Georgia · GEOID 13051

Chatham County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 300,879 · 137,532 housing units

Median household income

$71,097

State $79,556

Median home value

$302,700

State $310,585

Median gross rent

$1,471

State $1,398

Homeownership rate

56.8%

State 65.7%

Renter cost-burden rate

53.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

24.7%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

6.2%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

12.5%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.26

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Chatham County	Georgia
Population	300,879	10,940,407
Population density (per sq. mi.)	695.32	—
Median household income	$71,097	$79,556
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$107,300	—
Households	120,383	—
Average household size	2.40 people	—
Owner-occupied	56.8%	65.7%
Renter-occupied	43.2%	34.3%
Race	46.9% White · 38.9% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Chatham County compared with Georgia.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

37.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 34.9%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	15.5%	$55,981	$1,400	$177,361
1 earner	34.7%	$61,106	$1,528	$196,438
2 earners	40.5%	$112,892	$2,822	$389,203
3+ earners	9.3%	$133,806	$3,345	$467,052

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

120,383

Average size: 2.40 people

Households with children

26,624

22.1% of households

Per-capita income

$40,342

Poverty rate: 13.3%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

56.8% owner-occupied vs. state average 65.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 66.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 21.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

40.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,986.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $302,700.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,471.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 17,149 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 7.1% · For rent 20.7% · Seasonal 27.6% · Other 34.8%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

37.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 62.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

3.4%

4,736 units of 137,532 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.3%

5,969 units of 137,532 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$56,878

100% MHI$71,097

120% MHI$85,316

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Chatham County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$60,100	$68,700	$85,850
100% AMI	$75,110	$85,840	$107,300
120% AMI	$90,150	$103,000	$128,750

HUD FMR Area: Savannah, GA MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

53.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (27.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

24.7% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Chatham County.

Covered employment

170,835

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

10,825

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$61,834

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	22,042	$64,237	$208,092	−$94,608	$1,606
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	21,786	$29,135	$77,431	−$225,269	$728
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	19,982	$98,539	$335,776	+$33,076	$2,463
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	19,969	$41,217	$122,404	−$180,296	$1,030
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	16,074	$61,965	$199,635	−$103,065	$1,549
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	13,565	$43,197	$129,774	−$172,926	$1,080
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	10,926	$62,740	$202,520	−$100,180	$1,569
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	9,210	$79,629	$265,387	−$37,313	$1,991
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	7,786	$73,616	$243,004	−$59,696	$1,840
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	6,511	$86,351	$290,408	−$12,292	$2,159
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	6,226	$84,570	$283,779	−$18,921	$2,114
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	5,124	$47,655	$146,369	−$156,331	$1,191
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	3,034	$59,122	$189,053	−$113,647	$1,478
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	2,741	$33,663	$94,286	−$208,414	$842
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	2,665	$110,846	$381,587	+$78,887	$2,771
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,374	$64,795	$210,169	−$92,531	$1,620
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	726	$87,865	$296,044	−$6,656	$2,197
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	679	$98,646	$336,174	+$33,474	$2,466
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	290	$68,596	$224,318	−$78,382	$1,715
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	80	$44,515	$134,680	−$168,020	$1,113
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	45	$76,862	$255,087	−$47,613	$1,922

