Cherokee County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Cherokee County, Georgia had an estimated 293,513 residents on July 1, 2024, up 10.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 266,600, across 422 square miles. County output reached $13.26 bn in 2024, 6,550 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 396 7(a) approvals worth $261.8 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Cherokee County
How many people live in Cherokee County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024281,032
- Households101,514
- Average household size2.77
- Median household income$108,115
- Median age40.2
- Median gross rent$1,799 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$435,100
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher41.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over193,718
- Population under 1864,003
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over44,502
- Share 65 and over15.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64172,527
- Civilian labor force153,873
- Unemployment rate3.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.9 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties7th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included257th of 3,222
Cherokee County is the 7th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 15.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cherokee County
Is Cherokee County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024293,513
- Census 2020 base population266,600
- Population change since the 2020 census base10.09 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20246,270
- Births, 20242,871
- Deaths, 20241,947
- Natural change, 2024924
- Net domestic migration, 20244,016
- Net international migration, 20241,310
- Total net migration, 20245,326
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202419,011
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents146th of 3,144
The county has grown 10.09 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cherokee County
Where are people moving to Cherokee County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving10,641
- People arriving, from those returns19,710
- Tax returns filed by households leaving8,648
- Net household movement1,993
- Adjusted gross income arriving$965.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$303.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$90,694
- Average income of a leaving household$76,471
- Largest single originCobb County (2,565 households)
- Largest single destinationCobb County (1,678 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobb County | 2,565 | 4,627 | $227.3 m |
| Fulton County | 1,548 | 2,752 | $165.2 m |
| Forsyth County | 454 | 884 | $53.8 m |
| Gwinnett County | 345 | 628 | $28.5 m |
| DeKalb County | 329 | 548 | $27.2 m |
| Pickens County | 271 | 511 | $19.2 m |
| Bartow County | 258 | 511 | $12.5 m |
| Paulding County | 258 | 477 | $17.0 m |
Households arriving report $14,223 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Cobb County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Cherokee County
What is the Cherokee County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$13.26 bn
- County GDP, 2023$12.15 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20249.1 percent
- GDP change over five years49.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes11th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes356th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,171
Output grew 9.1 percent in the latest year and 49.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Cherokee County
Employment by industry in Cherokee County
- Covered employment, annual average74,280
- Establishments reporting8,029
- Average annual pay$54,283
- Average weekly wage$1,044
- Retail trade, employment12,186
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,138
- Accommodation and food services, employment9,854
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,104
- Health care and social assistance, employment9,634
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$62,059
- Construction, employment6,589
- Construction, average annual pay$81,117
- Manufacturing, employment6,214
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment3,858
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 12,186 | 728 | $37,138 |
| Accommodation and food services | 9,854 | 498 | $23,104 |
| Health care and social assistance | 9,634 | 729 | $62,059 |
| Construction | 6,589 | 995 | $81,117 |
| Manufacturing | 6,214 | 265 | $63,727 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,858 | 550 | $54,154 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 3,751 | 1,155 | $75,385 |
| Other services, except public administration | 2,469 | 528 | $41,354 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 12,186 jobs, 16.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cherokee County
How many businesses are in Cherokee County?
- Establishments, all industries6,550
- Employment at those establishments67,429
- Annual payroll$3.23 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.3
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cherokee County
Building permits in Cherokee County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20242,665
- Declared construction value permitted$1.00 bn
- Single family units authorized1,796
- Multifamily units authorized869
- Multifamily share of units32.6 percent
- Average declared value per unit$375,574
- Units authorized per 1,000 households26.3
Single-family homes are 67.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cherokee County
SBA loans in Cherokee County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded396
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$261.8 m
- Average 7(a) approval$661,156
- Median 7(a) approval$301,300
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,737,900
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,136
- Jobs per approval10.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active92
- Distinct industries receiving approvals149
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.7 percent
- Loans on real estate terms78
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter282
- Franchise loans89
- Franchise share of approvals22.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (18)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (29)
- 504 approvals recorded95
- 504 gross approval dollars$109.3 m
- Average 504 approval$1,150,442
- Median 504 approval$663,000
- Distinct CDCs active8
- 504 jobs per approval13.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.5
- Most active CDCFlorida Business Development Corporation (30)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$371.1 m
The average approval of $661,156 sits well above the median of $301,300, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.7 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cherokee County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Cherokee County
Do SBA loans in Cherokee County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded63
- Paid in full60
- Charged off3
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans4.8 percent
- Status: Paid in full60
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure252
- Status: Cancelled57
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed24
Of the 63 loans that have reached a final outcome, 4.8 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cherokee County
SBA lending by place in Cherokee County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending13
- Woodstock, approvals165
- Canton, approvals148
- Ball Ground, approvals30
- Acworth, approvals24
- Waleska, approvals8
- Alpharetta, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | 165 | $93,072,900 |
| Canton | 148 | $97,857,400 |
| Ball Ground | 30 | $30,620,700 |
| Acworth | 24 | $17,059,800 |
| Waleska | 8 | $6,095,600 |
| Alpharetta | 5 | $1,866,000 |
| Cumming | 5 | $1,486,900 |
| White | 3 | $5,945,000 |
| 5 other borrower cities | 8 | $7,813,300 |
Woodstock accounts for 165 approvals against 148 in Canton. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cherokee County
How large is Cherokee County?
- Land area422 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties51st of 159
- Width, east to west23 mi
- Height, north to south23.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land666
- Establishments per square mile15.52
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cherokee County
Flood risk in Cherokee County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Cherokee County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130424
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class1
- Radon levels in Cherokee County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Cherokee County (community 130424), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Cherokee County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Cherokee County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Cherokee County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024281,032
- Households101,514
- Average household size2.77
- Median household income$108,115
- Median age40.2
Common questions
Cherokee County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cherokee County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 293,513 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 281,032, in 101,514 households, ranking 7th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cherokee County's population growing?
The population has grown 10.09 percent since the 2020 census base of 266,600, to 293,513 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,871 births against 1,947 deaths, with net migration of 5,326. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cherokee County?
$108,115. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $435,100, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,799 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Cherokee County?
6,550 establishments, employing 67,429 people with an annual payroll of $3.23 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Cherokee County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 12,186 jobs, 16.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 74,280 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,283, or $1,044 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cherokee County?
396 7(a) approvals totaling $261.8 m since FY2020, across 92 lenders, with a median approval of $301,300, plus 95 504 approvals worth $109.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Cherokee County get paid back?
Of the 63 loans that have reached a final outcome, 60 were paid in full and 3 charged off, a charge-off rate of 4.8 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Cherokee County?
2,665 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.00 bn. Multifamily was 32.6 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cherokee County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Cherokee County come from?
The largest single origin is Cobb County, with 2,565 households. Arriving households report an average income of $90,694 against $76,471 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cherokee County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Cherokee County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Cherokee County
Cities and places in Cherokee.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Cherokee County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | city | 37,381 | 165 | Wholly in this county |
| Canton | city | 35,741 | 148 | Wholly in this county |
| Holly Springs | city | 18,627 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Ball Ground | city | 2,856 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Nelson | city | 1,166 | None recorded | 61.1 percent here, 38.9 percent Pickens County |
| Waleska | city | 808 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Mountain Park | city | 703 | None recorded | 7.5 percent here, 92.5 percent Fulton County |
A further 43 of the county's 396 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Cherokee County, the largest being Acworth (24), Alpharetta (5), Cumming (5). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby