DeKalb County, GA Local Data & Statistics

State: GA

Total population: 765,351 Household income: $80,644 Rent: $1,692

Overview

Total population

765,351

Rent

$1,692

Year built

1984

Household income

$80,644

Per capita income

$46,998

Poverty rate

13.7%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

55.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Georgia

Total population

765,351

Adults over 25

526,378

Total households

287,239

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$80,644

Per capita income

$46,998

Poverty rate

13.7%

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Rent over 30% of income

55.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,692

Year built

1984

Households that rent

41.2%

Households that own

58.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

28.9%

Black

50.8%

Asian

6.2%

Two or more races

9.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

10.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

89.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

77.4%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

22.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

24.1%

High school graduate or GED

19.6%

Some college or associate degree

8.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

47.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of DeKalb County, GA with: Atlanta Metro Area, GA Georgia United States

DeKalb County, GA

Total population765,351

Rent$1,692

Year built1984

Household income$80,644

Per capita income$46,998

Poverty rate13.7%

Unemployment rate3.6%

Atlanta Metro Area, GA

Total population6,256,377

Rent$1,672

Year built1994

Household income$89,724

Per capita income$46,309

Poverty rate11%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Georgia State

Total population10,940,407

Rent$1,393

Year built1992

Household income$77,353

Per capita income$40,924

Poverty rate13.4%

Unemployment rate3.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyDeKalb County, GA	Metro AreaAtlanta Metro Area, GA	StateGeorgia	CountryUnited States
Total population	765,351	6,256,377	10,940,407	334,922,499
Rent	$1,692	$1,672	$1,393	$1,413
Year built	1984	1994	1992	1980
Household income	$80,644	$89,724	$77,353	$80,734
Per capita income	$46,998	$46,309	$40,924	$44,673
Poverty rate	13.7%	11%	13.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.6%	3.4%	3.5%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for DeKalb County, GA

DeKalb County is located in Georgia .

Rent & Income

In DeKalb County, the monthly rent is $1,692 and household income is $80,644. Rent is higher than both Georgia and the U.S., and household income is similar to both Georgia and the U.S. The poverty rate is 13.7%, which is similar to Georgia and higher than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 41.2% of households. About 55.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 47.4% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, which is similar to Georgia and lower than the national rate.

DeKalb County, GA — Rent vs Household Income

DeKalb County, GA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in DeKalb County, GA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,692 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in DeKalb County, GA

Annual Household Income: $80,644

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in DeKalb County, GA

Estimated Rate: 13.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in DeKalb County, GA

In DeKalb County, GA, households that rent: 118,371 (41.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	118,371	41.2%
Owner-Occupied	168,868	58.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in DeKalb County, GA

In DeKalb County, GA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 65,840 (55.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	65,840	55.6%
Other renter households	52,531	44.4%
Total renter households	118,371	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in DeKalb County, GA

Less than High School: 126,615 people (24.1%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 103,357 people (19.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 46,755 people (8.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 249,651 people (47.4%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 526,378

📊 Unemployment Rate in DeKalb County, GA

Estimated Rate: 3.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.