College Park, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
College Park · Clayton County, Georgia
Population 13,969 (est. 2026: ~16,600)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + 5.32% annual growth projection

College Park, Georgia

Clayton County, Georgia · Population 13,930

College Park sits directly south of Atlanta's city limits, wrapped around the western and southern perimeters of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — the busiest passenger airport in the world. That geography defines almost everything about this place. The roar of jet engines is ambient. The workforce skews toward logistics, transportation, and hospitality. The city is small in population but enormous in throughput, straddling Clayton and Fulton counties with its commercial spine running along Virginia Avenue and Old National Highway. For people who work at or near the airport, live affordably close to Atlanta, and want access to a dense transit network, College Park is a practical, unpretentious choice.

People & Demographics

College Park's total population measured at 14,113, with a median age of 32.2 — noticeably younger than the Georgia state median. The city is predominantly Black, with 11,607 residents identifying as Black or African American out of 14,113 total — roughly 82 percent of the population. White residents number 1,414, Asian residents 206, and 542 residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. The city sits within Clayton County, which itself is one of Georgia's most diverse counties with 297,595 residents.

There are 6,016 occupied households, of which 3,174 are family households. Average household size is 2.34. Children under 18 make up 3,732 of the population — a meaningful share that shapes demand on schools and family services.

Economy & Employment

Median household income in College Park is $47,706 — well below Georgia's statewide median, which typically runs near $65,000. Per capita income stands at $32,004. Of 7,839 residents in the labor force, 1,017 are unemployed, putting the local unemployment rate at roughly 13 percent — elevated compared to county and state averages. An estimated 2,547 residents fall below the federal poverty line.

The airport economy dominates. Delta Air Lines maintains its global headquarters in College Park, and the broader Hartsfield-Jackson complex employs tens of thousands in cargo handling, ground services, airline operations, and hospitality. Old National Highway and Virginia Avenue host a mix of hotels, warehouses, and commercial services directly tied to airport traffic.

Housing

College Park has 7,354 total housing units, of which 6,016 are occupied and 1,338 sit vacant — a vacancy rate near 18 percent, which is high and reflects both transient airport-area demand patterns and some pockets of disinvestment. The tenure split is sharply renter-heavy: 4,580 renter-occupied units against only 1,436 owner-occupied, meaning roughly 76 percent of households rent. Median home value is $286,900. Median gross rent is $1,047 per month.

For buyers, the $286,900 median is relatively accessible compared to the broader Atlanta metro, though the owner-occupied base is thin. For renters, $1,047 represents a reasonable floor by metro standards, though income constraints make housing cost burden a real concern at the $47,706 household income level.

Schools

College Park is served by Clayton County Public Schools. High schools include Banneker High School (grades 9–12, 1,610 students) and North Clayton High School (grades 9–12, 1,206 students). Middle school options include McNair Middle School (grades 6–8, 888 students) and North Clayton Middle School (grades 6–8, 767 students). Main Street Charter Academy serves grades K–8 with 863 students.

Elementary schools in the area include Wolf Creek Elementary (797 students), Nolan Elementary (710 students), Northcutt Elementary (693 students), Feldwood Elementary (688 students), Cliftondale Elementary (667 students), Stonewall Tell Elementary (638 students), Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary (578 students), S.L. Lewis Elementary (538 students), Bethune Elementary (524 students), and College Park Elementary (509 students). The number of elementary campuses reflects the significant proportion of school-age children in the community.

Getting Around

Of 6,541 workers, 3,818 drive alone — about 58 percent. Carpooling accounts for 751 workers. Public transit carries 782 commuters, which is notably high for a Georgia municipality and reflects College Park's direct access to MARTA heavy rail service via the College Park and Airport stations on the Gold Line. Another 267 walk to work, and 633 work from home. Total aggregate commute time for the workforce is 146,900 minutes, averaging roughly 22 minutes per worker — a short commute by Atlanta metro standards, helped by the proximity to major employment centers.

Healthcare

Two hospitals serve the area. Southern Regional Medical Center provides acute care access for Clayton County residents. Riverwoods Behavioral Health System provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and behavioral health services. Both are located within the county. For a full directory of licensed healthcare providers in College Park, the CMS NPI Registry can be searched directly at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.

Library

The College Park Branch Library serves the community and can be reached at (404) 612-9601. It operates as part of the Clayton County Library System.

Parks & Recreation

Three National Park Service units are accessible from College Park. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta preserves the birth home, church, and burial site of Dr. King; its visitor center is approximately 11.8 miles away. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, covering Civil War earthworks and hiking terrain, has its visitor center about 25.7 miles north. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area offers river access and trails, with the Island Ford Visitor Center approximately 27.3 miles away.

Natural Hazards

Clayton County has accumulated a long FEMA disaster record. The county received declarations related to Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and a severe winter storm in January 2026. Prior major events include Hurricane Irma (2017), the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), a severe winter storm in February 2014, Hurricane Ivan (2004), Hurricane Katrina evacuation operations (2005), severe storms and flooding in 1998, Hurricane Opal (1995), Tropical Storm Alberto–related tornadoes and flooding (1994), a severe winter storm in 1993, a drought in 1977, and tornado and flooding events in 1973.

The pattern shows vulnerability to both tropical weather systems that track inland from the Gulf and Atlantic and to winter storm events — both carry real disruption risk for an airport-dependent economy.

Government & Municipal Code

College Park's municipal code is published through Municode and available at library.municode.com/ga/college_park. The available data does not include a local building code on the Municode platform — residents and contractors should verify applicable codes directly with city offices.

Weather

Current forecasts for College Park are available through the National Weather Service at forecast.weather.gov. Active alerts can be monitored at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest weather observation station is Fairburn 0.6 NW, approximately 3.0 miles from the city.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)