These Are The 10 Fastest Growing Cities In Georgia For 2018

Is being in an area that’s growing quickly a good thing or a bad thing?

Depends on who you ask. Some want bigger, more exciting cities like Atlanta and Columbus, while others want peace and quiet like in Dacula and Camilla, thank you very much.

But today we’re going to put opinions aside and just look at the cold hard facts — over the past five years, which cities in Georgia have the grown the fastest.

After getting knee deep in the Census’s American Community Survey, we emerged with this set of cities in the Peach State that have people climbing over each other to get in.

These are the 10 fastest growing cities in Georgia for 2018 according to the most recent census data:

1. Chamblee (Photos | Homes For Sale)
2. Norcross (Photos | Homes For Sale)
3. Clarkston (Photos | Homes For Sale)
4. Port Wentworth (Photos | Homes For Sale)
5. Glennville (Homes For Sale)
6. Braselton (Photos | Homes For Sale)
7. Pooler (Photos | Homes For Sale)
8. Richmond Hill (Homes For Sale)
9. Flowery Branch (Photos | Homes For Sale)
10. Woodstock (Photos | Homes For Sale)

If you happen to be a resident of Chamblee, you’re probably not too surprised to find it on our list.

If you’re surprised–and you’re wondering why these places are kind of a big deal–keep reading. We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 places in Georgia are growing like weeds–but first, a bit about our methodology.

And if you already knew these places were happening, check out the best places to live in Georgia or the Fastest Growing States In America.

How We Measured The Fastest Growing Cities In Peach State

To figure out which cities are growing the most, we simply had to look at the growth rates for cities sine the begining of the decade, according to the American Community Survey put out by the census every year. Specifically:

• Population in 2016
• Population in 2010
• Growth rate from 2010 to 2016 (The latest available data which came out in Dec 2017)

We ranked all 126 Georgia cities with a population over 5,000 people from highest growth rate to lowest.

The city with the highest growth rate during this time was crowned the fastest growing city in the Peach State.

And for those of you who are a little rusty with their statistics, you can calculate the growth rate by the following formula:

[Population 2016 – Population 2010] / [Population 2010]

Here’s a graph of the cities in Georgia with the largest percent increase in population:

1. Chamblee

Population: 27,862
Population 2010: 9,751
Growth Rate: 185.73%
Absolute Growth: 18,111
More on Chamblee: Homes For Sale | Data
Chamblee (Sham-blee) is a city in northern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, northeast of Atlanta. The population was 9,892 at the 2010 census.

2. Norcross

Population: 16,293
Population 2010: 9,209
Growth Rate: 76.92%
Absolute Growth: 7,084
More on Norcross: Homes For Sale | Data
Norcross is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 9,116, while in 2015 the estimated population was 16,634. It is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville combined statistical area.

3. Clarkston

Population: 12,594
Population 2010: 7,555
Growth Rate: 66.7%
Absolute Growth: 5,039
More on Clarkston: Homes For Sale | Data

4. Port Wentworth

Population: 7,052
Population 2010: 4,920
Growth Rate: 43.33%
Absolute Growth: 2,132
More on Port Wentworth: Homes For Sale | Data

5. Glennville

Population: 5,137
Population 2010: 3,716
Growth Rate: 38.24%
Absolute Growth: 1,421
More on Glennville: Homes For Sale | Data

6. Braselton

Population: 8,409
Population 2010: 6,107
Growth Rate: 37.69%
Absolute Growth: 2,302
More on Braselton: Homes For Sale | Data
Braselton is a town in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, and Jackson counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, approximately 53 miles (85 km) northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 7,511, and in 2015 the estimated population was 9,476.

7. Pooler

Population: 22,131
Population 2010: 16,683
Growth Rate: 32.66%
Absolute Growth: 5,448
More on Pooler: Homes For Sale | Data
Pooler is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. According to 2010 US Census, the population was 19,140, a threefold increase over the 2000 count of 6,239. The 2013 population estimate was 21,187. Pooler is located northwest of Savannah along I-95 and Interstate 16.

