These Are The 10 Poorest Cities In Georgia


We used science and data to determine which places in Georgia are basically dead broke.

Sam Sparkes, RoadSnacks
January 29, 2016 - 2,846 views
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Georgia brings to mind images of the beautiful landscapes and some of the best people in the country.

However, like all states, Georgia has certain places that are going on hard times. These places have an above average percent of people that are living in poverty, out of work, or not making as much as they should be.

With all the talk about income inequality going on around the country, we thought it prudent to take a look at the places in each state that are struggling to make it even as the economy continues to improve. So we set our sights on bringing attention to the places in Georgia that could use a helping hand.

After analyzing Census data from the 2010-2014 American Community Survey for the 280 places in Georgia with more than 2,000 people, we were left with this set of the ten poorest places in the Peach State:

  1. Quitman
  2. Fort Valley
  3. Richland
  4. Dawson
  5. Forsyth
  6. Cordele
  7. Cuthbert
  8. Rossville
  9. Cochran
  10. Pelham

To be clear, this isn’t a commentary on the people that live there or the vibrant culture and traditions of these places. Instead, it’s just a look at the facts and status of the economy.

For more on how we calculated the top ten, read on or skip to the end for the full list. Oh, and the richest place in Georgia? That would be Skidaway Island.

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How We Determined The Poorest Places In Georgia

The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they think about determining the poorest places is simply the poverty rate. That is, the number of people living below a federally established level of income for a household of certain size.

However, we don’t think that one statistic wholly encompasses what it means to be one of the “poorest places”. So we looked at this set of criteria from the 2010-2014 American Community Survey:

  • Poverty Level
  • Median Household Income (Lower is poorer)
  • Unemployment Rate (Higher is poorer)

Median household income is more a digestible way to understand how poor a place really is. While the unemployment rate tries to capture the prospects for improvement in the city or town. If more people are employed, the brighter the future looks and vice versa.

After we collected the data for all 280 places with more than 2,000 people in Georgia, we ranked each place from 1 to 280 for each of the criteria with 1 being the most poor.

We then averaged all the rankings for a place into a “poor score” with the place having the lowest overall poor score, Quitman, being named the “Poorest Place In Georgia”.

You can learn more about the top ten below or skip to the end to see the rankings for all 280 places.

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1. Quitman

Quitman, Georgia

Source: wikipedia

Population: 3,808
Poverty Level: 39.2%
Unemployment Rate: 31.2%

2. Fort Valley

Fort Valley, Georgia

Source: Google Maps

Population: 9,448
Poverty Level: 42.9%
Unemployment Rate: 21.4%

3. Richland

Richland, Georgia

Source: wikipedia

Population: 2,089
Poverty Level: 37.4%
Unemployment Rate: 21.8%

4. Dawson

Dawson, Georgia

Source: flickr

Population: 4,447
Poverty Level: 41.7%
Unemployment Rate: 25.7%

5. Forsyth

Forsyth, Georgia

Source: wikipedia

Population: 3,964
Poverty Level: 39.1%
Unemployment Rate: 26.2%

6. Cordele

Cordele, Georgia

Source: Google Maps

Population: 11,177
Poverty Level: 41.6%
Unemployment Rate: 20.3%

7. Cuthbert

Cuthbert, Georgia

Source: wikipedia

Population: 3,731
Poverty Level: 35.0%
Unemployment Rate: 22.7%

8. Rossville

Rossville, Georgia

Source: flickr

Population: 4,066
Poverty Level: 41.7%
Unemployment Rate: 24.0%

9. Cochran

Cochran, Georgia

Source: flickr

Population: 4,917
Poverty Level: 43.9%
Unemployment Rate: 15.5%

10. Pelham

Pelham, Georgia

Source: wikipedia

Population: 3,887
Poverty Level: 34.6%
Unemployment Rate: 18.4%

There You Have It – The Poorest Places In Georgia

Like we said earlier, when we set out to identify the poorest places in Georgia we weren’t trying to comment on the quality of the people in the area, only the statistics. But when you look at the data, the cities and places mentioned above meet the criteria for being on he bottom of the income ladder.

