County · Georgia
Clayton County, Georgia
Clayton County, Georgia. Clayton County had 297,471 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020, while Georgia grew 5.5%. It holds 10 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 70 census tracts. GEOID 13063.
Clayton County is one of the 29 counties of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
297,471
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 297,595 · ACS 2020-2024: 298,924
Median household income
$59,806
±$1,877 (90% margin)
Georgia: $77,353
Median home value
$222,300
±$4,317 (90% margin)
Georgia: $303,300
Median gross rent
$1,433
±$25 (90% margin)
Georgia: $1,393
How many people live in Clayton County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 297,595 residents in Clayton County. The Census Bureau estimates 297,471 for July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while Georgia grew 5.5%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 298,924 over 142 square miles of land.
| Measure | Clayton County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 298,924 | 10,940,407 | +15,386 |
| Households | 105,941±907 | 4,074,366 | +11,662 |
| Average household size | 2.79±0.02 | 2.62 | −0.16 |
| Housing units | 115,476±87 | 4,541,835 | +9,883 |
Clayton County's population since 2000
From 236,517 in 2000 to 297,471 in 2025: up 25.8%. 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 Clayton County?
Clayton County holds 10 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Forest Park with 19,168 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Forest Park | 19,932 | $41,211 |
|---|---|---|
| Riverdale | 15,129 | $63,455 |
| Lovejoy | 10,122 | $71,612 |
| Irondale | 8,740 | $55,030 |
| Conley | 6,680 | $44,056 |
| Morrow | 6,569 | $73,693 |
| Bonanza | 4,406 | $60,260 |
| Jonesboro | 4,235 | $50,843 |
| Lake City | 2,952 | $54,464 |
| College Park | 13,930 | $51,635 |
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 Clayton County?
The median resident of Clayton County is 33.7 years old; 26.8% are under 18 and 10.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 68.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 14.5%. 13.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clayton County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7±0.2 | 37.6 | +1.2 |
| Under 18 years | 26.8% | 23.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.7%±0.1 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14.5% | 11.0% | +1.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 7.8%±0.1 pts | 49.1% | −2.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 68.5%±0.6 pts | 30.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.9%±0.1 pts | 4.5% | −0.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.3%±0.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.4%±0.7 pts | 11.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 20.9%±0.8 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.1%±0.5 pts | 7.2% | – |
| With a disability | 12.0%±0.8 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 17.0%±1.2 pts | 12.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.5%±0.9 pts | 89.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.5%±1.2 pts | 34.9% | +3.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.6%±0.7 pts | 13.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.3%±0.5 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 Clayton County earn?
Half of Clayton County's 105,941 households earn less than $59,806 a year (±$1,877), against $77,353 in Georgia. In 2015-2019 it was $58,906 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clayton County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,806±$1,877 | $77,353 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $75,442±$1,855 | $106,944 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,759±$659 | $40,924 | +$1,951 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.9%±1.3 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 27.2%±2.9 pts | 18.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 19.3%±1.4 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.3%±1.1 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 Clayton County?
Owners occupy 54.5% of Clayton County's occupied homes and renters 45.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,300 by its owner (±$4,317). The median renter pays $1,433 a month including utilities, and 52.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clayton County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $222,300±$4,317 | $303,300 | +$88,770 |
| Median gross rent | $1,433±$25 | $1,393 | +$213 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.7%±2.7 pts | 43.4% | +10.3 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,453±$31 | $1,783 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.5%±1.4 pts | 65.7% | +5.0 pts |
| Housing units | 115,476±87 | 4,541,835 | +9,883 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6%±0.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 10.3%±1.2 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.0%±1.2 pts | 66.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.7%±0.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.8%±0.3 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.7%±0.4 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 Clayton County building?
Builders took permits for 793 new housing units across Clayton County in 2025 (399 single-family), 2.7 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 Clayton County get to work?
71.6% of Clayton County's workers drive alone and 10.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.2%.
| Measure | Clayton County | Georgia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.7%±0.9 pts | 63.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.2%±0.8 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.6%±1.4 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.3%±1.0 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.1%±0.4 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.0%±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.6%±0.8 pts | 15.9% | +6.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.6 min±0.7 | 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 Clayton County's census tracts?
Clayton County is divided into 70 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $27,500 (Tract 406.34) to $119,872 (Tract 406.36).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Clayton County compare with Georgia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 6th of 159 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 133rd of 159 |
| Residents per square mile | 4th of 159 |
| Median household income | 69th of 159 |
| Median home value | 54th of 159 |
| Median gross rent | 18th of 157 |
| Poverty rate | 73rd of 159 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59th of 159 |
| Median age | 152nd 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 Clayton 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.