Paychecks are getting bigger across Georgia, but a new study shows the boom isn’t hitting every county equally, with communities ringing the Atlanta metro area seeing the most dramatic gains.
📈 Why It Matters: The rankings from financial technology company SmartAsset offer a snapshot of where economic opportunity is growing fastest. The data reveals which communities are leading the state not just in salary growth, but in overall wealth creation.
🗺️ The Statewide Picture: Forsyth County, just north of Atlanta, took the top spot, boasting a staggering $44,003 jump in median income over the study’s period.
- Following close behind were Oconee County (#2), Greene County (#3), and Cherokee County (#4), showing strong growth in communities outside the immediate metro core.
🏙️ A Closer Look: Metro Atlanta: While Forsyth led the pack, several other core metro Atlanta counties landed in the top 10.
- Fulton County, the state’s most populous, ranked ninth with a median income growth of $29,625.
- Cobb County was right behind it at number 10, with an income bump of $29,587.
🔢 Key Term: Median– The Median is a way to find the middle number in a group of numbers. To find the median, you first put all the numbers in order from smallest to largest. If there is an odd number of numbers, the median is the one in the middle. If there is an even number of numbers, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. For example, in the list 3, 5, 7, the median is 5. In the list 2, 4, 6, 8, the median is (4 + 6) / 2, which equals 5.
🧐 Between the Lines: SmartAsset’s index also factored in growth in home values and investment income, painting a broader picture of where wealth is accumulating. For example, while Fulton’s median income growth was lower than the top counties, its investment income growth was a massive $26,086, dwarfing nearly every other county on the list.
The Numbers:
| Rank | County, State | Median Home Value Raw Growth | Median Income Raw Growth | Investment Income Raw Growth | Median Income Growth Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forsyth County, Georgia | $339,341 | $44,003 | $1,587 | 79.95 |
| 2 | Oconee County, Georgia | $266,667 | $41,164 | $470 | 76.38 |
| 3 | Greene County, Georgia | $284,409 | $36,137 | $426 | 70.05 |
| 4 | Cherokee County, Georgia | $262,715 | $33,453 | $1,451 | 66.67 |
| 5 | Pike County, Georgia | $207,239 | $31,881 | $33 | 64.69 |
| 6 | Morgan County, Georgia | $239,718 | $31,778 | $76 | 64.57 |
| 7 | Gilmer County, Georgia | $254,286 | $30,753 | $92 | 63.28 |
| 8 | Dawson County, Georgia | $258,855 | $30,059 | $156 | 62.4 |
| 9 | Fulton County, Georgia | $231,783 | $29,625 | $26,086 | 61.86 |
| 10 | Cobb County, Georgia | $237,242 | $29,587 | $4,199 | 61.81 |
| $121,095 | $16,965 | $344 | 34.42 |
The Sources: A study by financial technology company SmartAsset.
How to Read and Understand The News
When reading news, remember:
- Truth doesn’t change because we dislike it
- Facts remain facts even when they make us uncomfortable
- Events happen whether we accept them or not
- Good reporting often challenges us
- The news isn’t choosing a position — it is relaying what official, verified sources have said.
- Blaming the press for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Before dismissing news that bothers you, ask:
- What evidence supports this story?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I “shooting the messenger” because I don’t like what is happening?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not just comfort.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