If you’re curious enough, here are the richest cities in GA, according to data:

Richest: Skidaway Island
2nd Richest: Isle Of Hope
3rd Richest: Grayson
For more Georgia reading , check out:

Detailed List Of Poorest Places In Georgia

30.5%

City Rank Population Poverty Level Unemployment Rate
Quitman 1 3,808 39.2% 31.2%
Fort Valley 2 9,448 42.9% 21.4%
Richland 3 2,089 37.4% 21.8%
Dawson 4 4,447 41.7% 25.7%
Forsyth 5 3,964 39.1% 26.2%
Cordele 6 11,177 41.6% 20.3%
Cuthbert 7 3,731 35.0% 22.7%
Rossville 8 4,066 41.7% 24.0%
Cochran 9 4,917 43.9% 15.5%
Pelham 10 3,887 34.6% 18.4%
Twin City 11 2,051 48.3% 15.6%
Nicholls 12 3,303 32.7% 18.9%
Wadley 13 2,013 28.2% 21.4%
Nashville 14 4,918 30.3% 23.7%
Americus 15 16,557 33.2% 19.9%
Ashburn 16 3,935 29.4% 19.6%
Lakeland 17 3,385 36.2% 15.1%
Reidsville 18 2,618 41.1% 12.5%
Experiment 19 2,241 37.5% 13.6%
West Point 20 3,402 34.5% 26.9%
Albany 21 76,946 32.8% 19.4%
Summerville 22 4,442 30.4% 15.5%
Statesboro 23 29,630 57.9% 11.3%
Swainsboro 24 7,431 35.2% 16.8%
Brunswick 25 15,648 33.8% 16.2%
Cedartown 26 9,760 31.4% 17.2%
Cairo 27 9,750 30.1% 16.9%
Sparks 28 2,128 33.1% 17.2%
College Park 29 14,019 31.8% 16.0%
Louisville 30 2,705 34.0% 13.8%
Homerville 31 2,573 44.6% 10.1%
Fair Oaks 32 8,533 32.3% 17.3%
Donalsonville 33 2,720 37.3% 14.8%
Conley 34 5,679 29.2% 26.3%
Montezuma 35 3,338 25.0% 24.7%
Fitzgerald 36 9,054 40.1% 12.4%
Ellaville 37 2,099 31.9% 15.5%
Milledgeville 38 18,840 49.6% 10.7%
East Dublin 39 2,549 34.3% 12.0%
Thomaston 40 9,068 29.8% 16.4%
Ocilla 41 3,462 26.7% 20.1%
Sparta 42 2,103 27.4% 16.1%
Dock Junction 43 7,261 30.0% 19.8%
Buena Vista 44 2,347 24.5% 18.7%
Wrens 45 2,587 28.6% 15.6%
Clarkston 46 7,717 38.8% 17.1%
Thomson 47 6,682 31.9% 12.3%
Elberton 48 4,494 28.1% 15.8%
Manchester 49 4,190 27.2% 18.1%
Forest Park 50 18,783 32.0% 17.1%
Barnesville 51 6,617 27.6% 22.8%
Thomasville 52 18,558 34.0% 15.7%
Valdosta 53 56,324 34.1% 14.9%
Panthersville 54 9,474 26.3% 27.6%
Hardwick 55 3,828 46.3% 8.8%
Griffin 56 23,425 14.8%
Sandersville 57 5,839 39.1% 11.4%
Abbeville 58 2,874 32.4% 10.0%
Monticello 59 2,619 29.0% 18.4%
Scottdale 60 9,847 32.8% 16.4%
Bainbridge 61 12,600 32.5% 11.2%
Moultrie 62 14,467 36.0% 9.1%
Hogansville 63 3,063 37.9% 10.6%
Candler-McAfee 64 22,345 24.6% 21.9%
Georgetown-Quitman County unified government 65 2,407 25.2% 16.6%
Sylvania 66 2,565 30.4% 10.7%
Camilla 67 5,078 28.9% 12.6%
Carrollton 68 25,138 29.8% 15.4%
Royston 69 2,578 30.6% 9.4%
Waycross 70 14,363 31.4% 10.8%
Fort Stewart 71 5,325 20.2% 31.3%
Darien 72 3,465 28.4% 13.6%
Lyons 73 4,395 32.8% 8.4%
Vienna 74 3,880 36.7% 9.7%
Chatsworth 75 4,285 23.9% 15.4%
Claxton 76 2,096 31.7% 12.1%
Greensboro 77 3,389 39.6% 7.7%
Monroe 78 13,427 28.6% 14.5%
Sylvester 79 6,180 24.0% 14.8%
Metter 80 4,137 30.3% 8.7%
Riverdale 81 15,496 25.5% 17.3%
Tifton 82 16,589 37.2% 9.7%
