RANK #941 / 1001 NAT · #40 / 41 GA · POP 300,879
1YR FORECAST: -2.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +15%
Tybee Island, with its public beaches and historic lighthouse, is a notable draw in Chatham County, Georgia, located on the state's Atlantic coast. Savannah serves as the county seat, and other incorporated towns include Pooler and Port Wentworth. The county is bordered by the Savannah River to the northeast and the Ogeechee River to the southwest. Commute options within the county include Chatham Area Transit (CAT) bus services, which connect downtown Savannah with wider areas, and a ferry service to Hutchinson Island. Outdoor recreation is supported by numerous parks, nature preserves, boat ramps, and fishing piers, offering opportunities for walking, biking, and water activities.
Life in Chatham County is shaped by its coastal location and economic activity. The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System serves nearly 36,000 students across 55 schools. The economy is significantly influenced by the Georgia Ports Authority, one of the busiest ports in the United States, which drives activity in logistics and manufacturing. Tourism also plays a role, with visitors drawn to the historic districts and coastal attractions. Recent economic developments include continued expansion in advanced manufacturing and logistics, with new facilities and job creation in these sectors.
Chatham County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -3.5% matches the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Amazon Fulfillment Center (SAV4)
Amazon
|
$260M | Operating |
|
PHA Manufacturing Facility
PHA
|
$67M | Under Construction |
|
Seohan Auto Georgia Manufacturing Plant
Seohan Auto Georgia
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Island's Expressway Bridge Replacement Project
Georgia Department of Transportation
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Little Neck Road Widening and Reconstruction
Chatham County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Chatham County scores just 5/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #941 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +1.1% and median household income of $71,097 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Chatham County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $302,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,471/month on average.
Chatham County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.9% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.1% clip. Home values shifted -3.5% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.28% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Chatham County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.