Clayton County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Clayton County, Georgia had an estimated 297,703 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 299,394, across 142 square miles. County output reached $26.28 bn in 2024, 4,115 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 200 7(a) approvals worth $165.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Clayton County
How many people live in Clayton County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024298,924
- Households105,941
- Average household size2.82
- Median household income$59,806
- Median age33.7
- Median gross rent$1,433 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$222,300
- Home value to household income3.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income28.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher22.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over189,995
- Population under 1880,080
- Share under 1826.8 percent
- Population 65 and over32,022
- Share 65 and over10.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64186,822
- Civilian labor force151,925
- Unemployment rate7.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over69.4 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties6th of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included244th of 3,222
Clayton County is the 6th largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.7 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 26.8 percent against 10.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Clayton County
Is Clayton County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024297,703
- Census 2020 base population299,394
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.56 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-1,677
- Births, 20243,273
- Deaths, 20242,019
- Natural change, 20241,254
- Net domestic migration, 2024-4,723
- Net international migration, 20241,809
- Total net migration, 2024-2,914
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-11,919
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2037th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.56 percent of its population 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.
Clayton County
Where are people moving to Clayton County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving12,166
- People arriving, from those returns22,542
- Tax returns filed by households leaving13,098
- Net household movement-932
- Adjusted gross income arriving$438.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-16.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$36,001
- Average income of a leaving household$34,723
- Largest single originFulton County (3,084 households)
- Largest single destinationFulton County (2,925 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulton County | 3,084 | 5,948 | $92.0 m |
| DeKalb County | 1,466 | 2,809 | $44.4 m |
| Henry County | 1,367 | 2,550 | $54.2 m |
| Cobb County | 421 | 741 | $13.7 m |
| Gwinnett County | 411 | 783 | $13.4 m |
| Fayette County | 313 | 594 | $12.1 m |
| Douglas County | 186 | 353 | $5.4 m |
| Spalding County | 149 | 274 | $4.1 m |
Households arriving report $1,278 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 Fulton 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.
Clayton County
What is the Clayton County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$26.28 bn
- County GDP, 2023$26.05 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20240.9 percent
- GDP change over five years75.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes6th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes216th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$87,920
Output grew 0.9 percent in the latest year and 75.8 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.
Clayton County
Employment by industry in Clayton County
- Covered employment, annual average130,345
- Establishments reporting5,233
- Average annual pay$77,005
- Average weekly wage$1,481
- Transportation and warehousing, employment52,730
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$109,612
- Retail trade, employment11,390
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,058
- Accommodation and food services, employment10,428
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$28,018
- Health care and social assistance, employment8,240
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$57,111
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment7,226
- Wholesale trade, employment5,429
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing | 52,730 | 518 | $109,612 |
| Retail trade | 11,390 | 818 | $39,058 |
| Accommodation and food services | 10,428 | 513 | $28,018 |
| Health care and social assistance | 8,240 | 540 | $57,111 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 7,226 | 338 | $40,981 |
| Wholesale trade | 5,429 | 259 | $76,466 |
| Manufacturing | 5,408 | 130 | $68,521 |
| Other services, except public administration | 2,154 | 354 | $47,881 |
Transportation and warehousing is the largest private sector at 52,730 jobs, 40.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Clayton County
How many businesses are in Clayton County?
- Establishments, all industries4,115
- Employment at those establishments80,953
- Annual payroll$3.95 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents13.8
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.
Clayton County
Building permits in Clayton County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024930
- Declared construction value permitted$195.4 m
- Single family units authorized400
- Multifamily units authorized530
- Multifamily share of units57.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$210,066
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.8
Multifamily is 57.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Clayton County
SBA loans in Clayton County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded200
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$165.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$828,559
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$29,500
- 90th percentile approval$2,403,200
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,064
- Jobs per approval10.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active62
- Distinct industries receiving approvals85
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer35.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms71
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter120
- Franchise loans25
- Franchise share of approvals12.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countChild Day Care Services (17)
- Most active lenderMetro City Bank (17)
- 504 approvals recorded40
- 504 gross approval dollars$39.4 m
- Average 504 approval$985,825
- Median 504 approval$673,500
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval16.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.4
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$205.1 m
The average approval of $828,559 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. 35.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
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.
Clayton County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Clayton County
Do SBA loans in Clayton County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded32
- Paid in full26
- Charged off6
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans18.8 percent
- Status: Paid in full26
- Status: Cancelled39
- Status: Exempt from disclosure125
- Status: Charged off6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Of the 32 loans that have reached a final outcome, 18.8 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.
Clayton County
SBA lending by place in Clayton County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending16
- Jonesboro, approvals57
- Riverdale, approvals47
- Morrow, approvals29
- Forest Park, approvals17
- Atlanta, approvals11
- Hampton, approvals11
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | 57 | $42,746,500 |
| Riverdale | 47 | $41,652,400 |
| Morrow | 29 | $25,830,700 |
| Forest Park | 17 | $12,356,800 |
| Atlanta | 11 | $9,353,900 |
| Hampton | 11 | $7,556,800 |
| Ellenwood | 9 | $6,551,500 |
| Rex | 5 | $525,000 |
| 8 other borrower cities | 14 | $19,138,200 |
Jonesboro accounts for 57 approvals against 47 in Riverdale. 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.
Clayton County
How large is Clayton County?
- Land area142 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties157th of 159
- Width, east to west10.2 mi
- Height, north to south20.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land2,105
- Establishments per square mile28.98
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.
Clayton County
Flood risk in Clayton County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Clayton County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130041
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate75.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class4
- Radon levels in Clayton 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 Clayton County (community 130041), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Clayton 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 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 75.0 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 Clayton 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 Clayton County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024298,924
- Households105,941
- Average household size2.82
- Median household income$59,806
- Median age33.7
Common questions
Clayton County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Clayton County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 297,703 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 298,924, in 105,941 households, ranking 6th of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Clayton County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.56 percent since the 2020 census base of 299,394, to 297,703 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,273 births against 2,019 deaths, with net migration of -2,914. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Clayton County?
$59,806. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,300, which is 3.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,433 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Clayton County?
4,115 establishments, employing 80,953 people with an annual payroll of $3.95 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 Clayton County?
Transportation and warehousing is the largest private sector at 52,730 jobs, 40.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 130,345 jobs at an average annual pay of $77,005, or $1,481 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Clayton County?
200 7(a) approvals totaling $165.7 m since FY2020, across 62 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 40 504 approvals worth $39.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Clayton County get paid back?
Of the 32 loans that have reached a final outcome, 26 were paid in full and 6 charged off, a charge-off rate of 18.8 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Clayton County?
930 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $195.4 m. Multifamily was 57.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Clayton 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 Clayton County come from?
The largest single origin is Fulton County, with 3,084 households. Arriving households report an average income of $36,001 against $34,723 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Clayton 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 Clayton 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.
Clayton County
Cities and places in Clayton.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Clayton County. All 10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Park | city | 19,504 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Riverdale | city | 14,792 | 47 | Wholly in this county |
| College Park | city | 14,712 | 3 | 25.1 percent here, 74.9 percent Fulton County |
| Lovejoy | city | 11,508 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Irondale | CDP | 9,185 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Morrow | city | 6,364 | 29 | Wholly in this county |
| Jonesboro | city | 6,143 | 57 | Wholly in this county |
| Conley | CDP | 5,822 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Bonanza | CDP | 3,279 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake City | city | 2,909 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 43 of the county's 200 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Clayton County, the largest being Atlanta (11), Hampton (11), Ellenwood (9). 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