Clarke County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Clarke County, Georgia had an estimated 129,995 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 128,662, across 119 square miles. County output reached $10.82 bn in 2024, 3,307 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 106 7(a) approvals worth $67.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Clarke County
How many people live in Clarke County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024129,609
- Households54,454
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$53,625
- Median age29.6
- Median gross rent$1,219 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$298,900
- Home value to household income5.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income27.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher47.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree24.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over74,614
- Population under 1821,685
- Share under 1816.7 percent
- Population 65 and over16,200
- Share 65 and over12.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6491,724
- Civilian labor force68,422
- Unemployment rate5.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.4 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties19th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included507th of 3,222
Clarke County is the 19th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 5.6 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 16.7 percent against 12.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Clarke County
Is Clarke County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024129,995
- Census 2020 base population128,662
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.04 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-343
- Births, 20241,307
- Deaths, 2024991
- Natural change, 2024316
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,584
- Net international migration, 2024937
- Total net migration, 2024-647
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-2,344
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1470th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.04 percent since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Clarke County
Where are people moving to Clarke County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,451
- People arriving, from those returns6,888
- Tax returns filed by households leaving5,152
- Net household movement-701
- Adjusted gross income arriving$309.1 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$22.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$69,446
- Average income of a leaving household$55,615
- Largest single originOconee County (344 households)
- Largest single destinationOconee County (448 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oconee County | 344 | 582 | $25.9 m |
| Gwinnett County | 267 | 406 | $12.4 m |
| Jackson County | 213 | 335 | $9.4 m |
| Barrow County | 202 | 347 | $7.3 m |
| Madison County | 191 | 381 | $7.0 m |
| Fulton County | 165 | 222 | $13.2 m |
| DeKalb County | 132 | 194 | $7.7 m |
| Cobb County | 121 | 168 | $7.4 m |
Households arriving report $13,831 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 Oconee 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.
Clarke County
What is the Clarke County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$10.82 bn
- County GDP, 2023$10.35 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.6 percent
- GDP change over five years33.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes14th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes415th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$83,513
Output grew 4.6 percent in the latest year and 33.0 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.
Clarke County
Employment by industry in Clarke County
- Covered employment, annual average72,792
- Establishments reporting3,952
- Average annual pay$57,718
- Average weekly wage$1,110
- Health care and social assistance, employment11,795
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$70,954
- Accommodation and food services, employment8,522
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,795
- Retail trade, employment7,845
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,627
- Manufacturing, employment5,555
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$67,153
- Wholesale trade, employment3,427
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,888
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 11,795 | 567 | $70,954 |
| Accommodation and food services | 8,522 | 427 | $21,795 |
| Retail trade | 7,845 | 530 | $37,627 |
| Manufacturing | 5,555 | 133 | $67,153 |
| Wholesale trade | 3,427 | 112 | $65,468 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,888 | 226 | $31,043 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,338 | 433 | $85,126 |
| Construction | 2,260 | 204 | $81,549 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 11,795 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Clarke County
How many businesses are in Clarke County?
- Establishments, all industries3,307
- Employment at those establishments52,648
- Annual payroll$2.71 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.5
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.
Clarke County
Building permits in Clarke County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,172
- Declared construction value permitted$166.5 m
- Single family units authorized212
- Multifamily units authorized960
- Multifamily share of units81.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$142,099
- Units authorized per 1,000 households21.5
Multifamily is 81.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Clarke County
SBA loans in Clarke County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded106
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$67.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$636,764
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,829,650
- Largest single approval$3,250,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,556
- Jobs per approval14.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active43
- Distinct industries receiving approvals62
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer24.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms26
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter67
- Franchise loans28
- Franchise share of approvals26.4 percent
- Leading industry by approval countLimited-Service Restaurants (13)
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (10)
- 504 approvals recorded49
- 504 gross approval dollars$44.7 m
- Average 504 approval$911,796
- Median 504 approval$542,000
- Distinct CDCs active8
- 504 jobs per approval9.6
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved10.5
- Most active CDCCSRA Local Development Corporation (19)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$112.2 m
The average approval of $636,764 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 24.5 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.
Clarke County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Clarke County
Do SBA loans in Clarke County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded21
- Paid in full21
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled20
- Status: Exempt from disclosure63
- Status: Paid in full21
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 21 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
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.
Clarke County
SBA lending by place in Clarke County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Athens, approvals100
- Bogart, approvals2
- Winterville, approvals2
- Alpharetta, approvals1
- Valdosta, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | 100 | $65,603,900 |
| Bogart | 2 | $1,106,200 |
| Winterville | 2 | $304,900 |
| Alpharetta | 1 | $432,000 |
| Valdosta | 1 | $50,000 |
Athens accounts for 100 approvals against 2 in Bogart. 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.
Clarke County
How large is Clarke County?
- Land area119 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties159th of 159
- Width, east to west17 mi
- Height, north to south13.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land1,089
- Establishments per square mile27.79
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.
Clarke County
Flood risk in Clarke County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Clarke County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The EPA places Clarke 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. 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 Clarke 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 Clarke County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024129,609
- Households54,454
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$53,625
- Median age29.6
Common questions
Clarke County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Clarke County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 129,995 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 129,609, in 54,454 households, ranking 19th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Clarke County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.04 percent since the 2020 census base of 128,662, to 129,995 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,307 births against 991 deaths, with net migration of -647. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Clarke County?
$53,625. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $298,900, which is 5.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,219 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Clarke County?
3,307 establishments, employing 52,648 people with an annual payroll of $2.71 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 Clarke County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 11,795 jobs, 16.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 72,792 jobs at an average annual pay of $57,718, or $1,110 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Clarke County?
106 7(a) approvals totaling $67.5 m since FY2020, across 43 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 49 504 approvals worth $44.7 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Clarke County?
1,172 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $166.5 m. Multifamily was 81.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Clarke 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 Clarke County come from?
The largest single origin is Oconee County, with 344 households. Arriving households report an average income of $69,446 against $55,615 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Clarke 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 Clarke 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.
Clarke County
Cities and places in Clarke.
2 Census places lie wholly or partly in Clarke County. All 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winterville | city | 2,223 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Bogart | town | 1,403 | 2 | 9.5 percent here, 90.5 percent Oconee County |
A further 102 of the county's 106 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Clarke County, the largest being Athens (100), Alpharetta (1), Valdosta (1). 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