Which Counties Have The Best Opportunity For Economic Mobility For Children In Georgia?

Americans have long understood that their birthplace can significantly affect their futures, and academics have increasingly been able to connect tangible early life factors like where they live and the friendships they’ve cultivated with potential future income.

Among the most recent studies shedding light on what’s known as economic mobility—a person’s ability to move themselves and their families up the socioeconomic ladder over their lifetime—are a series of papers authored by Harvard University researchers leveraging vast troves of social networking data.

As part of a national analysis, Wealth Enhancement Group used data from Harvard University‘s Social Capital Atlas project to identify where in Georgia children have the best (and worst) chances at upward economic mobility.

The research draws on a privacy-protected dataset representing 21 billion friendships from Facebook made public through its parent company Meta’s Data for Good project. It also uses anonymous tax records, according to the authors. The scholars assigned a score to locales according to how economically connected low- and high-income people living in the area have historically been over at least a decade, per that data. The dataset does not include scores for about 180 of the 3,000 or so counties in the U.S.

The research attempts to fill in the gaps of previous efforts to study American economic mobility that did not consider a person’s vast social networks nor their importance in creating better lives for themselves and their children.

It turns out the ability to cultivate friendships linking people of different socioeconomic backgrounds with one another is the strongest factor in determining whether a child can surpass the earning potential of their parents, Harvard researchers found. They call this economic connectedness.

Read on to find out where economic connectedness is strongest in your state. Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#50. Heard County

– Economic connectedness: 0.66
– Median Income: $55,635
– Population: 11,440
— 86.2% white
— 9.9% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#49. Rockdale County

– Economic connectedness: 0.66
– Median Income: $64,230
– Population: 92,983
— 33.5% white
— 56.3% Black
— 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.9% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#48. Chatham County

– Economic connectedness: 0.66
– Median Income: $61,064
– Population: 294,815
— 50.6% white
— 40.4% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 2.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#47. Walker County

– Economic connectedness: 0.67
– Median Income: $48,633
– Population: 67,772
— 91.4% white
— 4% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#46. Jasper County

– Economic connectedness: 0.67
– Median Income: $52,322
– Population: 14,478
— 76% white
— 18.4% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.2% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#45. DeKalb County

– Economic connectedness: 0.67
– Median Income: $69,423
– Population: 758,634
— 32.6% white
— 52.8% Black
— 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 6.1% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#44. Bulloch County

– Economic connectedness: 0.68
– Median Income: $50,583
– Population: 79,635
— 64% white
— 27.9% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.5% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#43. Lincoln County

– Economic connectedness: 0.68
– Median Income: $44,087
– Population: 7,686
— 67.7% white
— 29% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.1% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#42. Habersham County

– Economic connectedness: 0.68
– Median Income: $56,680
– Population: 45,767
— 83.5% white
— 3.3% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 2% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#41. Glascock County

– Economic connectedness: 0.68
– Median Income: $53,125
– Population: 2,903
— 88.7% white
— 10.2% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#40. Henry County

– Economic connectedness: 0.69
– Median Income: $73,491
– Population: 236,615
— 43% white
— 46.7% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 3.3% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#39. Butts County

– Economic connectedness: 0.69
– Median Income: $53,613
– Population: 24,950
— 67% white
— 28.1% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.3% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#38. Haralson County

– Economic connectedness: 0.7
– Median Income: $57,752
– Population: 29,685
— 91.2% white
— 4.8% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.3% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#37. Rabun County

– Economic connectedness: 0.7
– Median Income: $48,652
– Population: 16,731
— 90.9% white
— 1.4% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.6% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#36. Carroll County

– Economic connectedness: 0.7
– Median Income: $62,498
– Population: 118,402
— 71.9% white
— 20% Black
— 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#35. Douglas County

– Economic connectedness: 0.71
– Median Income: $67,731
– Population: 143,520
— 42.6% white
— 48.3% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#34. Liberty County

– Economic connectedness: 0.71
– Median Income: $50,617
– Population: 64,334
— 42.2% white
— 41.4% Black
— 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.9% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#33. Dade County

– Economic connectedness: 0.71
– Median Income: $47,675
– Population: 16,313
— 94.2% white
— 1.1% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.7% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#32. Fannin County

– Economic connectedness: 0.71
– Median Income: $49,810
– Population: 25,198
— 94.2% white
— 0.3% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.5% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#31. Jones County

– Economic connectedness: 0.72
– Median Income: $61,701
– Population: 28,297
— 72% white
— 24.4% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.6% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#30. Banks County

– Economic connectedness: 0.73
– Median Income: $57,893
– Population: 18,061
— 89.5% white
— 2.6% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.3% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#29. Bartow County

– Economic connectedness: 0.73
– Median Income: $65,559
– Population: 107,868
— 80.6% white
— 10.3% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#28. Union County

