Clarkston Georgia 2013 02, 2013
Clarkston’s story
150 years in pictures
Census counts: 33 in 1880, 14,756 in 2020. The archive holds 19 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 5 maps from 1956 on.
- 1876Clarkston is settled
ClarkstonGA
Trash day: Monday2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: City of Clarkston Government · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
14,431
2025 Census estimate · −1.9% since 2020
Typical home
$261K
−2.8% in a year
Household income
$49K
median
Median age
27.2
years
Jobs based here
2,035
A commuter town
TownGrade
D−
#243 of 258 in GA
Is Clarkston a good place to live?
Clarkston earns a D−, 243rd of 258 graded towns in Georgia, mostly because of safety and health. Its police reported 68 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025, a higher rate per resident than 89% of U.S. towns. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 85% of the country. What it does well: it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 89% of U.S. towns. 34% of residents live below the poverty line in Clarkston, against 15% in Georgia’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Of the 263 Georgia towns we compare, none has a higher share of children under 18 than Clarkston. The biggest park or preserve is Friendship Forest Nature Preserve, at 28 acres.
What makes Clarkston stand out
Where Clarkston beats most towns.
A growing town
Clarkston has grown 92% since 2010
7,554 counted in 2010 and 14,756 in 2020; an estimated 14,431 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Clarkston grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Clarkston is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 11.2 of 20; 10.8% of households have no carAOpen →SafetyDOpen →HealthAthur M Blank Hospital 4.9 miles awayC−Open →SchoolsC−Open →Jobs & income$49K median household incomeC−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $261K, 2.9 years of the Atlanta metro’s $90K median household incomeC−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 40% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 5% conserved landB−Open →History4 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life4.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 89° summer afternoons, 2″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 27.2; 25% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 83 attractions →Stone Mountain and 68 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Clarkston. Close and well known come first.
Big draw5 mi MountainStone Mountain
Big draw10 mi Stadium & arenaMercedes-Benz Stadium
Big draw10 mi Stadium & arenaState Farm Arena
10 mi Zoo & aquariumGeorgia Aquarium
Big draw18 mi Theme parkSix Flags Over Georgia
14 mi Stadium & arenaTruist ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Stone Mountain: KyleAndMelissa22, Public domain · Mercedes-Benz Stadium: Atlanta Falcons, CC BY 3.0 · State Farm Arena: Hermann Luyken, CC0 · Georgia Aquarium: Diliff, CC BY 2.5 · Six Flags Over Georgia: hagerman, CC BY 2.0 · Truist Park: Thechased at English Wikipedia, CC BY 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Clarkston: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clarkston, and how to reach them.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDekalb County water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayTown’s haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Georgia you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDeKalb County Board of Registration and ElectionsDeKalb County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes30021, 3007930021 97% · 30079 3%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clarkston.
Clarkston fares better on crime within Georgia than nationally, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has homes that are cheap against local pay.
SafetyD
Clarkston’s grade for safety is a D
At 46.3 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 75% of Georgia’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 474 to 314 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Clarkston’s violent crime rate is 4.7 per 1,000 residents. Clarkston reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less. Clarkston’s property crime rate is 17.2 per 1,000 residents.
11%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Clarkston | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.7 per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 17.2 per 1,000 residents | 14.5 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Clarkston4.7
Georgia3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Clarkston17.2
Georgia14.1
U.S.15.5
11th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
25th
percentile among GA towns
68
violent crimes reported in 2025
246
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsC−
Clarkston’s public schools trail 83% of Georgia districts
Its public schools are run by the State Schools. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
17%of GA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Area School for the DeafLargest public high schoolGrades PK–12 | Grades PK–12 | 110 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within GA on state tests and graduation
HealthC−
Clarkston stands out in Georgia and nationally, with more of its adults who feel lonely
Against the 5,231 U.S. towns with household incomes like Clarkston’s, it is less healthy than 59%, so its C− isn’t only a matter of income.
45% of Clarkston adults feel lonely. Only 8 of the 261 Georgia towns we compare have a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Clarkston. 27% of Clarkston adults say their health is fair or poor.
