RANK #866 / 996 · POP 296,312 · GA
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.2%
Located just south of Atlanta, Clayton County, Georgia, is known for being home to most of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports. The county seat, Jonesboro, holds historical significance from the Civil War. Clayton County offers a suburban feel with convenient access to downtown Atlanta, approximately 12 miles away. Commute options include MARTA bus services and GRTA Xpress commuter buses, with plans for expanded bus rapid transit. The county features over 896 acres of parkland, including Reynolds Nature Preserve and the Newman Wetlands Center, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation like walking trails, fishing, and picnicking.
Life in Clayton County offers a mix of residential options, with a cost of living nearly 8 percent lower than the national average. The public school system, Clayton County Public Schools, is one of Georgia's largest. Clayton State University in Morrow provides higher education opportunities and is home to Spivey Hall, a notable music recital venue. Recent economic developments include investments in data centers and manufacturing, with efforts to redevelop land for business growth in cities like Jonesboro, Lovejoy, and Morrow. The county is also focusing on improving housing affordability and accessibility.
Contracting economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.3x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Digital Realty Data Center Campus (ATL15 & ATL16)
Digital Realty
|
$2,000M | Planned |
|
TA Realty Data Center Project (Ellenwood)
TA Realty
|
$959M | Under Construction |
|
TOTO Manufacturing Facility Expansion
TOTO
|
$224M | Completed |
|
Mountain View Master Plan
Development Authority of Clayton County (DACC)
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Clayton County has a Boom Town Index score of 13/100, ranking #866 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.6% and a median household income of $56,207, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Clayton County is $167,200 with median rent at $1,216/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3362, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.7% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.6%. Home values changed -6.1% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.08% of Clayton County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.