Cherokee County, Georgia Income Statistics
Cherokee County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Cherokee County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in Georgia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Cherokee County | Georgia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $108,494 | $77,523 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $69,103 | $55,999 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 17.8% | 12.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 18.5% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Cherokee County is about 40% higher than in Georgia. Income has been growing slower in Cherokee County (5.1%/yr) than in Georgia (5.3%/yr).
About 18% of adults in Cherokee County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Georgia average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Cherokee County, Georgia grew by 61.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $108,494 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Cherokee County
| Metric | Cherokee County | Georgia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.536 | 0.561 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $81,619 | $65,087 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $62,817 | $53,213 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.0% | 18.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Cherokee County, it is 0.536, lower than Georgia's 0.561, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Cherokee County, Georgia. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $658,070 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, Georgia has narrowed from about 24% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2014, and was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,837 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Cherokee County | Georgia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 21.9% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 5,001 people are unemployed in Cherokee County, Georgia.
The average commute time in Cherokee County is 30 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Georgia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Cherokee County, Georgia has fallen from 7.3% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.2% in 2023.
Cherokee County, GA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Cherokee County, GA is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 281,282 residents against a local median of 113,109. Where Cherokee County, GA breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 15% above the local median of $94,203 at $108,494. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $61,771 on median household income, so Cherokee County, GA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Cherokee County, GA has the 2nd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County, GA | 281,282 | $108,494 #2/6 | 5.1%/yr #5/6 | 3.2% #2/6 | 0.536 #4/6 |
| Pickens County, GA | 34,951 | $82,532 | 4.7%/yr | 3.0% | 0.534 |
| Cobb County, GA | 775,296 | $103,227 | 5.2%/yr | 4.5% | 0.535 |
| Forsyth County, GA | 267,252 | $144,303 | 5.6%/yr | 3.5% | 0.539 |
| Bartow County, GA | 113,109 | $82,781 | 6.4%/yr | 4.7% | 0.537 |
| Dawson County, GA | 30,242 | $94,203 | 6.0%/yr | 3.5% | 0.532 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Cherokee County, Georgia has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Georgia, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Cherokee County, Georgia.
How Rich Is Cherokee County, Georgia?
Cherokee County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $108,494, about 40% higher than the Georgia average of $77,523.
How fast is household income rising in Cherokee County, Georgia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Cherokee County, Georgia rose 62%, from $67,111 to $108,494. Over the same years, income here outpaced Georgia as a whole: +62% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Cherokee County, Georgia was $105,606, up 5% from $101,026 in 2022. The Georgia median that year was $74,682.
What was the median household income in Cherokee County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Cherokee County, Georgia was $85,450. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $108,494.
How many people earn six figures in Cherokee County, Georgia?
Yes. 18% of adults in Cherokee County, Georgia earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 6), against 12% (about 1 in 8) in Georgia. 18% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 12% in Georgia.
How strong is the job market in Cherokee County, Georgia?
Unemployment in Cherokee County, Georgia is only 3.2%, well below the Georgia rate of 5.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Cherokee County, Georgia?
The Gini coefficient in Cherokee County is 0.536. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Cherokee County, Georgia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Cherokee County, Georgia has narrowed from about 24% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2014, and was narrowest at 19% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,837 since 2009.
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