15%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Clarkston | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 38% | 33% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 22% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 40% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 19% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
4 better10 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Clarkston | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 3.1% | 7% |
| Fewer adults with arthritis | 17.7% | 24.6% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 21.5% | 9.6% |
Decatur (Atlanta) VA Medical Center
4.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
34th
percentile among GA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C−
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Clarkston’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Clarkston for work: only 1% work in town. The average trip to work in Clarkston is 31 minutes. Jobs based in Clarkston grew to 2,035 in 2023, 454 more than in 2013.
1%work in town
| Clarkston | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 31 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $49,000 | $63,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.5% | 9.2% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Clarkston1%
Atlanta19%
Tucker6%
Sandy Springs4%
East Point3%
11 mi
median commute distance
2,035
jobs based in Clarkston
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 89% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Clarkston, expect mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons average 89°: hotter than most of the country, but cooler than 82% of Georgia places with climate records; January nights average 33.1°.
Clarkston has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. About 2 inches of snow falls in a winter.
2″snow a winter
| Clarkston | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 33°F | 33°F | 22°F |
| July high | 89°F | 90°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–55°
Spring49–73°
Summer67–88°
Fall51–73°
Nov 9
typical first frost
Mar 25
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C−
Compared with most of Georgia and the rest of the country, fewer of Clarkston’s households own their home
At 2.9 years of the Atlanta metro’s $90K median household income, the typical home (about $261K) costs less against local pay than in 75% of Georgia towns; that ratio is one input to its C− for cost of living. The typical value, about $261K, is 8% below its August 2024 peak.
18% of households own their home in Clarkston. The typical Clarkston home is worth about $261,000, down 2.8% in a year, 21% below the Georgia typical home.
$261KZillow home value
| Clarkston | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 18% | 58% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,422 a month | $1,152 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Clarkston$261K
Georgia$329K
−2.8%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in April
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Moderate risk in Clarkston, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1994, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Clarkston.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
3
paid flood claims since 1994
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
4.6%conserved
| Clarkston | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.6% | 2.2% | 4.3% |
4.6%
conserved · 54 of 1,182 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Friendship Forest Nature Preserve | 0.3 mi | 28 |
| 2. Milam Park | — | 14 |
| 3. Forty Oaks | — | 9 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Clarkston
20pages on Clarkston
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 83% of GA districts · 2 schoolsSafetyD4.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than GA on 4 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$261K typical home · down 2.8% in a yearWork & commuteC−$49K median household income · 2,035 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 40% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
27 within 15 miles of the center of Clarkston
Georgia Piedmont Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Clarkston1.7 mi$3,386 in-state tuitionColumbia Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Decatur4.2 miGeorgia Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · Atlanta9.4 mi$12,058 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Clarkston residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Georgia.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Clarkston for work
Where Clarkston’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,035jobs based in Clarkston
1%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Clarkston
4 notable people were born in Clarkston.
About Clarkston
City in Georgia, United States
Clarkston is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 14,756 as of the 2020 census, up from 7,554 in 2010. The city is noted for its ethnic diversity, and is often referred to as "the most diverse square mile in America" and "the Ellis Island of the South." In the 1990s, refugee resettlement programs identified Clarkston as a good fit for displaced persons of many backgrounds. The rental market was open, residents were moving farther out from the Atlanta urban core, and Clarkston was the last stop on a transit line into the city. At present, students attending Clarkston High School come from over 50 countries; the local mosque (Masjid al-Momineen, or Mosque of the…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,020 ft
- ZIP code
- 30021
Clarkston’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Clarkston.
ScottdaleTuckerClarkston
How the neighbors grade
| Town | GA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkston | #243 | D− | C− | D | C− | C− |
| Scottdale | #91 | C+ | C− | — | C− | A− |
| Tucker | #125 | C | D | — | C− | B+ |
Scottdale and Tucker report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Clarkston with a neighbor →
Questions about Clarkston
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clarkston, GA a good place to live?
Clarkston grades D− overall, better than 2% of U.S. towns and #243 of 258 in Georgia. It grades C− for health, D for safety and C− for schools. Safety is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Clarkston, GA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
What is Clarkston, GA known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Sung Kang and Zyen Jones.