Morrow, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Morrow · Clayton County, Georgia
Population 6,519 (est. 2026: ~6,000)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -2.38% annual growth projection

Morrow, Georgia

Clayton County, Georgia · Population 6,569

Morrow sits about 12 miles south of downtown Atlanta along I-75, technically a suburb but operating more like a self-contained small city within one of Georgia's most densely populated counties. Clayton County surrounds it on all sides, and the distinction between Morrow and neighboring cities like Jonesboro, Lake City, or Riverdale is largely administrative — the roads run together, the schools overlap, and the commercial strips blend seamlessly. What sets Morrow apart is its institutional density: a major hospital, two behavioral health facilities, Clayton State University, and a cluster of career colleges all occupy this small city's footprint, giving it an employment and educational gravity that its 6,569 residents alone wouldn't generate.

People & Demographics

Morrow's population skews notably young — a median age of 28.9, well below the Georgia state median of roughly 37. That youth is partly explained by the college presence and partly by the large share of families with children: 1,981 residents under 18 within a total population of 6,563.

The city is diverse in a way that mirrors Clayton County's broader demographic shift over the past two decades. Of the counted population, 2,396 residents identify as Black, 1,870 as Asian, and 1,125 as white. The Hispanic and Latino population stands at 1,796. Clayton County as a whole — 297,595 people — is one of Georgia's most racially and ethnically diverse counties, and Morrow reflects that mix.

Average household size is 3.72, which is large by Georgia standards and consistent with a community where multigenerational and large family households are common. There are 1,571 occupied households, of which 1,262 are family households.

Economy & Employment

Median household income in Morrow is $64,890. Per capita income is $20,510 — a figure that reflects the household composition more than poverty; large households with multiple workers can produce reasonable household income while still showing a low per-capita figure. About 1,068 residents fall below the poverty line.

Of the 2,922 residents in the labor force, 325 are unemployed. The city's employment base extends well beyond its borders — the hospital sector, Clayton State University, and the commercial corridors along Morrow Road and Mount Zion Boulevard draw workers regionally. For many Morrow residents, the job is somewhere else in metro Atlanta entirely.

Housing

With a median home value of $143,700, Morrow is affordable by metro Atlanta standards, where county-wide and city-level medians in many northern suburbs run two to three times higher. Of 1,735 total housing units, 1,571 are occupied and 164 are vacant — a vacancy rate of roughly 9.5%.

Ownership is the slight majority position: 911 owner-occupied units versus 660 renter-occupied. Median rent of $1,225 per month sits at a level where it consumes a significant share of income for lower-wage households, particularly given the per-capita income figure. The housing stock is relatively modest — this is not a high-amenity suburb, and the price reflects that honestly.

Schools

Clayton County Public Schools serves Morrow, and the cluster of schools assigned to this area is among the larger concentrations in the county.

Morrow High alone enrolls nearly 2,000 students — a large comprehensive high school by any measure. The elementary schools collectively serve well over 3,000 students, consistent with the city's young population and its role as part of a larger county-wide attendance zone.

Higher education is firmly embedded here. Clayton State University (678-466-4000) is a University System of Georgia institution with a full four-year and graduate catalog. Interactive College of Technology–Morrow (770-960-1298), United Education Institute–Morrow (678-422-4500), and Empire Beauty School–Morrow (800-920-4593) round out the career and vocational options.

Getting Around

Of 2,587 workers, 1,572 drive alone and 660 carpool — together accounting for nearly 86% of commuters. Public transit use is minimal at 23 workers. Eighty-eight walk to work, and 222 work from home. The aggregate commute time of 70,465 minutes across all workers averages to roughly 27 minutes per commuter — typical for inner-ring Atlanta suburbs, though I-75 congestion during peak hours can push that well higher in practice. Morrow is reachable via the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and MARTA bus connections, but this is functionally a car-required community for most daily needs.

Healthcare

Southern Regional Medical Center is located within Morrow and serves as the primary acute-care hospital for southern Clayton County. Riverwoods Behavioral Health System also operates here, providing inpatient psychiatric and addiction services for the region. Both facilities extend their catchment well beyond city limits into the broader south metro area.

For a searchable list of individual licensed healthcare providers registered in Morrow, the CMS NPI Registry provides a direct lookup: NPI Registry – Morrow, GA.

Library

The Morrow Branch Library (770-347-0170) is part of the Clayton County Library System. It provides the full range of public library services — collections, programming, digital resources, and community meeting space — for Morrow residents.

Parks & Recreation

Three National Park Service units sit within reach of Morrow:

Natural Hazards

Clayton County has accumulated 15 FEMA disaster declarations since 1973, a record that reflects both the county's vulnerability to southeastern weather systems and its proximity to major storm tracks. Significant events include:

The pattern is consistent with metro Atlanta's exposure: major Gulf-origin hurricanes that retain enough energy to impact north Georgia, periodic ice storms, and flooding from the region's heavy clay soils and urban runoff.

Government & Municipal Code

Morrow's municipal code is published through Municode and accessible at library.municode.com/ga/morrow. No separate building code is on file for the city in the available records.

Weather

Current conditions and forecasts for Morrow are available through the National Weather Service: NWS Forecast for Morrow, GA. Active alerts: Weather Alerts. The nearest official weather observation station is MORROW 1.3 N, located 2.2 miles from the city center.

References

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