8. Richmond Hill

Population: 11,501
Population 2010: 8,890
Growth Rate: 29.37%
Absolute Growth: 2,611
More on Richmond Hill: Homes For Sale | Data
Richmond Hill is a city in Bryan County, Georgia, United States. James Oglethorpe, only a year after the founding of the Georgia colony at Savannah, awarded grants of land on the Ogeechee River in 1734. Once known as St. Phillips Parish, Bryan County was established in 1793. On February 1, 1797 the Bryan County justices valued 2 acres (0.81 ha) at the Cross Roads for $24 for the purpose of establishing a permanent county seat in courthouse. Cross Roads was the intersection of the Savannah-Darien Stage Road (current US 17) and the Bryan Neck Road (current GA Hwy 144). The Cross Roads became Ways Station in 1856 when the Savannah, Albany & Gulf R.R. was built across the nearby Ogeechee River into Bryan County. Near this site a train depot was built, which came to be known as “Ways No. 1 ½” for William J. Way, the first station master and a local rice planter on lands through which the railroad passed. A settlement grew up in the section between the railroad tracks and the Crossroads just to the west. It came to be called Ways Station, a designation that lasted until 1941 when the name of the community was changed to Richmond Hill.

9. Flowery Branch

Population: 6,503
Population 2010: 5,096
Growth Rate: 27.61%
Absolute Growth: 1,407
More on Flowery Branch: Homes For Sale | Data
Flowery Branch is a city in Hall County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,679. It is part of the Gainesville, Georgia metropolitan area, and lies on the shores of Lake Lanier.

10. Woodstock

Population: 27,964
Population 2010: 22,027
Growth Rate: 26.95%
Absolute Growth: 5,937
More on Woodstock: Homes For Sale | Data
Woodstock is a city in Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. The population was 23,896 at the 2010 census. Originally a stop on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Woodstock is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2007 it was the tenth fastest-growing suburb in the United States.

Next 10 Cities

These Places Grew Up So Fast, You Know?

So there you have it, the fastest growing cities in Georgia are led by Chamblee which has been growing at a blistering pace this decade relative to other cities and towns around the state.

It’ll be interesting to see if these places can keep growing at the same rate over the next couple of years. We’ll be here to let you know!

For more Georgia reading, check out:

• These Are The 10 Richest Cities In Georgia
• 10 Safest Places In Georgia
• 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia

