DeKalb County, Georgia Income Statistics
DeKalb 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
DeKalb County Around averageWealthier than 92% of counties in Georgia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | DeKalb County | Georgia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,234 | $77,523 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,789 | $55,999 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 5.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.1% | 12.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 16.2% | 11.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in DeKalb County is about 5% higher than in Georgia. Income has been growing faster in DeKalb County (5.4%/yr) than in Georgia (5.3%/yr).
About 16% of adults in DeKalb 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 DeKalb County, Georgia grew by 56.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $81,234 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in DeKalb County
| Metric | DeKalb County | Georgia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.561 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,039 | $65,087 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $62,058 | $53,213 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 10.1% | 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 DeKalb County, it is 0.554, lower than Georgia's 0.561, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 11% more than women's income in DeKalb County, Georgia. Over a 35-year career, a 11% wage gap accumulates to roughly $244,335 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Georgia has widened from about 6% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 11% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,403 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in DeKalb County widened by 4.1 points while Georgia's narrowed by 2.7 points.
Employment
| Metric | DeKalb County | Georgia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 22.6% | 15.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 26,590 people are unemployed in DeKalb County, Georgia.
The average commute time in DeKalb County is 28 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in Georgia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in DeKalb County, Georgia has fallen from 12.5% to 6.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.9% in 2013 and fell as low as 6.4% in 2023.
DeKalb County, GA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
DeKalb County, GA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 765,300 residents against a local median of 298,922. Where DeKalb County, GA breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 19% above the local median of 4.5%/yr at 5.4%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.3%/yr on income growth, so DeKalb County, GA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. DeKalb County, GA has the 3rd highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeKalb County, GA | 765,300 | $81,234 #4/6 | 5.4%/yr #3/6 | 6.4% #5/6 | 0.554 #5/6 |
| Rockdale County, GA | 95,281 | $78,023 | 5.5%/yr | 5.9% | 0.548 |
| Fulton County, GA | 1,076,535 | $95,452 | 6.2%/yr | 5.3% | 0.543 |
| Clayton County, GA | 298,922 | $59,849 | 4.3%/yr | 7.2% | 0.544 |
| Gwinnett County, GA | 979,292 | $89,007 | 4.5%/yr | 4.2% | 0.560 |
| Henry County, GA | 249,959 | $84,927 | 3.9%/yr | 6.2% | 0.536 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, DeKalb 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 DeKalb County, Georgia.
How Rich Is DeKalb County, Georgia?
DeKalb 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 $81,234, about 5% higher than the Georgia average of $77,523.
How has median household income changed in DeKalb County, Georgia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in DeKalb County, Georgia rose 56%, from $52,021 to $81,234. Over the same years, income here kept pace with Georgia as a whole: +56% against +57%.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in DeKalb County, Georgia was $78,273, up 3% from $76,085 in 2022. The Georgia median that year was $74,682.
What was the median household income in DeKalb County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in DeKalb County, Georgia was $65,635. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $81,234.
Is it hard to find a job in DeKalb County, Georgia?
Unemployment in DeKalb County, Georgia is 6.4%, well above the Georgia rate of 5.1%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in DeKalb County, Georgia?
The Gini coefficient in DeKalb County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in DeKalb County, Georgia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in DeKalb County, Georgia has widened from about 6% to 10% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 11% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,403 since 2009.
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