Toccoa 83 8,327 26.2% 15.4%
Unadilla 84 3,716 18.2% 14.2%
Colquitt 85 2,509 31.4% 10.2%
Waynesboro 86 5,820 36.0% 8.0%
Blakely 87 4,882 29.6% 12.5%
LaGrange 88 30,138 26.7% 14.7%
Lakeview Estates 89 2,427 32.1% 7.6%
Belvedere Park 90 16,446 23.5% 21.5%
Rome 91 36,099 27.8% 13.9%
Hampton 92 7,092 28.8% 18.9%
Jonesboro 93 4,661 23.4% 17.4%
Lithia Springs 94 16,384 25.4% 17.2%
Davisboro 95 2,022 37.2% 12.6%
Athens-Clarke County unified government (balance) 96 118,514 39.2% 9.8%
East Point 97 35,070 22.8% 19.5%
Union City 98 20,200 23.0% 14.6%
Hapeville 99 6,611 28.2% 14.3%
Washington 100 4,031 26.3% 10.6%
Jesup 101 10,275 33.0% 9.5%
LaFayette 102 7,105 21.2% 13.8%
Vidalia 103 10,596 22.2% 13.3%
Dublin 104 16,200 30.9% 8.5%
Blackshear 105 3,485 26.1% 11.5%
Helena 106 2,940 28.1% 7.9%
Soperton 107 3,082 30.7% 9.0%
Eatonton 108 6,489 26.7% 8.7%
Rockmart 109 4,174 17.9% 20.5%
Walthourville 110 4,142 24.6% 16.1%
Fairview 111 7,381 22.1% 13.8%
Gresham Park 112 7,947 22.9% 15.1%
Hazlehurst 113 4,225 21.3% 11.3%
Ludowici 114 2,563 15.9% 25.8%
Wrightsville 115 3,717 23.2% 12.9%
Adel 116 5,294 31.3% 8.7%
Lake City 117 2,631 14.2% 22.3%
Cornelia 118 4,187 30.1% 9.3%
Jackson 119 4,959 20.0% 14.3%
Folkston 120 5,233 20.3% 20.3%
Savannah 121 141,298 24.3% 12.7%
Tallapoosa 122 3,140 20.5% 14.1%
Pembroke 123 2,895 29.6% 10.4%
Lindale 124 4,266 20.4% 12.9%
Dalton 125 33,336 24.3% 11.9%
Country Club Estates 126 9,091 20.1% 13.3%
Garden City 127 8,924 27.3% 7.1%
Stone Mountain 128 5,924 18.4% 14.6%
Eastman 129 5,442 18.6% 11.0%
Millen 130 3,042 24.9% 8.2%
Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance) 131 196,551 22.5% 13.0%
Conyers 132 15,456 20.5% 14.3%
Commerce 133 6,535 26.1% 11.3%
Covington 134 13,342 22.0% 10.8%
Cumming 135 5,538 21.3% 14.9%
Mount Vernon 136 2,207 27.1% 5.9%
Morgan 137 2,401 50.9% 0.8%
Hannahs Mill 138 3,975 21.2% 11.9%
Palmetto 139 4,893 18.4% 14.8%
Lakeview 140 5,603 16.4% 13.7%
Alma 141 3,514 29.8% 6.6%
Webster County unified government 142 2,744 23.6% 8.3%
Hawkinsville 143 5,588 10.0% 16.3%
Austell 144 6,944 18.1% 15.4%
Gumlog 145 2,297 22.7% 12.7%
Oxford 146 2,273 17.4% 14.3%
Lovejoy 147 6,433 10.5% 16.7%
Alamo 148 4,701 20.5% 5.0%
Baldwin 149 3,373 22.5% 8.7%
Adairsville 150 4,692 17.4% 15.1%
Norcross 151 15,799 24.9% 9.9%
Redan 152 33,603 14.6% 17.1%
Perry 153 14,714 20.7% 14.5%
Douglas 154 11,738 22.3% 7.9%
Atlanta 155 440,641 22.5% 12.9%
Irondale 156 7,927 20.8% 12.6%
Lawrenceville 157 29,364 17.4% 13.7%
Winder 158 14,495 18.2% 13.7%
Dallas 159 12,129 21.5% 13.3%
Gainesville 160 34,938 23.5% 9.5%
Hartwell 161 4,499 29.1% 5.2%
Reed Creek 162 3,297 20.7% 12.0%
Fairburn 163 13,520 14.0% 14.0%
Cusseta-Chattahoochee County unified government 164 11,846 10.5% 18.1%
Columbus 165 198,247 17.7% 11.3%
Marietta 166 58,436 20.1% 10.5%
Dawsonville 167 2,671 16.9% 11.5%
McDonough 168 22,560 16.9%

