A-

Fortson, GA

Source:

Affordability Score: 81/100

Population: 6,679 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Fortson, GA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 6,679 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of A- (81/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $109,294, median home value of $291,700, median rent of $1,520 per month, and 43.2% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,088 per month (studio $895, 1BR $939, 3BR $1,445, 4BR $1,703). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $7,436 per year, consuming 7% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Fortson, GA include income, education, housing, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 2.7% and poverty 9.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A-
$109,294
Median household income
Education B+
43.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B+
2.7x
Home value $291,700 vs income
Commute B-
22 min
Average commute time
Rent A+
$1,088/mo
2BR fair market rent (12% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare A-
$7,436/yr
Center-based infant care (7% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$109,294
▲ 76% vs national
Per Capita Income
$49,416
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Poverty Rate
9.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$291,700
▲ 6% vs national
Median Rent
$1,520/mo
Owner Occupied
95.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,088/mo
▼ 9% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$895
1BR
$939
2BR
$1,088
3BR
$1,445
4BR
$1,703

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
43.2%
▲ 13 ppt vs national
High School+
64.0%
Median Age
38.9
Avg. Commute
22 min
▼ 4 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$7,436/yr
7% of income
Toddler (Center)
$6,916/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,638/yr
School-Age (Center)
$3,640/yr

What This Means

Fortson, GA receives an overall affordability grade of A- (81/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 6,679. This area performs well in income and education and housing and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Fortson, GA affordable?
Fortson, GA receives an overall affordability grade of A- (81/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $109,294. Median home value is $291,700.
What is the cost of living in Fortson?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,520/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,088/mo. Infant childcare $7,436/yr. Median home value $291,700.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →