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Cherokee County, Georgia in numbers: crime, income, hazards

Cherokee County averaged 0.97 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year in 2021-2025, 72% lower than the Georgia rate (3.4). Households here have a median income of $108,115 and the unemployment rate was 2.9% in August 2026. Population: about 281,032 (Census, 2020-2024).

Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.

Open Cherokee County on the map →

Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams

What is the crime rate in Cherokee County?

Over 2021-2025, the county's police agencies sent the FBI reports of about 278 violent and 1,635 property crimes per year. Per 1,000 residents, the violent-crime rate works out to 0.97: 72% lower than the Georgia rate (3.4), and 74% lower than the national rate (3.7). Property crime ran at 5.7 per 1,000, against 16.5 statewide. Most violent crimes here are aggravated assaults (76%). CDC death records show about 7 homicide deaths a year in the county (2.7 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.

Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025)Cherokee CountyPer 1,000Georgia per 1,000U.S. per 1,000
Violent crime2780.973.43.7
Murder50.020.070.06
Rape500.170.340.40
Robbery130.050.410.62
Aggravated assault2110.742.62.6
Property crime1,6355.716.518.1
Burglary1520.532.02.4
Larceny-theft1,3814.812.413.0
Motor vehicle theft1010.352.12.6

Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (5 agencies; 100% of residents covered).

What is the median household income in Cherokee County?

The median household in Cherokee County earns $108,115 a year, 40% higher than the Georgia median ($77,353). Owner-occupied homes have a median value of $435,100, and the median rent is $1,799 a month. 3.5% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 12.3%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 2.9% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 4,484 people out of work and looking.

Census ACS 2020-2024Cherokee CountyGeorgiaUnited States
Population281,03210,940,407334,922,499
Median household income$108,115$77,353$80,734
Median home value (owner-occupied)$435,100$303,300$332,700
Median gross rent$1,799$1,393$1,413
Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average)3.2%5.1%5.2%
People below the poverty line7.0%13.4%12.5%
Households receiving SNAP (food stamps)3.5%12.3%12.1%
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher41.1%34.9%35.7%
Homeowner households77.3%65.7%65.2%
Median age40.237.638.9
Households with broadband internet95.9%91.0%91.0%
People without health insurance10.4%12.4%8.4%

What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Cherokee County?

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural-hazard risk for Cherokee County as “Relatively Moderate”. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: tornadoes (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.

Superfund sites

EPA lists no Superfund site in Cherokee County, active or completed (October 2026).

High-hazard dams

The National Inventory of Dams lists 17 high-hazard dams in Cherokee County. 9 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 8 Satisfactory or Fair. Tallest on the list: Hickory Log Reservoir Dam (180 ft) and Lake Arrowhead Dam (107 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.

Industrial chemical releases

16 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 73,173 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.

Disasters, air and water

Cherokee County was covered by 2 federal major disaster declarations from 2016 through 2025 (Hurricane 2), not counting COVID-19. Of 8 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 2 (moderate). NHTSA counted 15 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 1 pedestrian.

Is there road construction in Cherokee County?

Georgia does not publish an open highway work-zone feed that we can read yet, so road construction in Cherokee County is not on our map. Check the state's 511 traveler site for current closures.

See today's work zones on the map →

How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Cherokee County?

Cherokee County has 38 public schools (2024-25) and 15 private schools (2023-24) in federal school lists. 3 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 30 fire or EMS stations and 12 police or sheriff stations.

Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Cherokee County

Gun shops

9 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Cherokee County, plus 21 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 3 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: 2 Bear Arms (Canton), Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World 457 (Acworth), Big Deal Pawn & Shop (Acworth), Cherokee Gun & Pawn INC (Canton), Garland Mountain Sporting Clays (Waleska), L & A Music & Pawn LLC (Acworth), Walmart #518 (Canton), Walmart #5275 (Woodstock) and 1 more.

Liquor stores

15 liquor stores are on the map in Cherokee County: Bullock's Wine & Spirits (Woodstock), Canton Wine and Spirits Warehouse (Canton), Dixie Beverage Outlet (Woodstock), Dot's Fine Wine and Craft (Ball Ground), Drip & Drop (Woodstock), Hickory Liquor and Wine Co. (Canton), Jordan's Package Store (Ball Ground), Lucky's (Woodstock) and 7 more. Georgia has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.

Planned Parenthood

There is no Planned Parenthood health center in Cherokee County on the map.

See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores →

Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.

Common questions

What is the crime rate in Cherokee County?

Cherokee County averaged 278 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 0.97 per 1,000 residents, 72% lower than the Georgia rate (3.4). The property-crime rate was 5.7 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).

What is the median household income in Cherokee County?

$108,115 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $77,353 for Georgia and $80,734 nationally.

What is the unemployment rate in Cherokee County?

The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 2.9% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 4,484 people out of work and looking.

What natural hazards affect Cherokee County?

FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural-hazard risk for Cherokee County as “Relatively Moderate”. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: tornadoes (Relatively High).

How many nursing homes are in Cherokee County?

3 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).

How does Cherokee County compare with neighboring counties?

CountyPopulationViolent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25)Median household income
Bartow County113,1131.9$82,243
Cobb County775,2082.3$102,738
Dawson County30,2421.7$92,991
Forsyth County267,2870.52$143,784
Fulton County1,076,5615.4$95,292
Gordon County59,1002.1$63,650
Pickens County34,9511.0$78,930

More: Georgia statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)

Where do these numbers come from?

Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.

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