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	17,649	$27,531	$71,460	−$231,240	$688
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	12,988	$41,921	$125,025	−$177,675	$1,048
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	12,376	$109,025	$374,809	+$72,109	$2,726
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	10,926	$62,740	$202,520	−$100,180	$1,569
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	8,977	$73,446	$242,371	−$60,329	$1,836
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	8,215	$70,633	$231,900	−$70,800	$1,766
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	6,226	$84,570	$283,779	−$18,921	$2,114
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	5,393	$76,496	$253,725	−$48,975	$1,912
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	4,827	$69,933	$229,295	−$73,405	$1,748
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	4,138	$35,971	$102,877	−$199,823	$899
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	3,678	$58,668	$187,363	−$115,337	$1,467
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	3,598	$30,965	$84,243	−$218,457	$774
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	3,557	$31,877	$87,638	−$215,062	$797
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	3,488	$55,572	$175,838	−$126,862	$1,389
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	3,285	$65,290	$212,012	−$90,688	$1,632
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	3,238	$81,408	$272,009	−$30,691	$2,035
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	3,021	$72,448	$238,657	−$64,043	$1,811
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	2,862	$32,372	$89,480	−$213,220	$809
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	2,711	$75,076	$248,439	−$54,261	$1,877
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	2,681	$90,810	$307,006	+$4,306	$2,270
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	2,236	$108,182	$371,671	+$68,971	$2,705
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	2,233	$28,417	$74,758	−$227,942	$710
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	2,073	$64,139	$207,728	−$94,972	$1,603
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	2,063	$82,747	$276,993	−$25,707	$2,069
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	1,988	$42,093	$125,665	−$177,035	$1,052
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	1,914	$62,153	$200,335	−$102,365	$1,554
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	1,890	$32,162	$88,698	−$214,002	$804
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	1,859	$40,304	$119,006	−$183,694	$1,008
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,830	$31,597	$86,595	−$216,105	$790
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	1,782	$34,593	$97,747	−$204,953	$865
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,541	$53,525	$168,219	−$134,481	$1,338
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	1,526	$38,504	$112,305	−$190,395	$963
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	1,446	$42,344	$126,599	−$176,101	$1,059
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	1,347	$101,482	$346,731	+$44,031	$2,537
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	1,273	$76,236	$252,757	−$49,943	$1,906
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	1,217	$45,728	$139,196	−$163,504	$1,143
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	1,214	$38,687	$112,987	−$189,713	$967
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	1,060	$74,637	$246,805	−$55,895	$1,866
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	914	$79,161	$263,645	−$39,055	$1,979
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	896	$72,436	$238,612	−$64,088	$1,811
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	794	$109,496	$376,562	+$73,862	$2,737
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	726	$87,865	$296,044	−$6,656	$2,197
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	679	$98,646	$336,174	+$33,474	$2,466
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	627	$81,507	$272,377	−$30,323	$2,038
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	625	$84,873	$284,907	−$17,793	$2,122
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	624	$79,036	$263,179	−$39,521	$1,976
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	592	$93,194	$315,880	+$13,180	$2,330
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	577	$71,905	$236,635	−$66,065	$1,798
NAICS 487 Scenic and sightseeing transportation NAICS 487	523	$33,027	$91,918	−$210,782	$826
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	509	$37,081	$107,009	−$195,691	$927
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	441	$66,190	$215,362	−$87,338	$1,655
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	392	$74,423	$246,008	−$56,692	$1,861
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	386	$84,241	$282,554	−$20,146	$2,106
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	379	$223,177	$799,721	+$497,021	$5,579
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	342	$36,872	$106,231	−$196,469	$922
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	304	$45,618	$138,786	−$163,914	$1,140
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	290	$68,596	$224,318	−$78,382	$1,715
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	276	$34,825	$98,611	−$204,089	$871
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	258	$40,260	$118,842	−$183,858	$1,007
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	229	$58,914	$188,278	−$114,422	$1,473
NAICS 481 Air transportation NAICS 481	206	$59,430	$190,199	−$112,501	$1,486
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	183	$55,966	$177,305	−$125,395	$1,399
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	173	$79,422	$264,616	−$38,084	$1,986
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	153	$70,010	$229,581	−$73,119	$1,750
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	148	$50,394	$156,564	−$146,136	$1,260
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	139	$37,007	$106,733	−$195,967	$925
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	122	$66,446	$216,315	−$86,385	$1,661
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	118	$92,190	$312,143	+$9,443	$2,305
NAICS 483 Water transportation NAICS 483	109	$83,599	$280,164	−$22,536	$2,090
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	59	$39,252	$115,090	−$187,610	$981
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	57	$47,944	$147,444	−$155,256	$1,199
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	56	$46,605	$142,460	−$160,240	$1,165
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	49	$55,449	$175,380	−$127,320	$1,386
NAICS 335 Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing NAICS 335	42	$90,113	$304,412	+$1,712	$2,253
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	37	$82,301	$275,333	−$27,367	$2,058
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	24	$73,812	$243,734	−$58,966	$1,845
NAICS 114 Fishing, hunting and trapping NAICS 114	9	$40,358	$119,207	−$183,493	$1,009

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	5,710	330	6%	$13.50	$28,080	$73,504	$702
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	4,940	(20)	(0%)	$13.97	$29,060	$77,152	$727
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	4,470	10	0%	$14.05	$29,220	$77,747	$731
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	920	80	10%	$14.62	$30,400	$82,140	$760
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	6,820	550	9%	$16.12	$33,540	$93,828	$839
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	2,210	(160)	(7%)	$16.53	$34,390	$96,992	$860
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,710	(140)	(8%)	$18.18	$37,820	$109,759	$946
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,210	20	2%	$19.02	$39,560	$116,236	$989
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,860	130	5%	$20.42	$42,480	$127,105	$1,062
Tellers SOC 43-3071	210	(220)	(51%)	$21.09	$43,860	$132,242	$1,097
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	330	(160)	(33%)	$22.26	$46,300	$141,325	$1,158
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,080	(370)	(15%)	$23.77	$49,440	$153,013	$1,236
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	720	—	—	$24.29	$50,520	$157,033	$1,263
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	110	(120)	(52%)	$26.76	$55,650	$176,129	$1,391
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	4,410	2,060	88%	$27.92	$58,070	$185,137	$1,452
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,090	(80)	(7%)	$28.35	$58,970	$188,487	$1,474
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	380	100	36%	$28.61	$59,510	$190,497	$1,488
Electricians SOC 47-2111	650	(90)	(12%)	$28.73	$59,750	$191,390	$1,494
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,570	(40)	(2%)	—	$67,100	$218,749	$1,678
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	4,200	940	29%	$42.24	$87,860	$296,025	$2,197

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 13051 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.