– Economic connectedness: 0.73
– Median Income: $52,509
– Population: 24,183
— 94.5% white
— 0.8% Black
— 1.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.3% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#27. Pike County

– Economic connectedness: 0.74
– Median Income: $76,152
– Population: 18,754
— 87.8% white
— 8.6% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.4% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#26. Long County

– Economic connectedness: 0.74
– Median Income: $52,742
– Population: 16,398
— 59.7% white
— 23.2% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.9% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#25. Clarke County

– Economic connectedness: 0.75
– Median Income: $44,070
– Population: 128,195
— 60.6% white
— 27.8% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 3.9% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#24. Towns County

– Economic connectedness: 0.75
– Median Income: $53,084
– Population: 12,300
— 94.3% white
— 2.3% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.4% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#23. Gwinnett County

– Economic connectedness: 0.77
– Median Income: $75,853
– Population: 948,505
— 42.6% white
— 28.3% Black
— 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 12.3% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#22. Walton County

– Economic connectedness: 0.77
– Median Income: $71,692
– Population: 95,453
— 75.7% white
— 18.4% Black
— 0% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.5% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#21. Barrow County

– Economic connectedness: 0.77
– Median Income: $68,365
– Population: 82,138
— 73.6% white
— 12.5% Black
— 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 4% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#20. Fulton County

– Economic connectedness: 0.78
– Median Income: $77,635
– Population: 1,054,286
— 42.5% white
— 43.5% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 7.5% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#19. Catoosa County

– Economic connectedness: 0.78
– Median Income: $62,669
– Population: 67,579
— 90.9% white
— 2.3% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.6% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#18. Effingham County

– Economic connectedness: 0.78
– Median Income: $72,279
– Population: 63,448
— 78.6% white
— 13.6% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.7% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#17. Harris County

– Economic connectedness: 0.78
– Median Income: $82,244
– Population: 34,316
— 78.1% white
— 15.7% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.6% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#16. Cobb County

– Economic connectedness: 0.79
– Median Income: $86,013
– Population: 762,500
— 55% white
— 27.5% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 5.5% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#15. Coweta County

– Economic connectedness: 0.8
– Median Income: $83,486
– Population: 144,928
— 74.5% white
— 17.6% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 2.1% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#14. Jackson County

– Economic connectedness: 0.8
– Median Income: $73,455
– Population: 73,839
— 83.9% white
— 7.4% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.9% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#13. White County

– Economic connectedness: 0.8
– Median Income: $64,729
– Population: 27,886
— 92% white
— 1.7% Black
— 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.6% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#12. Pickens County

– Economic connectedness: 0.81
– Median Income: $71,637
– Population: 32,814
— 87.8% white
— 1.3% Black
— 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.3% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#11. Camden County

– Economic connectedness: 0.81
– Median Income: $61,636
– Population: 54,256
— 71.2% white
— 18.4% Black
— 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 2.1% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#10. Columbia County

– Economic connectedness: 0.84
– Median Income: $85,928
– Population: 154,274
— 71% white
— 16.9% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 4.1% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#9. Bryan County

– Economic connectedness: 0.85
– Median Income: $81,032
– Population: 43,278
— 73.6% white
— 14.2% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.7% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#8. Lumpkin County

– Economic connectedness: 0.88
– Median Income: $64,179
– Population: 33,188
— 93.5% white
— 1.5% Black
— 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.5% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#7. Paulding County

– Economic connectedness: 0.9
– Median Income: $80,234
– Population: 165,688
— 71.8% white
— 20.3% Black
— 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.2% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#6. Fayette County

– Economic connectedness: 0.93
– Median Income: $96,084
– Population: 117,828
— 62.9% white
— 24% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 4.7% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#5. Dawson County

– Economic connectedness: 0.93
– Median Income: $77,630
– Population: 26,202
— 93.9% white
— 0.9% Black
— 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 0.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#4. Chattahoochee County

– Economic connectedness: 0.96
– Median Income: $50,018
– Population: 9,533
— 62.9% white
— 19.5% Black
— 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 3.1% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#3. Cherokee County

– Economic connectedness: 0.97
– Median Income: $90,681
– Population: 262,155
— 83% white
— 7.3% Black
— 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 1.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#2. Oconee County

– Economic connectedness: 0.99
– Median Income: $106,165
– Population: 41,006
— 86.7% white
— 3.6% Black
— 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 3.8% Asian Which Counties Have the Best Opportunity for Economic Mobility for Children in Georgia?

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#1. Forsyth County

– Economic connectedness: 1.04
– Median Income: $120,999
– Population: 245,754
— 72.6% white
— 3.8% Black
— 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native
— 15.4% Asian

This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

This story originally appeared on Wealth Enhancement Group and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links.