Griffin
RANK #861 / 996 NAT · #26 / 41 GA · POP 67,415
1YR FORECAST: -0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +13%
Spalding County, Georgia, located about 40 miles south of Atlanta, is often recognized for its county seat, Griffin, a city with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1840. Griffin was established around the Macon and Western Railroad, which significantly contributed to its early growth. The county offers a blend of small-town character and access to natural beauty, with numerous parks and outdoor recreation opportunities like fishing at Dundee Lake Park, mountain biking at Quarry's Edge Park, and trails at Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park. Commuting to Atlanta is an option, and the county is part of the Georgia Commute Options program, which assists with alternative transportation.
Life in Spalding County offers a community feel, with many families residing there. The Griffin-Spalding County School System serves nearly 10,000 students across its elementary, middle, and high schools. The local economy, historically rooted in agriculture and textile manufacturing, has seen recent diversification. The area has attracted new residents due to its proximity to Atlanta and the presence of regional facilities like Southern Crescent Technical College. Economic development efforts have focused on attracting various industries, including those in the data center sector, leveraging the county's infrastructure and workforce.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing is fairly valued at 5.1x 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.
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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Wallace Jackson Data Center Campus
Wallace Jackson LLC
|
$3,900M | Approved |
|
Project Spalding Data Center
Montana Property Group LLC
|
$1,800M | Planned |
|
Spalding County Data Center Campus
Spalding Investments LLC
|
$1,500M | Planned |
|
Industrial Development (Georgia 16 & S McDonough Rd)
585 Spalding Investments, LLC
|
$50M | Approved |
|
Caterpillar Generator Facility (Green Valley Industrial Park)
Caterpillar, Inc.
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Spalding County scores just 13/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #861 of 996 counties. Job growth at +0.1% and median household income of $57,367 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Spalding County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $178,800 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,024/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Spalding County's population is growing — up +1.0% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.1%). Home values shifted -2.6% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 5.32% of Spalding County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.