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:
- Chamblee (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Norcross (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Clarkston (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Port Wentworth (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Glennville (Homes For Sale)
- Braselton (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Pooler (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- Richmond Hill (Homes For Sale)
- Flowery Branch (Photos | Homes For Sale)
- 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.
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:
- 10 Most Diverse Cities In Georgia
- 10 Most Dangerous Places In Georgia
- 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Georgia