Clarke County, Georgia Demographics 2026
Clarke County, Georgia has a population of 129,609, the 19th most populous county in Georgia. The median household income is $53,625 and the median home value is $298,900. The poverty rate is 26.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Clarke County Quick Facts
How Clarke 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 | 129,267 | 129,609 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $52,267 | $53,625 | +2.6% |
| Median home value | $271,900 | $298,900 | +9.9% |
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
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Clarke County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens-Clarke County | 127,345 | $52,974 | 26.5% | $299,200 |
| Winterville | 2,223 | $110,804 | 3.2% | $297,000 |
| Bogart | 1,403 | $90,292 | 7.9% | $273,500 |
Explore Georgia Rankings
Population Overview
Clarke County is located in Georgia with a total population of 129,609. It is the 19th most populous county out of 159 in Georgia. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Clarke County is 29.6 years. This is 21% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Clarke County is $53,625. This is 31% lower than the state median of $77,353. It is also 34% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.1%. This is 95% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $298,900. Housing costs are 1% lower than the state median of $303,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.6x. 41.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% lower than the state average of 65.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Clarke County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 54.1% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.6%.
Education
47.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Clarke County in the top 10% of all counties in the state for educational attainment. This is 36% 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 89.7%. Notably, 24.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Clarke 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 Clarke County, Georgia?
Clarke County has a population of 129,609, making it the 19th most populous county in Georgia.
What is the median income in Clarke County?
The median household income in Clarke County is $53,625 with a poverty rate of 26.1%.
How many cities are in Clarke County, Georgia?
Clarke County contains 3 Census-designated places.