Cherokee County, Georgia Demographics 2026
Cherokee County, Georgia has a population of 281,032, the 7th most populous county in Georgia. The median household income is $108,115 and the median home value is $435,100. The poverty rate is 7.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Cherokee County Quick Facts
How Cherokee County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 274,539 | 281,032 | +2.4% |
| Median household income | $105,442 | $108,115 | +2.5% |
| Median home value | $389,800 | $435,100 | +11.6% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Cherokee County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | 37,381 | $103,496 | 6.6% | $436,500 |
| Canton | 35,741 | $80,091 | 12.8% | $407,800 |
| Holly Springs | 18,627 | $113,992 | 3.9% | $448,400 |
| Ball Ground | 2,856 | $117,829 | 1.8% | $366,300 |
| Nelson | 1,166 | $89,375 | 7.9% | $255,000 |
| Waleska | 808 | $56,250 | 6.5% | $483,300 |
Explore Georgia Rankings
Population Overview
Cherokee County is located in Georgia with a total population of 281,032. It is the 7th most populous county out of 159 in Georgia. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cherokee County is 40.2 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cherokee County is $108,115. This is 40% higher than the state median of $77,353. It is also 34% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.0%. This is 48% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 37% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $435,100. Housing costs are 43% higher than the state median of $303,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.0x. 77.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 65.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Cherokee County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 73.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (73.9% vs 49.1%). The Black or African American population (7.0%) is well below the state average of 30.7%.
Education
41.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Cherokee County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 34.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Cherokee County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Georgia and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cherokee County, Georgia?
Cherokee County has a population of 281,032, making it the 7th most populous county in Georgia.
What is the median income in Cherokee County?
The median household income in Cherokee County is $108,115 with a poverty rate of 7.0%.
How many cities are in Cherokee County, Georgia?
Cherokee County contains 6 Census-designated places.