RANK #720 / 996 · POP 85,038 · GA
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.1%
Dougherty County, Georgia, is perhaps best known for Albany, its sole incorporated city, and its significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. Albany, located in southwest Georgia on the Flint River, is about 151 miles south of Atlanta. The community offers a blend of urban and rural, with the city surrounded by agricultural land and quail reserves. The Flint River and its cypress swamps provide opportunities for outdoor recreation like boating, fishing, and hunting, while Radium Springs Gardens, one of Georgia's Seven Natural Wonders, offers clear, 68-degree water flowing from an underground cave. Life in Dougherty County is characterized by a community atmosphere, with many families residing there. The Dougherty County School System serves over 13,000 students across 22 public schools. The local economy, historically rooted in agriculture with crops like cotton, pecans, and peanuts, is seeing growth in advanced manufacturing and renewable energy sectors. Healthcare is also a major employer, anchored by the Phoebe Putney Health System.
Below national median
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 2.1x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Dougherty County Solar PV Park
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$300M | Operating |
|
Solar + Battery Storage Facility
Georgia Power / Dougherty County Energy Storage
|
$175M | Proposed |
|
New Lumber Production Facility
Georgia-Pacific LLC
|
$150M | Operating |
|
Albany/Dougherty County Land Bank Housing Developments
Albany/Dougherty County Land Bank
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Dougherty County has a Boom Town Index score of 28/100, ranking #720 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.2% and a median household income of $45,640, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Dougherty County is $119,100 with median rent at $898/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3832, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -2.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.2%. Home values changed -5.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.17% of Dougherty County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.