlem, GA

3,793 people live in Harlem, Georgia - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $43,571 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.8%. Typical homes in Harlem are valued around $242,700, and the median resident age is 36.6 years. 17.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 78 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 3% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Georgia run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Georgia scores 96.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,203 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Georgia's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 39.5 out of 100 (Very Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Harlem's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from schools and households to work and mobility to housing and income to comparison shortlist to population change; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Harlem, city-specific coverage includes annual population history, local building permits, matched public-school count, commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for within-city Census tract profiles, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

Question 1

What does the education layer cover for Harlem?

The NCES join finds 3 public schools within the city match. 17.3% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher in the ACS estimate. These measures answer different questions: the school count describes local institutions, while adult attainment describes residents and cannot be used as a school-quality rating.

The city has a broader matched school footprint, but count alone does not describe performance, capacity, program availability, or attendance boundaries. This profile deliberately avoids converting it into an unsupported family-friendliness score.

See how the family ranking is built →

2. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Harlem?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 81.1%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Compare commute patterns →

Question 3

How far does income reach against housing in Harlem?

The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 5.6 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 3.8%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 4

Which cities make useful reference points for Harlem?

Within Georgia, the closest population matches are Walthourville (3,770 residents, $70,035 income); Baldwin (3,728 residents, $54,741 income); Echols County (3,705 residents, $61,723 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Bishop, CA (3,793 residents); Umatilla, FL (3,793 residents); Orange, MA (3,793 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Other supported questions

Why these stay compact

These joined records add useful context, but they do not need another full-size panel. Each remains a separate measure with its own geography and source boundary.

Population change

Is Harlem growing, shrinking, or holding steady?

Recent estimates point upward. Growth can increase housing demand and service needs, but the permit record must move in the same direction before calling it a supply response; the two series measure different things.

Census PEP estimates show the population grew by +630 residents from 2020 to 2025, a +17.5% change. Separately, Census BPS recorded 78 housing units authorized in 2024. PEP and ACS are different Census series, so the trend is kept separate from the headline ACS population.

Period change
+17.5%
2025 estimate
4,239
2020 estimate
3,609

Census Population Estimates Program, 2020–2025; permit context uses Census BPS.

See the national growth ranking →

Population

3,793 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$43,571 /yr

Low income · poverty 3.8% (Below-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.3 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Georgia average

City profile score · Harlem, GA

41/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Poverty rate B
3.8%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Cost of living C
96.3 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Bachelor's+ share F
17.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Household income F
$43,571

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Harlem profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Poverty rate, Cost of living, Bachelor's+ share, Household income. Poverty rateCost of livingBachelor's+ shareHousehold income 41 D
Harlem profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Poverty rate: 73/100 (B) · 3.8%
  • Cost of living: 57/100 (C) · 96.3 index
  • Bachelor's+ share: 26/100 (F) · 17.3%
  • Household income: 12/100 (F) · $43,571

How does Harlem compare to other US cities?

Where Harlem sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 11% higher than other cities
Home value 54% pricier than other cities
Median rent 51% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Harlem against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Georgia only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Georgia-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Harlem near the bottom of Georgia's cities

Among the 638 Georgia cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Harlem ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Harlem only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#435 of 610
29th percentile in Georgia
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 638
0th percentile in Georgia
Median Home Value
#152 of 577
73rd percentile in Georgia
Poverty Rate
#531 of 637
16th percentile in Georgia
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#320 of 638
49th percentile in Georgia
How in-state ranks are ordered

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Georgia only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

11thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

11th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Harlem's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$242,700 46th percentile more affordable than 46% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Harlem $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Harlem's home-value-to-income ratio: 5.6×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
pressured
> 5.0×
National rank
#13,668 of 15,516
More affordable than 12% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#10,211 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 5.6×, Harlem sits in the pressured band: national rank #13,668 of 15,516 and #10,211 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median, a comparison flag, not a verdict on any household.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$43,571 Harlem, GA median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Harlem, GA Harlem, GA's median household income ($43,571) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Harlem, GA-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Harlem, GA median $43,571/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Harlem, GA median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Harlem, GA.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,793
Median Income
$43,571
Median Home Value
$242,700
Median Age
36.6
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Labor force participation
63.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.3%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

PEP vintage

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,400 residents3,600 residents3,800 residents4,000 residents4,200 residents4,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,609 residents 4,239 residents ▲ +17.5%
Harlem's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.
Read the chart as text
Period Population
2020 3,609 residents
2021 3,855 residents
2022 3,955 residents
2023 3,991 residents
2024 4,083 residents
2025 4,239 residents

Housing Supply

BPS source

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
78
housing units authorized
Single-Family
78
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
20.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 76
2020 108
2021 57
2022 21
2023 49
2024 78

Permit volume increased 3% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.1%
Carpool
3.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
11.0%
Other
3.0%

Based on 1,800 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Georgia statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $225

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Georgia at $225 (electricity about $125 , water and sewer about $45 ).

These are Georgia statewide averages, not a meter reading for Harlem. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Georgia's BEA cost-of-living index is 96.3 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Harlem is $1,203/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Georgia statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 39.5 / 100 (Very Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Georgia statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Harlem sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Harlem compares to similar-size Georgia cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Harlem (this city) 3,793 $43,571
Walthourville 3,770 $70,035
Baldwin 3,728 $54,741
Echols County 3,705 $61,723
NCES CCD Census BPS 2024
Primary sources on this page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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