Population
297,471
2025
−0.6% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Clayton County, GA: population growth, jobs and income
Clayton County gained 238 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.1%).
Clayton County had an estimated 297,471 residents in 2025, down 0.6% (1,874 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Georgia as a whole (+5.3%), and the 134th fastest growth of 159 counties in Georgia.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the Clayton County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Clayton County, ranked against Georgia and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,433/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes8.3%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months4272025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−2,020
2025
−6.8 per 1,000 residents
−13,951 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
2025
+0.1 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
793
2025
−14.6% since 2021
2.7 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$59,806
2020–24
+20.9% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
80,953
2023
+12.5% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 2,020 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 80,953 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +12.5% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 4.4% in 2025, 0.1 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 793 new homes in 2025, or 2.7 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $59,806 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +20.9% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,083rd.
Part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area.
Get Clayton County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Clayton County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Clayton County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 297,471 | +238 |
| 2024 | 297,233 | −1,151 |
| 2023 | 298,384 | +374 |
| 2022 | 298,010 | −818 |
| 2021 | 298,828 | −517 |
| 2020 | 299,345 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Clayton County
Clayton County lost 1,874 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−13,951).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +1,319 | +5,803 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +915 | +6,152 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −2,020 | −13,951 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +24 | +122 | |
| Total change | +238 | −1,874 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Georgia | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 134th of 159 | 2,083rd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 144th of 159 | 2,713th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 64th of 158 | 504th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 69th of 159 | 2,075th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 140th of 159 | 1,990th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 100th of 156 | 1,239th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Clayton County, GA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Fulton County and DeKalb County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Clayton County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Clayton County lost population faster than all 5 of its neighbouring counties (−0.6%, 2020–25).
Its median household income ($59,806, 2020–24) is lower than in all 5 of its neighbouring counties.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton County, GA This county | 297,471 | −0.6% | −6.8 | 2.7 | $59,806 |
| Fayette County, GA | 125,156 | +4.7% | 2.1 | 3.5 | $111,978 |
| Henry County, GA | 264,922 | +9.5% | 14.1 | 6.3 | $83,146 |
| Spalding County, GA | 70,775 | +4.9% | 5.6 | 4.5 | $62,071 |
| DeKalb County, GA | 774,394 | +1.3% | −10.6 | 1.7 | $80,644 |
| Fulton County, GA | 1,098,791 | +2.7% | −2.8 | 8.8 | $95,292 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Clayton County growing?
No. Its population fell 0.6% between 2020 and 2025, about 1,874 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Georgia as a whole changed +5.3% over the same years. That ranks 134th of 159 counties in Georgia for population growth.
How many people moved to Clayton County?
On net, none in 2025: about 2,020 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Clayton County?
It averaged 4.4% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Clayton County?
About 297,471 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Clayton County?
Private employers there had 80,953 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +12.5% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Georgia
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Georgia county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Clayton County data alerts
Email me when Clayton County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.