C+

Gay, GA

Source:

Affordability Score: 64/100

Population: 1,974 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Gay, GA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,974 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C+ (64/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $68,250, median home value of $193,900, median rent of $1,422 per month, and 18.5% 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 $1,001 per month (studio $758, 1BR $763, 3BR $1,392, 4BR $1,511). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $7,436 per year, consuming 11% 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 Gay, GA include rent. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 2.3% and poverty 18.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$68,250
Median household income
Education F
18.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B
2.8x
Home value $193,900 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A-
$1,001/mo
2BR fair market rent (18% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B
$7,436/yr
Center-based infant care (11% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$68,250
▲ 10% vs national
Per Capita Income
$30,690
Unemployment Rate
2.3%
Poverty Rate
18.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$193,900
▼ 29% vs national
Median Rent
$1,422/mo
Owner Occupied
74.0%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,001/mo
▼ 17% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$758
1BR
$763
2BR
$1,001
3BR
$1,392
4BR
$1,511

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
18.5%
▼ 11 ppt vs national
High School+
43.2%
Median Age
45.7
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$7,436/yr
11% of income
Toddler (Center)
$6,916/yr
Preschool (Center)
$6,638/yr
School-Age (Center)
$3,640/yr

What This Means

Gay, GA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,974. This area performs well in rent. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Gay, GA affordable?
Gay, GA receives an overall affordability grade of C+ (64/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $68,250. Median home value is $193,900.
What is the cost of living in Gay?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,422/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,001/mo. Infant childcare $7,436/yr. Median home value $193,900.
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 →