12.6%
Putney 169 2,716 9.7% 18.4%
Calhoun 170 15,837 22.7% 6.3%
Warner Robins 171 71,359 19.4% 11.1%
McRae 172 5,762 20.3% 1.5%
Hinesville 173 34,253 13.7% 13.0%
Statham 174 2,544 12.8% 13.2%
Villa Rica 175 14,266 15.3% 13.6%
Powder Springs 176 14,271 18.0% 13.3%
Baxley 177 4,419 24.5% 5.6%
Fort Oglethorpe 178 9,368 15.2% 10.4%
Trion 179 2,124 22.8% 6.0%
Temple 180 4,244 8.4% 12.3%
Bremen 181 6,204 22.1% 10.2%
Doraville 182 10,513 18.7% 8.4%
Oakwood 183 4,089 10.8% 10.1%
Grantville 184 3,105 15.2% 9.9%
Douglasville 185 31,573 15.7% 11.2%
Cleveland 186 3,624 17.9% 4.5%
Dahlonega 187 5,884 19.1% 4.6%
Buford 188 12,864 18.1% 8.9%
Stockbridge 189 26,992 11.2% 14.3%
Gordon 190 2,133 16.2% 5.4%
Grovetown 191 12,179 15.8% 11.5%
Indian Springs 192 2,529 10.4% 15.0%
Dacula 193 4,664 16.3% 9.3%
Bonanza 194 3,483 12.1% 11.6%
Chickamauga 195 3,125 13.5% 10.3%
Guyton 196 2,308 20.0% 9.8%
Ringgold 197 3,647 18.0% 3.5%
Newnan 198 34,457 19.6% 8.5%
Lilburn 199 12,162 14.4% 10.4%
St. Marys 200 17,555 11.3% 12.3%
Locust Grove 201 5,573 9.2% 13.3%
Morrow 202 6,837 14.3% 10.0%
Chamblee 203 15,835 20.1% 8.1%
Maysville 204 2,079 18.8% 3.2%
Snellville 205 18,939 9.8% 13.2%
Canton 206 23,841 14.7% 9.7%
Madison 207 3,983 16.0% 10.0%
Hephzibah 208 4,026 7.5% 13.2%
Mableton 209 40,521 14.2% 10.5%
Tyrone 210 7,028 15.0% 11.6%
Tybee Island 211 3,049 17.1% 8.8%
Lula 212 2,771 19.6% 6.0%
North Decatur 213 17,023 17.2% 8.8%
Chattanooga Valley 214 3,848 14.6% 7.7%
Raoul 215 2,733 9.3% 1.7%
Auburn 216 7,388 17.6% 7.9%
Glennville 217 5,166 18.5% 4.5%
Harlem 218 2,795 17.9% 5.4%
Montgomery 219 4,560 19.4% 6.1%
Tucker 220 28,343 14.0% 10.0%
Jasper 221 3,691 6.3% 9.4%
North Druid Hills 222 17,996 17.4% 6.5%
Cartersville 223 19,858 12.9% 7.7%
Georgetown 224 12,235 17.5% 5.3%
Hiram 225 3,628< /td>

5.4% 11.3%
Duluth 226 27,821 13.9% 8.5%
Thunderbolt 227 2,576 13.0% 4.0%
Senoia 228 3,627 13.3% 9.1%
Sugar Hill 229 19,688 10.1% 10.7%
Acworth 230 21,169 7.4% 9.7%
Kennesaw 231 31,358 11.3% 9.4%
Leesburg 232 2,936 15.8% 6.8%
Jefferson 233 9,630 13.0% 7.8%
Port Wentworth 234 6,189 13.1% 6.8%
Kingsland 235 16,147 10.7% 8.8%
Hahira 236 2,804 11.3% 4.6%
Social Circle 237 4,270 8.2% 7.1%
Loganville 238 10,711 9.1% 8.9%
Midway 239 2,141 6.9% 9.0%
Peachtree Corners 240 39,381 10.7% 8.3%
Springfield 241 2,818 11.8% 5.3%
Chattahoochee Hills 242 2,511 13.4% 6.5%
Smyrna 243 52,922 11.3% 7.7%
Bloomingdale 244 2,724 12.1% 4.4%
Whitemarsh Island 245 7,139 13.9% 5.6%
Sandy Springs 246 98,480 12.2% 7.3%
Mountain Park 247 12,510 10.1% 8.7%
Flowery Branch 248 6,012 11.5% 7.2%
Decatur 249 19,888 12.6% 7.4%
Watkinsville 250 2,881 8.3% 8.4%
Martinez 251 36,190 9.8% 7.9%
Byron 252 4,725 7.1% 6.2%
Gray 253 3,276 9.0% 4.5%
Fayetteville 254 16,323 8.5% 7.9%
St. Simons 255 12,807 7.1% 7.7%
Brookhaven 256 50,181 13.4% 4.5%
Centerville 257 7,468 8.5% 6.5%
Richmond Hill 258 10,334 8.6% 7.2%
Dunwoody 259 47,182 9.2% 7.4%
Vinings 260 10,221 9.5% 5.7%
Braselton 261 8,212 6.1% 8.8%
Euharlee 262 4,172 10.0% 5.8%
Heron Bay 263 3,435 2.9% 8.6%
Druid Hills 264 14,439 12.3% 5.1%
Woodstock 265 25,672 5.9% 7.7%
Holly Springs 266 9,678 8.7% 5.9%
Roswell 267 92,364 7.6% 6.8%
Peachtree City 268 34,701 6.8% 7.3%
Rincon 269 9,273 6.4% 5.4%
Johns Creek 270 80,979 4.4% 7.3%
Avondale Estates 271 2,777 6.1% 5.9%
Suwanee 272 16,648 5.0% 5.7%
Evans 273 32,591 3.3% 6.0%
Alpharetta 274 60,903 4.3% 5.8%
Wilmington Island 275 15,338 6.0% 4.6%
Pooler 276 20,646 6.0% 3.8%
Milton 277 34,874 4.2% 4.4%
Grayson 278 2,665 5.5% 3.5%
Isle of Hope 279 2,355 2.8% 3.1%
Skidaway Island 280 7,798 2.5% 1.1%

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