PlainZIP

Forest Park, GA · standard

ZIP Code 30297

Clayton County, Georgia — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

27,188
956/sq mi
$45,124
Median income
$152,900
Median home value
13.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Forest Park pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a low-density, renter-heavy area.

9th pct
household income, US ZIPs
26th pct
home value, US ZIPs
956
people per sq mi
38%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 30297 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 30297 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 28.4 square miles in Forest Park, Clayton County, Georgia. The area is home to 27,188 residents, producing a population density of 956 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 30297 against Georgia and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 30297 sits at $45,124 (36% below the Georgia average), while per-capita income is $21,685. The poverty rate stands at 22.7% and the unemployment rate at 6.1%. On housing, the median home value is $152,900 (36% below the state average) with median rent at $1,254 per month, and 38.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 30297 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 13.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31, and the average commute is 30 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Clayton County, so you can benchmark 30297 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 30297

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 30297.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 30297, Forest Park, GA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

27,188

Population

28.4

Area (sq mi)

956

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 30297?

31.0

Median Age

51.3%

Male

48.7%

Female

17.0%

Foreign-Born

White 15.6%
African American 49.7%
Asian 3.6%
American Indian or Alaska Native 2.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.8%
Hispanic or Latino 32.6%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$45,124

Median Household Income

-36% vs state

$21,685

Per Capita Income

22.7%

Poverty Rate

6.1%

Unemployment Rate

30.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 30297 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$45,124 9th percentile higher than 9% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 49.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

11,050

Total Housing Units

9,977

Occupied Units

1,073

Vacant Units

2.85

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 38.2%
Renter 61.8%

$152,900

Median Home Value

-36% vs state

$1,254

Median Rent

1967

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

-0.1%

YoY Change (2024)

230

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+130%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 30297 have decreased 0.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +130% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +14.2% 133
2021 +23.0% 163
2022 +26.3% 206
2023 +11.5% 230
2024 -0.1% 230

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 710 business establishments in ZIP 30297, employing approximately 17,249 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,054,386,000.

710

Businesses

17,249

Employees

$1.1B

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 103 14.5%
Transportation and warehousing 103 14.5%
Wholesale trade 102 14.4%
Accommodation and food services 70 9.9%
Other services (except public administration) 58 8.2%
Construction 46 6.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 46 6.5%
Health care and social assistance 43 6.1%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 28 3.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 26 3.7%
Manufacturing 25 3.5%
Finance and insurance 23 3.2%
Information 13 1.8%
Utilities 9 1.3%
Educational services 7 1.0%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 0.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 30297 vs 30354 →

ZIP 30297 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 30297 ranks #5 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 30297 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 30297 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
30354 Atlanta, GA 14,857 3.2 mi
30260 Morrow, GA 23,244 3.2 mi
30288 Conley, GA 8,929 3.9 mi
30274 Riverdale, GA 31,893 4.6 mi
30315 Atlanta, GA 33,857 6.1 mi
30337 Atlanta, GA 11,505 4.8 mi
30296 Riverdale, GA 25,840 5.4 mi
30294 Ellenwood, GA 39,865 6.4 mi
30238 Jonesboro, GA 34,713 8.4 mi
30273 Rex, GA 14,709 6.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Clayton County

30281 standard
Stockbridge, GA
Pop: 66,140
30236 standard
Jonesboro, GA
Pop: 46,434
30238 standard
Jonesboro, GA
Pop: 34,713
30274 standard
Riverdale, GA
Pop: 31,893
30296 standard
Riverdale, GA
Pop: 25,840
30260 standard
Morrow, GA
Pop: 23,244

Related Areas

Clayton County Forest Park, GA Georgia

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 30297 in? ▼
ZIP code 30297 (Forest Park) is located in Clayton County, Georgia. Clayton County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/clayton-ga.
What is the population of ZIP code 30297? ▼
ZIP code 30297 in Forest Park, GA has a population of 27,188 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 30297? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 30297 is $45,124, which is 41% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 30297? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 30297 is $152,900, which is 45% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 30297? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 30297 is African American at 49.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 32.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 30297? ▼
ZIP code 30297 has 710 business establishments employing approximately 17,249 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 30297? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 30297 are: Retail trade (103), Transportation and warehousing (103), Wholesale trade (102). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 30297? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 30297 decreased by 0.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 130%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 30297? ▼
In ZIP code 30297, 49.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 13.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 30297? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 30297 is 30.1 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 30297? ▼
In ZIP code 30297, approximately 38.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 61.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 30297? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 30297 is 22.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Forest Park, GA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.