Detailed List Of Fastest Growing Places In Georgia

Rank	City	Pop 2016	Pop 2010	Growth	% Growth
1	Chamblee	27,862	9,751	18,111	185.7%
2	Norcross	16,293	9,209	7,084	76.9%
3	Clarkston	12,594	7,555	5,039	66.7%
4	Port Wentworth	7,052	4,920	2,132	43.3%
5	Glennville	5,137	3,716	1,421	38.2%
6	Braselton	8,409	6,107	2,302	37.7%
7	Pooler	22,131	16,683	5,448	32.7%
8	Richmond Hill	11,501	8,890	2,611	29.4%
9	Flowery Branch	6,503	5,096	1,407	27.6%
10	Woodstock	27,964	22,027	5,937	27.0%
11	Milton	36,755	29,131	7,624	26.2%
12	Grovetown	12,848	10,289	2,559	24.9%
13	Doraville	10,348	8,321	2,027	24.4%
14	Holly Springs	10,351	8,354	1,997	23.9%
15	Suwanee	18,001	14,535	3,466	23.8%
16	Dahlonega	6,196	5,062	1,134	22.4%
17	Palmetto	5,087	4,222	865	20.5%
18	Canton	25,022	20,775	4,247	20.4%
19	Hawkinsville	5,504	4,572	932	20.4%
20	Fairburn	13,860	11,542	2,318	20.1%
21	Sugar Hill	20,889	17,580	3,309	18.8%
22	Rincon	9,690	8,174	1,516	18.5%
23	Newnan	35,642	30,160	5,482	18.2%
24	Villa Rica	14,755	12,507	2,248	18.0%
25	Dallas	12,622	10,754	1,868	17.4%
26	Stockbridge	27,692	23,689	4,003	16.9%
27	Perry	15,293	13,119	2,174	16.6%
28	Jefferson	9,946	8,587	1,359	15.8%
29	Warner Robins	73,265	63,271	9,994	15.8%
30	Buford	13,927	12,032	1,895	15.7%
31	Kennesaw	32,669	28,313	4,356	15.4%
32	Gainesville	37,906	32,881	5,025	15.3%
33	Alpharetta	63,013	54,723	8,290	15.1%
34	Union City	20,560	17,883	2,677	15.0%
35	Loganville	11,072	9,638	1,434	14.9%
36	Locust Grove	5,742	5,002	740	14.8%
37	Dacula	5,053	4,416	637	14.4%
38	Mcdonough	23,086	20,182	2,904	14.4%
39	Folkston	5,210	4,565	645	14.1%
40	Johns Creek	82,930	72,685	10,245	14.1%
41	Acworth	21,824	19,336	2,488	12.9%
42	Morrow	7,069	6,281	788	12.5%
43	Sandy Springs	102,212	90,826	11,386	12.5%
44	Statesboro	30,597	27,263	3,334	12.2%
45	Centerville	7,576	6,760	816	12.1%
46	Decatur	21,210	19,062	2,148	11.3%
47	Tyrone	7,121	6,434	687	10.7%
48	Winder	15,148	13,690	1,458	10.7%
49	Hampton	7,281	6,590	691	10.5%
50	Atlanta	456,378	413,462	42,916	10.4%
51	Austell	7,056	6,396	660	10.3%
52	Douglasville	32,317	29,373	2,944	10.0%
53	Fayetteville	16,780	15,264	1,516	9.9%
54	Roswell	93,968	85,638	8,330	9.7%
55	Smyrna	54,788	50,242	4,546	9.0%
56	Duluth	28,681	26,317	2,364	9.0%
57	Lawrenceville	30,127	27,704	2,423	8.7%
58	Cumming	5,740	5,283	457	8.7%
59	Kingsland	16,411	15,111	1,300	8.6%
60	Valdosta	56,717	52,332	4,385	8.4%
61	Fort Oglethorpe	9,613	8,879	734	8.3%
62	Lovejoy	6,252	5,790	462	8.0%
63	Savannah	144,717	134,348	10,369	7.7%
64	Dunwoody	48,128	44,689	3,439	7.7%
65	Conyers	15,682	14,574	1,108	7.6%
66	Calhoun	16,139	15,040	1,099	7.3%
67	Carrollton	25,960	24,196	1,764	7.3%
68	Columbus	200,303	187,629	12,674	6.8%
69	Hapeville	6,658	6,240	418	6.7%
70	Lilburn	12,481	11,725	756	6.4%
71	Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (Balance)	120,813	113,608	7,205	6.3%
72	Snellville	19,395	18,276	1,119	6.1%
73	St. Marys	17,853	16,833	1,020	6.1%
74	Powder Springs	14,596	13,771	825	6.0%
75	Riverdale	15,812	15,042	770	5.1%
76	Lagrange	30,535	29,067	1,468	5.1%
77	Bremen	6,257	5,995	262	4.4%
78	Cartersville	20,169	19,325	844	4.4%
79	Marietta	59,714	57,244	2,470	4.3%
80	Swainsboro	7,504	7,217	287	4.0%
81	Dalton	33,653	32,373	1,280	4.0%
82	Eastman	5,315	5,124	191	3.7%
83	Hinesville	34,127	32,920	1,207	3.7%
84	Covington	13,667	13,199	468	3.5%
85	Brunswick	15,997	15,450	547	3.5%
86	College Park	14,434	13,976	458	3.3%
87	East Point	35,477	34,382	1,095	3.2%
88	Tifton	16,691	16,240	451	2.8%
89	Auburn	7,291	7,114	177	2.5%
90	Douglas	11,742	11,478	264	2.3%
91	Stone Mountain	6,102	5,992	110	1.8%
92	Thomasville	18,706	18,373	333	1.8%
93	Peachtree City	34,988	34,373	615	1.8%
94	Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government (Balance)	196,784	193,532	3,252	1.7%
95	Cairo	9,708	9,548	160	1.7%
96	Commerce	6,601	6,501	100	1.5%
97	Cusseta-Chattahoochee County Unified Government	11,882	11,702	180	1.5%
98	Moultrie	14,457	14,256	201	1.4%
99	Waynesboro	5,755	5,680	75	1.3%
100	Monroe	13,253	13,196	57	0.4%