by Kristen Carney
Updated: June 20, 2024
The richest city in Georgia is Dixie in Brooks County with an average household income of $415,498 as of 2022. While exceptionally affluent, Dixie only has a population of 170 as of 2023. The richest city in Georgia with at least 5,000 people is Milton in Fulton County with an average household income of $214,213 as of 2022 and 41,383 people as of 2023 according to the most current Census data available (citation).
Rank | City | County | Population | Average Income | Median Income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dixie | Brooks | 170 | $415,498 | $250,001 |
2 | Vernonburg | Chatham | 141 | $326,727 | $211,250 |
3 | Milton | Fulton | 41,383 | $214,213 | $142,845 |
4 | Druid Hills | DeKalb | 8,467 | $212,511 | $138,262 |
5 | Dutch Island | Chatham | 1,268 | $208,836 | $169,063 |
6 | Berkeley Lake | Gwinnett | 2,029 | $190,259 | $152,908 |
7 | Lookout Mountain | Walker | 1,671 | $189,702 | $145,625 |
8 | Alpharetta | Fulton | 67,056 | $188,051 | $141,402 |
9 | Decatur | DeKalb | 24,307 | $182,303 | $129,992 |
10 | Skidaway Island | Chatham | 9,292 | $180,870 | $119,210 |
11 | Johns Creek | Fulton | 81,108 | $177,740 | $153,882 |
12 | Woolsey | Fayette | 207 | $175,645 | $105,625 |
13 | Avondale Estates | DeKalb | 3,524 | $175,089 | $136,250 |
14 | Brookhaven | DeKalb | 57,945 | $171,389 | $114,570 |
15 | Chattahoochee Hills | Coweta; Fulton | 3,361 | $170,645 | $84,605 |
16 | Roswell | Fulton | 91,706 | $163,080 | $122,924 |
17 | Hortense | Brantley | 352 | $159,189 | $191,615 |
18 | Isle of Hope | Chatham | 2,137 | $158,310 | $96,934 |
19 | Buckhead CDP | Bryan | 4,815 | $157,731 | $134,464 |
20 | Mountain Park city | Cherokee; Fulton | 572 | $157,375 | $130,208 |
We usually suggest using median income data – either instead of or in addition to – average income data as a true indicator of wealth. If you haven’t thought about median versus average since your last standardized test, you aren’t alone. Here’s what they are:
Now let’s say you had the following simplified set of income data.
Household 1: $30,000
Household 2: $50,000
Household 3: $1,000,000
The average income for this set is $360,000. The outlier data point ($1,000,000) skews the average WAY up. Conversely, the average income would be skewed WAY down if someone had an income of $500. The median income for the same data set is $50,000. Outlier data doesn’t skew the median.
So most business owners should use the median income as a true indicator of wealth, because it provides a more accurate representation of a typical income, especially in areas with significant income disparity.
If your target market is high-income households, the average income may be more relevant. This is because the average income can highlight the presence of a higher concentration of wealthy individuals, which is beneficial for luxury goods and services marketing. We’re using average income on this page because using the Census’s highest reported median value of $250,001 could result in multiple ties for the richest geography.
The Census' American Community Survey uses $250,000+ as a jam value for median income estimates to protect privacy, ensure data consistency, and simplify reporting. A "jam value" in survey data refers to a placeholder or default value used when actual data points are unavailable, incomplete, or exceed certain thresholds. We represent this jam value as $250,001 to make it easy for you to sort.
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United States Census Bureau. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. Web. May 2024. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B01001 SEX BY AGE, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. B19013 Median Household Income, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 7 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
United States Census Bureau. “DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.” 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey Office. Web. 07 December 2023. http://www.census.gov/.
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