What are the schools like in Clarkston, GA?

Clarkston is served primarily by DeKalb County. The district operates 82 elementary schools, 22 middle schools, and 23 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Clarkston?

The median household income in Clarkston, GA is $51,122 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.6%.

What is the weather like in Clarkston, GA?

Clarkston has an average high temperature of 51.9°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.5 inches.

Clarkston, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Clarkston, GA affordable or expensive?

Clarkston's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clarkston is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $212,500 and the median rent is $1,227 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Clarkston, GA?

Clarkston has a violent crime rate of 480.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2317.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clarkston, GA a Good Place to Live?

Clarkston is a small city of 14,553 in Georgia, with a median household income of $51,122 and a 8.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

Strengths: Clarkston stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clarkston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clarkston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 100.9

Clarkston's overall cost of living index is 100.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clarkston costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Clarkston, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$212,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,227	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	12.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,122	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Clarkston's violent crime rate is 480.2 per 100,000 residents — 26% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

480.2 /100k

Property Crime

2317.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Clarkston is served primarily by DeKalb County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clarkston, GA	National Avg
School District	DeKalb County	—
Elementary Schools	82	—
Middle Schools	22	—
High Schools	23	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	77.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clarkston sees average highs of 51.9°F in January and 89.4°F in July, with 55.0 inches of annual precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clarkston, GA
Average High — January	51.9°F
Average High — July	89.4°F
Annual Precipitation	55.0"
Annual Snowfall	0.5"

Demographics

Metric	Clarkston, GA	National Avg
Population	14,553	—
Median Age	27.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	8.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	69.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	17.7%	6.3%
Under 18	34.4%	22.2%
65 and over	4.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Scottdale, GA 2 mi Pine Lake, GA 3 mi North Decatur, GA 3 mi Tucker, GA 3 mi Avondale Estates, GA 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Clarkston

Clarkston, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

30021

Clarkston vs Other Cities

Clarkston, GA vs Scottdale, GA Clarkston, GA vs Pine Lake, GA Clarkston, GA vs North Decatur, GA Clarkston, GA vs Tucker, GA Clarkston, GA vs Avondale Estates, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clarkston, GA affordable or expensive?

Clarkston's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Clarkston roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $212,500 and median rent is $1,227/month.

What is the crime rate in Clarkston, GA?

Clarkston's violent crime rate is 480.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2317.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clarkston?

Public schools in Clarkston are operated by DeKalb County. The district has 82 elementary, 22 middle, and 23 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clarkston, GA a good place to live?

Clarkston, GA has a population of 14,553, a median household income of $51,122, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Clarkston?

Clarkston averages 51.9°F in January and 89.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.0 inches with about 0.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clarkston?

Clarkston, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 30021.

What is the population of Clarkston?

The population of Clarkston, Georgia is 14,553 with a median age of 27.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clarkston?

Key numbers for living in Clarkston: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $212,500, median household income $51,122, crime index 120 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clarkston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.